A "tribal democracy with carefully controlled forms of modern participation", is how one tourism leaflet put it. For a country that became independent just over thirty years ago, Oman has done remarkably well both economically and socially.

Its present ruler, Qaboos bin Said Al Said, holds absolute power and decision-making authority. And, as director/producer Abdel Karim Sekkar finds, nobody there seems even remotely interested in having it any other way.

You can watch the second part here.