The Defence Council is an extra-parliamentary body tasked with coordinating the actions of the country's various security and armed forces.

[12] Its nearest government agency neighbor being the Internal Security Service (ISS), also based in Qurum (Post Code 112).

Certainly influential characters such as Brigadier Sir Timothy Landon[15] and Sheilagh Bailey were critical in developing the early functionality of what would become the Palace Office.

[16] It was particularly important that the small nucleus of trusted advisors made arrangements to secure the ruler of Oman in the 1970s and establish contacts with neighboring states to ensure their cooperation.

[22] In early March 2011 HM Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said decided to replace two key ministers who were seen by many as not keeping in touch with young Omanis not benefiting from Oman's national advances.