Shaykh Hamad

Emir: Sheikh Hamad Bin-Khalifah Al Thani

In 1995 armed forces commander and Defence Minister Sheikh Hamad seized power from his father, Sheikh Khalifah Bin-Hamad Al Thani, who was out of the country. 

The new emir survived an attempted coup in 1996. 

Later that year, Sheikh Hamad tried to take his father to court for the return of state funds he believed his father had kept. However, the two men were reconciled at the end of 1996 and the financial dispute was settled out of court. 

Since coming to power, Sheikh Hamad has continued in the roles of commander-in-chief of the armed forces and defence minister and has ensured Qatar's military development.

Country Profile: Qatar

The State of Qatar has developed from being one of the poorest Gulf states, with its income based primarily on pearl fishing, to become one of the richest, thanks to the exploitation of large oil and gas fields since the 1940s.

Today its people have one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.

Dominated by the Al Thani family for almost 150 years, the mainly barren country was a British protectorate until 1971, when it declared its independence after following suit with Bahrain and refusing to join the United Arab Emirates. 

 

QATAR FACTS
Population: 610,000 (UN, 2003) 
Capital: Doha
Major language: Arabic
Major religion:Islam
Life expectancy: 70 years (men), 75 years (women) (UN)     
Monetary unit: 1 Riyal = 100 dirhams 
Main exports: Oil, gas  
Annual average income:n/a 
Internet domain:.qa 
International dialling code: +974