ABSTRACT
The impact of government administration in Oman on the politics of the country over the last century has been far less than would appear at first glance. Despite the occasional minor reforms of the twentieth century, virtually all decision-making remained in the hands of the Sulṭāns-or a direct surrogate, as in the case of Taymūr bin Fayṣal-until 1970. Administration generally consisted of little more than the Sulṭān, a few officials in Muscat and a fluctuating number of wālīs scattered around the countryside. The declining financial position of the state during this period resulted in the temporary loan of an Imperial Customs expert named Bower to reorganise the Sultanate's department. Although foreign relations were handled by the British and direct contact with neighbouring states or rulers was extremely rare, Sa'īd also appointed Shihāb bin Fayṣal as Minister of Foreign Affairs in August 1939. A nebulous form of local administration also existed in the form of wālīs appointed by the Imām.
