Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said has died, the Royal Court announced Saturday, and state media said his cousin Haitham bin Tariq al-Said was named his successor.
Three days of official mourning have been declared with flags flown at half-mast for 40 days.
State television broadcast images of the funeral procession driving down a road lined with palm trees in the capital, Muscat.
Omanis lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the motorcade carrying the body. The casket, draped in the Omani flag, was then carried into Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in the capital, where prayers were held.
Oman state TV said authorities had opened a letter by Sultan Qaboos bin Said naming his successor. State TV then announced shortly after that Haitham bin Tariq, who was serving as the Minister of National Heritage and Culture, is the country's ruling sultan.
A 1996 statute says the ruling family will choose a successor within three days of the throne becoming vacant.
Haitham bin Tariq was appointed on Saturday after the high military council called on the ruling family council to convene and choose a successor.
