Emir of Qatar

Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar (since Jun 25, 2013)

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born 3 June 1980) is the current Emir of Qatar. He is the fourth son of the previous Emir, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. He became the 8th Emir of Qatar on 25 June 2013 after his father’s abdication. Tamim has held a variety of government posts within Qatar and also worked to promote numerous sporting events within the country. As of 2018, Tamim is the youngest reigning monarch among the GCC countries and the youngest current sovereign worldwide.

According to a diplomatic source close to the Al Thani family, Sheikh Tamim has “a strong personality” that allowed him to “establish himself within the ruling family” despite not being the family’s first choice for Emir. He is described as friendly, confident, and open by those who know him. He is also described as savvy, careful, and conservative. In addition, he is considered to be a pragmatist, and to have “excellent relations” with the West including the United States and France.

Political analysts expected Tamim to be more conservative and risk averse than his father. Because Tamim is very close to the Muslim Brotherhood, preserving a national identity grounded in Islamic traditional values has been Tamim’s first priority.

Sheikh Tamim married his first wife (his second cousin) Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin suhaim in March 2005 (with whom he shares a great-grandfather, Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani). They have two sons and two daughters.

Sheikh Tamim married a second wife, Anoud bint Mana Al Hajri on 3 March 2009. She is the daughter of Mana bin Abdul Hadi Al Hajri, Qatari Ambassador to Jordan. They have four children, two daughters and two sons.

On 8 January 2014, Sheikh Tamim married a third wife, Sheikha Noora Bint Hathal Aldosari They have two sons.

Tamim participates in competitive sport. He was filmed playing badminton and bowled with former Egyptian military chief Mohammed Hussein Tantawi. He has a strong interest in history and his nation’s heritage. He is fluent in English and French.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamim_bin_Hamad_Al_Thani

Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, Former Emir of Qatar

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Hamad bin Abdullah bin Jassim bin Muhammed Al Thani (born in 1952), is the Emir of the state of Qatar. He rose to that position on June 26, 1995, after deposing his father, who was vacationing in Switzerland at the time. Sheikh Hamad had been acclaimed Crown Prince in 1977 and at the same time was appointed Minister of Defense. In the early 1980s he led the Supreme Planning Council, which sets the Qatar’s basic economic and social policies. Since 1992, Sheikh Hamad has selected Qatar’s cabinet and been responsible for administering the country’s day-to-day affairs. He has also led the development of Qatar’s oil and natural gas resources.

Sheikh Hamad began his education in Qatar and later attended Sandhurst Military Academy in England. Upon his graduation in 1971, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Qatari armed forces and commanded the 1st Mobile Battalion, which has since been designated the “Hamad Mobile Battalion” in his honor. Sheikh Hamad was later promoted to the rank of Major General and appointed Commander in Chief of the Qatari Armed Forces. He oversaw an extensive program to modernize Qatar’s military, increasing manpower, creating new units, updating weaponry, and improving training. The effects of this program were evident during the Gulf War when Qatari forces helped liberate Kuwait.

During the last several years, Sheikh Hamad has represented Qatar on official state visits and at numerous Persian Gulf and international forums. His role as a leader and diplomat has earned him worldwide honors: the Order of Oman from the Sultanate of Oman, the Order of the Nile from Egypt, the Order of King Abdul Aziz from Saudi Arabia, the Indonesian Order of Ibn ‘Azeem, Nishan-e-Pakistan from Pakistan, the Order of Francisco de Miranda from Venezuela, the Order of St. Michael and St. George from Britain, the Order of Grand Officier of the Legion d’honneur from France, the Mohammedi Medal from Morocco and the Lebanese Ordre du Merite.St. Michael and St. George from Britain A keen sportsman and an accomplished diver, Sheikh Hamad has played an active role in promoting and developing athletics in Qatar. His activism has enhanced the country’s involvement and performance in a number of international competitions, including: winning an Olympic medal in track and field; hosting a wide variety of international sporting events such as the 15th Asian Games, GCC, Asian and World Youth soccer championships; and initiating the Qatar Open Tennis Championship which has grown to become one of two premier tennis competitions in the Middle East.

Official website of the Emir of Qatar: http://www.diwan.gov.qa/