Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said died at 79

Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who ruled Oman since 1970, died on Friday night at the age of 79.

The Omani government declared three days of national mourning and flags are to be flown at half mast for 40 days.

Sultan Qaboos was born in Salalah on Nov. 18, 1940.

The Sultan began his education in Oman. He was then sent by his father Sultan Said bin Tamour to the United Kingdom in September 1958 for further studies. He spent two years in a private School in Suffolk and joined the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy in 1960. He graduated after two years and joined the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), which was then stationed in Germany, where he spent six months as a leadership trainee.

Qaboos returned to Oman in 1964. He had ruled the Gulf Arab state since he took over in a bloodless coup in 1970.