This is the first new government since Sultan Haitham took the throne in January DUBAI: Oman’s new cabinet took the oath of office in front of Sultan Haitham on Wednesday at the Al-Barakah Palace in Muscat. This is the first new government since Sultan Haitham took the throne in January after the death of Sultan Qaboos. Among the newly-sworn ministers is Badr Al-Busaidi, the foreign minister appointed last week to succeed long-serving Yusuf bin Alawi. Sultan Haitham granted Alawi an honorary medal in appreciation of being in charge of foreign affairs during the last two decades. For finance minister, Sultan Haitham named Sultan bin Salim Al-Habsi. He previously served as secretary-general of the Supreme Council for Planning and head of the tax authority, Sultan Haitham has been focused on reshaping Oman’s government since he was appointed.