The Royal Palace in Madrid is once again at the center of high-level diplomacy, ending a three-year pause in official state visits. King Felipe and Queen Letizia are welcoming Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said. A gala dinner is planned in honor of the distinguished guest, where all eyes will be on the queen—and especially on the tiara she chooses for the evening.
But the intrigue of the evening is not only about the Spanish queen’s jewels. Far more attention is drawn by the fact that the Sultan arrived in Spain alone. His wife, Oman’s First Lady Sayyida Ahad bint Abdullah, stayed behind in their homeland. This raises curiosity, as she owns one of the world’s rarest and most impressive tiaras—a spectacular piece with diamonds, rubies and emeralds that echo the colors of the national flag.
The reason for the First Lady’s absence lies in the strict traditions of Oman. Despite some liberalization in recent years, the country still strongly upholds the practice of ‘purdah,’ requiring women to remain out of sight of men who are not close relatives. Unlike the Emir of Qatar, who visited Spain with his wife in 2022, the Sultan of Oman takes a more conservative approach in this respect.
Nevertheless, Sayyida Ahad bint Abdullah is an extraordinary figure. She is the first wife of an Omani ruler in history to have her own, albeit limited, public agenda. She sponsors events related to family, education, and culture, gradually bringing the women of the dynasty out of the shadows. After earning a degree in sociology, she married at 19 and had four children. Her father held high-ranking positions, and her sister is married to the sultan’s brother.
Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, who ascended the throne in 2020 after the death of his childless cousin, is known as a skilled diplomat. Over the past year, he has visited Belgium, the Netherlands, Russia, and the United Kingdom, demonstrating his commitment to a policy of neutrality in a troubled region. Before becoming sultan, he studied at Oxford, made a name for himself as an outstanding businessman—becoming the country’s largest vegetable producer—and held various government positions. He is also known to be a great football fan.
Although Oman’s First Lady does not travel with her husband, she hosts visiting world leaders in her country. The only exception was in 2021, when she accompanied her husband to Windsor Castle to meet Queen Elizabeth II. The Sultan’s current visit to Spain was also rescheduled—it was originally planned for May but was postponed following the death of his mother-in-law.
