Emir of Qatar

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Emir of the State of Qatar
أمير دولة قطر
Amir Dawlat Qatar
Incumbent
Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
since 25 June 2013
Details
StyleHis Highness
Heir presumptiveAbdullah bin Hamad Al Thani
First monarchMohammed bin Thani
Formation1851; 174 years ago (1851)
ResidenceAmiri Diwan

The Emir of the State of Qatar (Arabic: أمير دولة قطر) is the monarch and head of state of Qatar. The emir is also the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and guarantor of the constitution. The emir holds the most powerful position in the country, controlling all branches of state power, and has a prominent role in foreign relations.

The emirs are members of the House of Thani (Al Thani), whose origins are in the Banu Tamim, one of the largest tribes in the Arabian Peninsula. The current ruler is Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who succeeded on 25 June 2013.[1]

Historical background

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All the emirs of Qatar have been members of the Al Thani family.[2][3] Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani is recognised as the first ruler, having begun his reign in 1851 when he united the country's tribes under his leadership.[4]

Qatar became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1871, although Sheikh Mohammed retained control of its internal affairs.[4][5] Following his army's victory at the Battle of Al Wajbah in March 1893, the second ruler Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani has been recognised as Founder of the State of Qatar, although it remained part of the Ottoman Empire until July 1913.[6]

The Ottomans maintained a military presence in Qatar until August 1915 and Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani signed the Anglo-Qatari Treaty on 3 November 1916. Sheikh Abdullah was the Qatari ruler from 1913 to 1949, and is one of the few monarchs, alongside the likes of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, whose tenure extended through both world wars (1914–1945). Qatar's first oil well was drilled in October 1938, and oil was found at Dukhan in January 1940.[7]

Qatar became an independent state on 3 September 1971 and, since then, the ruler has been styled emir (or "amir").[8]

Constitutional role and authority

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Qatar is officially a constitutional monarchy,[9][10] but the wide powers retained by the emir and his family have it bordering an absolute monarchy[11][12] and autocracy.[13][14] The emir holds the primary role in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and also maintains ultimate control over the military.

Executive authority
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The emir and his family hold uncontested control over the executive branch. While the Consultative Assembly holds some "limited ability to offset executive power in certain areas",[15] all its members are themselves appointed by the emir.[16] The emir has the exclusive power to appoint and replace the prime minister and cabinet ministers, who together constitute the Council of Ministers, which is the main executive authority in the country.[17][15]

Legislative authority
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In 2003, Qatar adopted a constitution that provided for the direct election of 30 of the 45 members of a legislature.[18][19][20] However, the legislature has limited powers to reject legislation by the emir and dismiss ministers.[21][22] After nearly 20 years of postponements, the assembly held its first partial election in October 2021.[23][24][25] In May 2024, however, the country's "short-lived experiment" in electing members of the Consultative Assembly ended with a constitutional referendum abolishing future elections. Qatar's state news agency stated that the referendum will "strengthen the social fabric in the most beautiful image and form, which honestly represents an important stage in the country's victorious march and its national unity". The Associated Press noted that the 2021 election came "about a year ahead of Qatar hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, an event that drew intense scrutiny from the West of the country's treatment of foreign laborers and its system of governance", and called the 2024 referendum "another rollback in the hereditarily ruled Gulf Arab states of halting steps to embrace representational rule".[16]

Judicial authority
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While the constitution makes some guarantees on judicial independence, and judges are nominated for appointment by a "Supreme Council of the Judiciary" composed of senior judges, the emir appoints all judges, and "ultimately controls the judiciary".[15]

Military and security authority
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The emir is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. This title enshrines his role as the ultimate authority over all military branches: the Qatari Emiri Land Force, Qatari Emiri Navy, Qatari Emiri Air Force and Qatari Emiri Guard. He also appoints military personnel and terminates their service. This power is absolute and places the entire military apparatus under his direct control. Setting defense policy "is the sole responsibility of the emir and his closest advisors", and the consultative assembly has never debated security issues.[26][27]

Succession

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The permanent constitution of the state of Qatar, published in 2005, dictates that the rule is hereditary and limited to descendants of Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The constitution dictates that the emir must appoint a crown prince to be his successor from amongst his male children, in consultation with members of the Al Thani Ruling Family. To be eligible for appointment as crown prince, a candidate must be Muslim and born of a Qatari mother. In the event that the ruling Emir has no eligible male children, the emir must select the crown prince from amongst the eligible members of the broader Al Thani family.[28]

The former emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, appointed his fourth son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as heir apparent on 5 August 2003, after his older son Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani (who held the position between 1996 and 2003) renounced his rights to the throne in favour of Sheikh Tamim.[29]

The two previous transitions of power between emirs happened as a result of coups. Hamad bin Khalifa replaced his father, Emir Khalifa bin Hamad, in a bloodless palace coup in June 1995 while Khalifa was on a visit to Geneva, Switzerland.[30][31][32][33] Khalifa had himself replaced his own uncle, Emir Ahmad bin Ali, under similar circumstances while Ahmad was on a visit to Iran in February 1972.[34]

