Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
تميم بن حمد ال ثاني

Sheikh Tamim on 25 September 2014
Emir of Qatar
Reign 25 June 2013 – present
Predecessor Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
Deputy Emir Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani
Prime Ministers
Spouse Jawahir bint Hamad Al Thani (2005–present)
Anoud bint Mana Al Hajri (2009–present)
Noora bint Hathal Al Dosari (Divorce 2015)
Issue See link
House House of Thani
Father Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
Mother Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned
Born 3 June 1980
Doha, Qatar
Religion Sunni Islam

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (Arabic: تميم بن حمد ال ثاني ‎; born 3 June 1980) is the eighth and current Emir of the State of Qatar. He is the fourth son of the previous Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. He became Emir of Qatar on 25 June 2013 after his father's abdication. Sheikh Tamim has held a variety of government posts within Qatar and also worked to promote numerous sporting events within the country. As of 2013, Tamim is the world's youngest reigning monarch.[1]

Early life and education

Tamim bin Hamad was born on 3 June 1980 in Doha, Qatar.[2] He is the fourth son of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and second son of Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, Hamad's second wife.[3][4] Tamim was educated at Great Britain's Sherborne School (International College) in Dorset,[5] and at Harrow School, where he received his A Levels in 1997.[2][3] He then attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, graduating in 1998.[3]

Career

Sheikh Tamim was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Qatar Armed Forces upon graduation from Sandhurst.[3] He became the heir apparent to the Qatar throne on 5 August 2003, when his elder brother Sheikh Jasim renounced his claim to the title.[2][3] Since then he was groomed to take over rule, working in top security and economics posts.[4] Working in a government security post, he promoted stronger ties with Saudi Arabia, a neighbour and often contentious rival to Qatar. He is believed to have played a key role in Qatar's support for the Libyan rebels who ultimately ousted Muammar Gaddafi.[6] In 2009, he was appointed deputy commander-in-chief of Qatar's armed forces.[3]

Sheikh Tamim promoted sport as part of Qatar's bid to raise its international profile.[4] In 2005 he founded Qatar Sport Investments, which owns Paris Saint-Germain F.C. among other investments. In 2006, he chaired the organizing committee of the 15th Asian Games in Doha. Under his leadership, all member countries attended the event for the first time in its history. That year Egypt's Al Ahram voted Tamim "the best sport personality in the Arab world".[3] Under his guidance, Qatar won the rights to host the 2014 FINA Swimming World Championships and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Tamim is a member of the International Olympic Committee and the National Olympic Committee chairman.[3][4] He headed Doha's bid for the 2020 Olympics.[3]

Sheikh Tamim heads the Qatar Investment Authority board of directors. Under his leadership, the fund has invested billions in British businesses. It owns large stakes in Barclays Bank, Sainsbury's, and Harrods.[5] The fund also owns a share of Europe's tallest building, the Shard.[4]

Tamim has also held a number of other posts including:

Reign

On 25 June 2013, the then Emir of Qatar and Tamim's father Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani revealed his plans to step down as Emir in a meeting with his close relatives and aides.[1][7] Tamim then became the Emir of Qatar after his father handed over power in a televised speech.[8] He was the first ruler, in a succession of three Qatari rulers from the Al Thani family, to ascend to power without resorting to a coup.[9] According to The Economist, of his previous sibling rivals to the throne, "One played too much, the other prayed too much."[10]

The transition of power was expected to be smooth, as family members hold many of the nation's top posts.[3] Analysts said he would likely be under immediate pressure to reduce Qatar's support for the rebels in the Syrian Civil War,[6] which Tamim had previously supported.[11] He would be tasked with overseeing substantial upgrades to the national infrastructure, which have recently gotten underway. While some view Tamim as more religious than his father, most analysts expect him to retain his father's largely pragmatic habits of governing – using Islam to further objectives where useful, but not pushing strictly Islamic agenda items such as outlawing alcohol.[6]

The young Emir's transition to power was welcomed by leaders across the World, who expected Tamim to continue the good work in the footsteps of his father and increase Qatar's role in vital international affairs including the Syrian crisis and Darfur agreement.[12]

