Former Zanzibar sultan set to settle in Oman after decades-long bid for residency

Jamshid bin Abdullah, now aged 90, had been living in exile in Portsmouth in the UK after a bloody revolution on the East African island in 1964 forced the former sultan to flee for Oman, and then on to the UK.

His repeated petitions to settle down in the sultanate were denied by the Omani government under the late sultan, Qaboos bin Said, due to political and security issues.

Last week saw the surprise news that his request for residency had finally been accepted under Oman's new ruler Sultan Haithem Al-Said.

Jamshed bin Abdullah is believed to have arrived in Muscat on Monday evening, although the Omani government has not officially commented on the matter.

"We are expecting him to arrive in Muscat in the evening flight. His request to retire in Oman has been granted by the government due to his old age. He always wanted to spend his last days in the country of his ancestors and now he is happy he can do that," a member of his family told The National.