List of rulers

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NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Sheikh
Mohammed bin Thani
  • محمد بن ثاني
1788 – December 1878
(aged 90)		1851[4]18 December 1878Son of Thani bin Mohammed.Al Thani
Sheikh
Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani
  • The Founder[6][35]
  • جاسم بن محمد آل ثاني
1825 – 17 July 1913
(aged 87–88)		18 December 1878[6]17 July 1913[6]Son of Mohammed bin Thani.Al ThaniJassim bin Mohammed Al Thani of Qatar
Sheikh
Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Thani
  • أحمد بن محمد بن ثاني
1853 – December 1905
(aged 52)		18981905
(assassinated)
(after his brother abdicated in favor of him until he was killed)[36]		Son of Mohammed bin Thani.Al Thani
Sheikh
Mohammed bin Jassim Al Thani
  • محمد بن جاسم آل ثاني
(1881-01-17)17 January 1881 – 8 April 1971(1971-04-08) (aged 90)19131914
(abdicated)
(reigned for 10 months)		Son of Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani.Al Thani
Sheikh
Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani
  • عبد الله بن جاسم آل ثاني
(1880-02-11)11 February 1880 – 25 April 1957(1957-04-25) (aged 77)17 July 191420 August 1949
(abdicated)		Son of Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani.Al ThaniAbdullah bin Jassim Al Thani of Qatar
Sheikh
Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani
  • علي بن عبد الله آل ثاني
(1895-06-05)5 June 1895 – 31 August 1974(1974-08-31) (aged 79)20 August 194924 October 1960
(abdicated)		Son of Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani and Mariam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah.Al ThaniAli bin Abdullah Al Thani of Qatar
Sheikh
Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani
  • أحمد بن علي آل ثاني
1922 – 25 November 1977
(aged 54–55)		24 October 196022 February 1972
(deposed)[37]		Son of Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani.Al Thani
Sheikh
Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani
  • خليفة بن حمد آل ثاني
(1932-09-17)17 September 1932 – 23 October 2016(2016-10-23) (aged 84)22 February 197227 June 1995
(deposed)[31]		Nephew of Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani.Al Thani
Sheikh
Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
  • The Father Emir[38]
  • حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني
 (1952-01-01) 1 January 1952 (age 73)27 June 199525 June 2013
(abdicated)[1]		Son of Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani and Aisha bint Hamad Al Attiyah.Al ThaniHamad bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar
Sheikh
Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
  • تميم بن حمد آل ثاني
 (1980-06-03) 3 June 1980 (age 45)25 June 2013[1]IncumbentSon of Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Moza bint Nasser.Al ThaniTamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar

See also

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Politics of Qatar

Arab League Member State of the Arab League

Constitution
Monarchy
Cabinet
Consultative Assembly
Elections
Administrative divisions (municipalities)
Foreign relations
Related topics

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Qatari emir Hamad hands power to son Tamim". BBC News. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  2. ^ Qatar's Rulers. Amiri Diwan. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  3. ^ His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Amiri Diwan. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Sheikh Mohammed Bin Thani. Amiri Diwan. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  5. ^ Rogan, Eugene; Murphey, Rhoads; Masalha, Nur; Durac, Vincent; Hinnebusch, Raymond (November 1999). "Review of The Ottoman Gulf: The Creation of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar by Frederick F. Anscombe; The Blood-Red Arab Flag: An Investigation into Qasimi Piracy, 1797–1820 by Charles E. Davies; The Politics of Regional Trade in Iraq, Arabia and the Gulf, 1745–1900 by Hala Fattah". British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies. 26 (2): 339–342. doi:10.1080/13530199908705688. JSTOR 195948.
  6. ^ a b c d Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Bin Thani. Amiri Diwan. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  7. ^ Sheikh Abdullah Bin Jassim Al Thani. Amiri Diwan. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  8. ^ Sheikh Ahmad Bin Ali Al Thani. Amiri Diwan. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  9. ^ BBC News, How democratic is the Middle East? Archived 11 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine, 9 September 2005.
  10. ^ United States Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2011: Qatar Archived 26 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine, 2011.
  11. ^ Gardener, David. "Qatar shows how to manage a modern monarchy". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  12. ^ "Embassy of Canada to the State of Qatar". Government of Canada. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  13. ^ "The objections to Qatar hosting the World Cup reek of Eurocentrism". nbc. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022. In condemning Qatar, we should remember that the population of this authoritarian monarchy
  14. ^ "Political Stability: the Mysterious Case of Qatar". Middle East Political and Economic Institute. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022. ; the Qatari state remains fundamentally autocratic
  15. ^ a b c "Qatar: Freedom in the World 2024 Country Report". Freedom House. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  16. ^ a b Gambrell, Jon (5 November 2024). "Qataris votes to end limited polls for legislative seats in shadow of US election". AP News. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
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  22. ^ "Political Stability: the Mysterious Case of Qatar". Middle East Political and Economic Institute. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022. ; the Qatari state remains fundamentally autocratic
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  24. ^ "Qatari elections: A PR stunt or a step toward democracy? | DW | 24 August 2021". DW.COM. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
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  27. ^ "Al Meezan - Qatary Legal Portal | Legislations | The Permanent Constitution of the State of Qatar". www.almeezan.qa. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  28. ^ "The State and the Basis of its Rule". Al Meezan. State of Qatar. 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
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  31. ^ a b "Prince deposes father in Qatar". Deseret News. 27 June 1995. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2013. Cite error: The named reference "dnews" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  32. ^ Harman, Danna (5 March 2007). "Backstory: The royal couple that put Qatar on the map". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 10 November 2010. He was of a new generation, open to the sorts of social, technological, economic, and political ideas from outside that his elders had never known. And, surrounding himself with young, Western-educated advisers, the new emir got right down to the business of remaking the national agenda of this traditional Wahhabi land.
  33. ^ "Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Emir". Current Leaders of Nations (fee, via Fairfax County Public Library). Gale. 1998. GALE-K1610000166. Retrieved 2 March 2012. Gale Biography in Context. (subscription required)
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  35. ^ "Qatar National Day: Our History". ndqatar.com. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  36. ^ "File 160/1903 'Persian Gulf: El Katr; appointment of Turkish Mudirs; question of Protectorate Treaty with El Katr' [170v] (345/860)". Qatar Digital Library. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
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  38. ^ "Qatar's Father Emir flown to Switzerland to treat broken leg". Doha News. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2016.