A Mirror for the Sultans in the Digital Era: Nationalism in Contemporary Oman

ABSTRACT

This article examines how leadership transitions reshape national identity in the Sultanate of Oman, focusing on the shift from Sultan Qaboos to Sultan Haitham. Drawing on theories of nationalism and historical temporality and based on 20 semi‐structured interviews and ethnographic observations, it analyses how citizens interpret this succession and its ramifications for national belonging. The findings suggest a gradual transformation from a personalised form of nationalism centred on charismatic leadership towards a more institutional and digitally mediated mode of cohesion. To capture this emerging dynamic, the article introduces the concept of digital asabiyya , referring to forms of collective solidarity that develop through online participation and interaction with institutional narratives. These developments unfold alongside the economic and governance reforms associated with Oman Vision 2040, generating new expectations of accountability and state performance. Contemporary Omani nationalism is thus reconfigured by these virtual interactions, where official discourses and citizen participation intersect to redefine political expectations and experiences of citizenship across generations.