Oman, the ‘Switzerland of the Middle East’, is about to find itself in troubled waters over its refusal to take sides

The country’s position as mediator has been pushed to the limits with a crisis unfurling in its backyard: the strategic Strait of Hormuz

Even though the Sultan himself has repeatedly dismissed the comparison, Oman continues to enjoy the moniker of being “the Switzerland of the region”.

In an area gripped by brutal conflict, Oman has appeared almost magician-like in its ability to avoid being dragged into the vortex.

But as regional wars spawn region-wide wars, avoiding the complex web of alliances has become increasingly tricky for the ailing Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, a confirmed bachelor who rose to power in a 1970 bloodless coup against his father and who holds the reins of power close to his chest.