Sheikh Tamim visited with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House on a visit to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, 24 February 2015, according to an online statement issued by the Office of the White House Press Secretary.[13] Doha-based analysts described the task before him during the visit as one of balancing the need to maintain strong relations with the United States against the desire for Qatar to control its own foreign policy, which is sometimes at odds with the United States on key regional issues.[14]

On 25 March 2015, Sheikh Tamim came to India and met prime minister Narendra Modi. He said that the government "trust"s the Indian economy so they would invest in India.[15]

Personal characteristics and views

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.[4] He is described as friendly, confident, and open by those who know him. He is also described as savvy, careful, and calculating.[6] In addition, he is considered to be a pragmatist, and to have "excellent relations" with the West including the United States and France.[4][6]

Political analysts expect Tamim to be more conservative and risk averse than his father.[6] Because Tamim is very close to the Muslim Brotherhood,[16] preserving a national identity grounded in traditional values is expected to be Tamim's first priority.[6]

Personal life

On 8 January 2005, Sheikh Tamim married his second cousin Sheikha Jawahir bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, daughter of Sheikh Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani (with whom he shares a great-grandfather, Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani). They have two sons and two daughters:[3]

Sheikh Tamim has a second wife, She ikha Anoud bint Mana Al Hajri, whom he married on 3 March 2009. She is the daughter of Mana bin Abdul Hadi Al Hajri, sometime Qatari Ambassador to Jordan.[17] They have three children, two daughters and a son:[3]


Sheikh Tamim also has a third wife Sheikha Noora bint Hathal Al Dosari, whom he married on March 2014. They divorced in 2015 and theyhave one son:


Tamim participates in competitive sport. He was filmed playing badminton and bowled with former Egyptian military chief Mohammed Hussein Tantawi.[3] He has a strong interest in history and his nation's heritage.[4] He is fluent in English.[6]

Titles, styles and honours

Monarchical styles of
Emir of Qatar
Reference style His Highness
Spoken style Your Highness
Alternative style Sheikh

Titles and styles

Honours

Awards

Ancestry

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Sheikh Tamim to take over as Emir of Qatar". Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 "Sheikh Tamim's biography". Qatar News Agency. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 "Profile: Qatar Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Khalifa Al Thani". BBC. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 "Qatar's Sheikh Tamim: 33-year-old groomed for power". Google. AFP. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "The Tatler List". Tatler.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 Simeon Kerr (25 June 2013). "New emir seen as savvy and affable but untested at the top". Financial Times. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Breaking News: Crown Prince Tamim to be handed the helms of leadership". Qatar Chronicle. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad hands power to son Tamim". BBC. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  9. ↑ Ballout, Mohammad (11 June 2013). "Will Qatar's Emir Abdicate in August?". As Safir. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  10. ↑ Qatar’s new emir: A hard act to follow
  11. ↑ Roula Khalaf and Abigail Fielding-Smith (17 May 2013). "How Qatar seized control of the Syrian revolution". Financial Times. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  12. ↑ "Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad receives accolades from across the World". Qatar Chronicle. 30 June 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  13. ↑ http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/02/20/statement-press-secretary-visit-his-highness-sheikh-tamim-bin-hamad-al-t
  14. ↑ "Emir's Washington Visit Highlights the Independence of Qatari Foreign Policy". Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies. 2 March 2015.
  15. ↑ "Qatar has big investment plans for India". Times of India. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  16. ↑ "Qatar readies for leadership shuffle as PM prepares to step down". The Daily Star (Doha). 11 June 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  17. ↑ HH the Heir Apparent’s wife attends "Homeland of Freedom And Peace" operetta The Peninsula.
  18. ↑ "The Al-Thani Dynasty". Royal Ark. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  19. ↑ Quirinale
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 "Sheikh Tamim: Medals and Decorations". Qatar News Agency. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
    Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
    Born: 3 June 1980
    Regnal titles
    Preceded by
    Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani    		 Emir of Qatar
    2013–present     		Incumbent
    Deputy Emir:
    Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani