The wife of the former Emir of Qatar, the mother of the current Emir Moza bint Nasser al Misned (Sheikha Moza) is capable of shaking all existing ideas about women of the East. The First Lady of Qatar wears elegant dresses (by the way, she is a fan of the Russian designer Ulyana Sergienko), does not wear a burqa, and participates in social events and political meetings.

early years

How did this become possible in a country where women dress in black from head to toe and cannot participate in political and social life on an equal basis with men and only recently received the right to drive a car?

Perhaps Moza was lucky with her parents and husband. She was born into the family of a prominent Qatari businessman. The father did not object to his daughter being educated as a sociologist at the National University of Qatar. And husband, crown prince, whom she married at the age of 18, allowed her to finish college. Moreover, Moza completed an internship at leading US universities.

Of course, her life was little like a fairy tale: Moza faced all the realities of life in the Arab East. The emirs of the Al Thani family, from which her husband came, seized power in Qatar back in the 18th century. Since then, no one except members of this family has the right to rule the country. Qatar is still an absolute monarchy: the emir appoints the prime minister, members of the Council of Ministers and the Advisory Council. The power of the monarch is limited only by Sharia law.

Motherhood

Sheikha Moza is the mother of seven children. She had five sons and two daughters. In 1995, when Moza was 36, her husband Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (with the support of other family members, it is said) staged a bloodless coup in the state. He overthrew his own father, who was on a business trip in Switzerland, from the throne and declared himself emir.

Upon learning of the coup, Khalifa bin Hamad publicly renounced his son, and six months later he even attempted to regain power and title - albeit unsuccessfully. In response, his son and newly-minted emir, with the help of American lawyers, froze all his father's foreign accounts, so that new attacks on the throne became impossible. As a result, Khalifa bin Hamad was able to return to his homeland only eight years later, when he finally made peace with his son.

Sheikha Moza is not the only wife of her husband: the former emir has three official spouses, and she is the “middle” of them. However, it was Moza’s children who became the heirs to the title. Her eldest son Jasim was destined for the throne, but in 2003 he announced that he was relinquishing his rights as crown prince in favor of sibling Sheikh Tamim.

“We tried to raise our children as ordinary people. When I returned home, we talked to them about everything: what I did, what I saw, what they thought and how they would act. Listening to the opinions of young people is very useful. After all, everything we do is for them,” says the sheikha.

Social activities of Sheikha Moza

Moza herself, when the children grew up, became actively involved in social life. She said she wants to make Qatar a secular state that respects human rights. By the way, it is indeed considered one of the most liberal countries in the region.

Since her husband came to power, the situation of women in Qatar has improved markedly. They received the right to vote, the opportunity to drive a car and choose clothes to their taste. True, not all conservative families agree to allow this. But Moza did a brave thing: she set an example by appearing in public without a veil in 2002.

Sheikha Moza has a number of government and international positions, which in states Persian Gulf a rarity even for the wives of rulers. She is the head of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, president of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and vice-president of the Supreme Council for Education.

In 2003, UNESCO appointed her as Special Ambassador for Basic and higher education. Moza is trying to popularize international projects to improve the quality and accessibility of education, and pays special attention to the rights of women and children.

In 2003, with the assistance of the sheikh, the “Education City” was opened in Qatar - a university campus that includes international-class universities, as well as branches of famous US universities, where the best teachers give lectures. Students from different countries world: half of the students are foreigners, which indicates a good level of teaching and prestige.

She also established the Arab Democracy Fund, to which her husband made an initial contribution of $10 million. The foundation's mission is to promote the development of free media and civil society.

In 2007, Forbes magazine named Moza one of the 100 most powerful women in the world, and The Times named her one of the 25 most influential business leaders in the Middle East.

They say that the sheikha has a difficult character, which is not surprising: winning her place in the sun in a society whose laws are harsh and which has been ruled exclusively by men for many centuries is not an easy task. But people love Moza. The women of Qatar are especially grateful to her.

“Her Highness is the best thing that happened to Qatar. She inspires us all. Since she came to power, Qatar has changed 100 percent,” they say.

Emir of Qatar

Emir of Qatar since 1995, Prime Minister of Qatar (1995-1996). Previously, Supreme Commander of the Qatar Armed Forces (1972-1995), Minister of Defense (1977-1995), Chairman of the State Planning Committee of Qatar (1989-1995), Chairman State Committee Qatar Youth Affairs (1979-1991).

Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani was born on January 1, 1952. He became the eldest (according to other sources, the second eldest) of the five sons of Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani - the cousin of the then ruling Emir of Qatar Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani, representative al-Thani dynasty governing the country from the middle of the 19th century, , .

After finishing school in Qatar (having been educated at home), Hamad continued his studies in the UK, where he graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1971. It was noted that many Middle Eastern monarchs graduated from the same educational institution, including King Abdullah II of Jordan and Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said of Oman. Returning to his homeland, Hamad began serving in the Qatar Armed Forces with the rank of lieutenant colonel and in 1971-1972 commanded the First Motorized Infantry Battalion, later named the Hamad Battalion in his honor.

Also in 1971, Qatar, which had been a British protectorate since 1916, became an independent state, and in February 1972, Hamad's father, having deposed his cousin Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani, became the emir of Qatar. Having come to power, he began to carry out reforms aimed at modernizing the country, reduced government spending to maintain the ruling dynasty and directed a significant part of the proceeds from oil and gas production to support social programs. Hamad in 1972 (some media mentioned 1975) was promoted to major general and appointed Supreme Commander of the Qatar Armed Forces.

In 1977, Hamad became heir to the throne and the country's minister of defense. Under his leadership, the modernization of the Qatari Armed Forces was carried out, during which the main attention was paid to the introduction of modern weapons and training of personnel. In 1979, Hamad became chairman of the State Committee for Youth Affairs, and in 1989 he headed one of the key departments of Qatar - the State Planning Committee, which was responsible for the development of industry and Agriculture countries , .

In 1991, the Qatari Armed Forces, led by Hamad, participated in the war to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. In June 1993, Hamad became deputy emir (deputy emir); it was noted that by this time most of the powers to govern the state were concentrated in his hands.

On June 27, 1995, when his father, who spent most of his time traveling abroad, was in Switzerland, Hamad declared himself the new emir and prime minister of Qatar (a year later he handed over the post of head of government to his brother Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani) , , , . Upon learning of the coup, Khalifa bin Hamad publicly disowned his son and launched an unsuccessful counter-coup attempt on February 14, 1996. After this, Hamad, by hiring the American law firm Patton Boggs and, with its help, achieved the freezing of his father’s foreign financial accounts, protected himself from new attacks on the government. Khalifa bin Hamad was able to return to Qatar only in 2004 - after reconciliation with his son, ,. At the same time, according to some information, not all members of al-Thani’s “family” recognized his power and returned from exile.

Having come to power, Hamad, as the media noted, became the youngest and most reform-minded monarch of the Persian Gulf. Also surrounding himself with young, Western-educated technocrats, he implemented a number of economic reforms, including the privatization of a number of state-owned enterprises that required modernization. The Hamad government paid special attention to the development of the gas sector of the industry, primarily the production and export of liquefied natural gas: having started selling small volumes of LNG in 1997, by 2006 Qatar had become the world's largest exporter of this type of raw material.

In addition, Hamad undertook major reform of Qatar's political system. In 1999, the country held its first direct elections to the Municipal Council (an advisory body under the Ministry of Municipal Administration), and both men and women, who were granted voting rights by the emir, could vote and run for the council. In 2003, a referendum adopted the constitution of Qatar, according to which a parliament was established, consisting of 45 deputies (two thirds of them were to be elected, the rest were appointed by the emir). However, parliamentary elections scheduled for 2007 were postponed several times. In 2010, Hamad announced that parliamentary elections would take place at the end of 2013. As Western journalists have repeatedly noted, with all these changes government structure Qatar remained far from democratic: there was a ban on activities in the country political parties, freedom of speech was limited, and the power of the monarch himself remained virtually unlimited.

In its foreign policy, Qatar took a moderate position during the reign of Hamad and sought to maintain relations with all regional forces. Qatar has often acted as a mediator in resolving various political conflicts in the Middle East, including the 2008 government crisis in Lebanon, the conflict in Sudanese Darfur, the confrontation between the Palestinian movements Fatah and Hamas, as well as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Analysts noted Qatar's transition to a more aggressive foreign policy with the beginning of the Arab Spring (waves of popular uprisings in 2010-2011 in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria and other countries). Moreover, in the Russian official press, Qatar, led by al-Thani, was called its “main sponsor and ideologist.” Qatar became the first Arab state to support military operation NATO in Libya and sending six fighter jets of its air force there, Qatar later actively supported the armed opposition in Syria. In general, the media noted, Hamad had a reputation as a pro-American politician: in this regard, the press drew attention to the US support for Hamad in 1995, as well as the fact that in 2003 the main American Air Force base in the region was moved from Saudi Arabia to Qatar (Al Udeid Air Base), .

One of essential tools influence of Qatar in the Middle East, the media called the information channel Al Jazeera, which began operating in November 1996. Hamad was one of the founders of Al-Jazeera, by decree providing the television company with a grant of $137 million over a five-year period. After this time, the Qatari government continued to provide annual financial support to the television company.

In April 2007, Hamad appointed Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani as the new prime minister. The new head of the cabinet also retained the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, which he had held since 1992.

Arab media have repeatedly reported on the prevention of coup attempts to remove Hamad from power: in particular, similar reports appeared in October 2002, August 2009 and February 2011. The latest conspiracy, according to some sources, involved members of the royal family and senior officials Qatari army, including Chief of General Staff Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah. Also in February 2011, a manifesto of the Qatari opposition was distributed, the authors of which (including 16 members of the al-Thani family) declared the Hamad regime illegitimate and declared support for the emir's exiled brother Abdul Aziz (Abdul Aziz bin Khalifa in Hamad Al-Thani) , accusing Hamad and his entourage of connections with the US and Israel, anti-Arab policies and corruption,.

In September 2011, some Arab media reported an attempt on Hamad's life: according to information that appeared, the emir's escort was attacked in Doha when Hamad was heading to his palace after a meeting with the Russian ambassador (according to other sources, to a meeting with the ambassador). It was also reported that eight guards were killed as a result of the assassination attempt, and the emir himself was wounded. However, members of the emir's family later denied information about the assassination attempt.

Hamad is known for his interest in the development of sports: it was noted that he pays a lot of attention to the development of the country's sports infrastructure and holding world-class competitions in Qatar. Thus, since 2004, Qatar has hosted one of the stages of the World Motorcycle Racing Championship (Qatar Grand Prix), in 2006 the country hosted the Asian Games, and in 2010 FIFA approved Qatar’s application to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup - it is the first time must take place in one of the Middle Eastern countries.

Hamad has been awarded orders from dozens of countries around the world, including Oman, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Indonesia, Great Britain, France, Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia, Senegal, Pakistan, Germany, Romania, Italy, Yemen, Cuba, Ivory Coast , Finland, Greece, Dominican Republic, Portugal, Croatia, Malta, the Netherlands, Macedonia and Albania.

Forbes magazine in 2010 estimated Hamad's personal wealth at $2.4 billion.

The media published information that Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani was ill diabetes mellitus- a disease that is widespread in Qatar, for the indigenous people of which consanguineous marriages are traditional.

Used materials

Victor Feshchenko. The world is not for the emir. - Russian newspaper , 16.01.2012. - №5679 (6)

P.P.Lvov. Is Qatar a dwarf with the ambitions of a giant or a mirage in the Arabian desert? Part 3. - Middle East Institute, 12.01.2012

Huda NV. Action plan to curb diabetes launched. - Doha press, 27.11.2011

Hina Agarwal. Qatar to hold elections in 2013. - Arabian Gazette, 09.11.2011

Bill Wilson. World Cup 2022 challenges for Qatar to tackle. - BBC News, 06.10.2011

Meghan L. O'Sullivan. Tiny Catholic's Big Plans May Change Mideast: Meghan L. O'Sullivan. - Bloomberg, 04.10.2011

MotoGP to launch 2012 season in April: QMMF. - The Peninsula, 15.09.2011

Dina Pyanykh, Dmitry Tarasov. The family of the Emir of Qatar denies information about the assassination attempt on the head of state. - ITAR-TASS, 05.09.2011

Abortive assassination attempt against Emir of Qatar. - IRIB, 05.09.2011

Christopher M. Blanchard. Qatar: Background and U.S. Relation. - Federation of American Scientists, 16.05.2011

New Ambassador of Tajikistan to the State of Qatar. - Television Safina (Tajikistan), 11.05.2011

An attempted coup in Qatar. - The Voice Of Russia, 03.03.2011

Report: Qatar emir foils coup attempt amid growing tensions. - Al Bawaba, 28.02.2011

Matriarchy in a Muslim state seems something unimaginable. But Qatar has every chance of becoming an exception to the rule. And all thanks to the wise, ambitious and power-hungry mother of the new emir - Sheikha Moza.

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Indeed, Sheikha Moza has a tough character. But otherwise she simply would not have been able to defend her place in the sun. Rumor has it that Sheikh Hamad married for the third time to spite Moza, thereby demonstrating that her power is not unlimited.
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But still, no other woman could compare with Moza, who by that time had become an expert in diplomatic protocol and international etiquette, because it was she who accompanied her husband on all foreign trips.

Being stylish in the USA or Europe is one thing, being stylish in Qatar is a completely different option.
Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned is the second wife of the three Emirs of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. She was born in 1959 and married the Crown Prince of Qatar in 1977 at the age of 18. Sheikha Moza is the mother of seven children, she has two daughters and five sons.
She graduated from the Faculty of Sociology at Qatar National University in 1986. Sheikha Moza has given presentations at universities in the USA and various public organizations, thereby trying to dispel myths about Eastern women and their way of life.
Sheikha Moza, which is rare for the wives of the rulers of the Gulf states, takes an active public position. She manages many projects in the fields of education, science, culture, and protection of children's and women's rights. In 2003, UNESCO appointed her as Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education. In this position, she actively promotes various international projects to improve the quality and accessibility of education around the world.
In 2003, with the assistance of Sheikha, the “Education City” was opened - a university campus that includes international-class universities, as well as branches of famous US universities, where the best teachers give lectures. Students from around the world study in the City of Education.
In 2007, Forbes magazine included her in its list of the 100 most powerful women in the world, and The Times named her one of the 25 most influential business leaders in the Middle East.
Although Qatar is a Muslim state, with the coming to power of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, democratic reforms were carried out, including those concerning the position of women in society.
They were given the right to vote, the right to drive a car, and the right to choose clothes. And it was not just anyone who set an example for everyone, but the wife of the ruler of the country herself. In 2002, she perplexed residents of Qatar and nearby countries by appearing without a veil in public.
But despite the fact that women became free to choose clothes, not all of society accepted these changes; tradition, foundations, and religion still have a strong impact. And most women in Qatar look something like this.

Most, but not all. Sheikha Moza bint Nasser al-Missned created her unique style by adapting European design to what is permitted by religion and tradition. Not only Eastern women will envy her taste. The sheikh's wife can most often be seen in long dresses(skirts), or in wide trousers, with an obligatory emphasis on the waist. According to tradition, the head is covered; for this Sheikha Moza uses a turban, which has already become an integral part of her wardrobe. Since Qatar is one of the richest countries in the world, Sheikha Moza does not hide her craving for luxury; she owns an exclusive collection of jewelry, as well as vintage collections of high fashion stars Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Chanel, Valentino. Vanity fair magazine (and not only it) has repeatedly included her in the list of the best dressed people (including in 2011).

In Great Britain

France

In Venezuela

Tamim has also held a number of other positions, including:

• Head of the Upper Security Council environment and nature reserves.
• Chairman of the Supreme Council for Environmental Protection and Nature Reserves.
• Chairman of the Supreme Council of Education.
• Chairman of the Supreme Council for Information and Communication Technologies.
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of the State Works Authority (Ashghal) and Urban Planning and Development Authority (UPDA).
• Chairman of the Board of Regents of Qatar University.
• Deputy Chairman of the ruling family of the Council.
• Vice President of the Supreme Council for Economic Affairs and Investments.
• Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Coordination and subsequent ones.
• Member of Sport for All.

reign

On 25 June 2013, Tamim's father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, revealed his plan to step down as Emir of Qatar during a meeting with his close relatives and aides. Tamim then became the Emir of Qatar after his father handed over power in a televised address. He was the first ruler, in a succession of three Qatari rulers from the Al Thani family, to rise to power without resorting to a coup. According to The Economist, his previous twin rivals for the throne, "One played too much, and the other prayed too much."

The transition of power was expected to be smooth, since family members held many of the country's top positions.

In addition, according to a diplomatic source close to the Al Thani family, Sheikh Tamim has a “strong personality,” which allowed him to “establish himself in the ruling family” despite not being the family’s first choice for emir. Diplomats quoted by the BBC claimed that Jassit, who served as crown prince for eight years, was hoping to expand his political powers. According to Stratfor, Jassim had no allies among the military or secret police at the time of the 2013 political transition, and thus had little chance of overturning Hamad's decree.

Tamim is described as friendly, confident, and approachable by those who know him. He also described how common sense, caution and calculation. Additionally, he is considered to be a pragmatist, and to have "excellent relations" with the West, including the US and France.

Political analysts expect Tamim to be more conservative and risk-taking than his father. Keeping the national identity grounded in traditional values ​​is expected to be Tamit's first priority.

domestic politics

In contrast to its father's rule, which prioritized Qatar's international profile, a new emphasis on domestic affairs has characterized the Tamit government so far. One of Tamim's first steps after taking power was to simplify the bureaucracy by dismantling a number of parallel institutions, such as the Qatar National Food Security Program, which was incorporated into the ministries of economy and agriculture. He also reduced the fiscal budget of several institutions, including the Qatar Foundation and the Qatar Museums Authority.

Since coming to power, the government has expanded roads around the capital, developed new system metro, and completed construction of a new airport. A new reform of the Qatari administration has been launched in the direction of increasing efficiency and discipline. In addition, the post of Foreign Minister passed to a non-Royal (Khalid al-Attiyah). This is a significant change in the direction of meritocracy, given that during previous administrations the traditionally royal prime minister tended to double as the foreign minister. Tamim also took credit for some initiatives aimed at countering local peculiarities stemming from the Arab Spring Coup. He said that the government will set a directive to reduce the price of sold companies operating with National program the country's food security and expected social benefits and pensions.

According to his inaugural speech to the people on June 26, 2013, Sheikh Tamim will continue to diversify the country's economy away from hydrocarbons. In this regard, he said that people are Qatar's "most important asset" and that their interests will be the government's top priority.

In 2014, new Tamim cybercrime legislation was passed, which was said to be part of an agreement between Gulf countries to criminalize online abuse royal families region; The cybercrime law prohibits the dissemination of “false information,” as well as digital material that violates the country’s “social values” or “general order.” The legislation made it illegal to incite, aid or assist in the publication of offensive material. The law has been criticized by those who say it could be used to deprive people of their human rights based on misinterpretations of online chatter. Amnesty International has called the law a "major blow to freedom of speech in Qatar", while other critics suggest the new law violates provisions in the country's constitution that protect civil liberties.

In January 2016, Tamim shook the closet to put his father in his place. He named a new foreign minister, replacing Khalid al-Attiyah with Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, changed the defense minister and appointed a new women's minister. Tamim also unites several ministries, including communications, transport and culture, youth and sports. Journalists speculated on the reasons for the cabinet shake-up. And many have concluded that the reorganization was either an economic move to keep money in the country at a time when falling gas prices forced the country to cut its workforce or for reasons of political stability. According to others, these appointments show that the emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, is trying to force the government on his own, resulting in a new, younger generation of ministers who are more loyal to him than his father.

Foreign policy

The young Emir's transition to power was welcomed by leaders around the world, who expected Tamit to continue Good work following in his father's footsteps and enhancing Qatar's role in vital international affairs, including the Syrian crisis and the Darfur agreement.

Analysts say he will likely be under immediate pressure to reduce Qatar's support for rebels in the Syrian civil war, which previously supported Tamim. He will be tasked with overseeing the significant upgrades to the national infrastructure that have recently gotten underway. While some view Tamim as more religious than his father, most analysts expect him to largely retain his father's pragmatic LEADING habits - using Islam for further purposes where useful, but without pushing strictly Islamic agenda items such as outlawing alcohol .

In his inaugural speech to the people, Tamim promised that he would continue Qatar's central role in the region, but that he would not "take direction" in international affairs. He confirmed that he would commit to the highest possible level of integration with his neighbors in the Persian Gulf.

In fact, during the first months of the charge he prioritizes the bay. At the end of October 2013, only a few months after taking charge, Sheikh Tamim took over the Gulf regional tour. Even before he came to power, he officially represented his father at the annual Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Bahrain in December 2012, as well as welcoming delegates to top level Arab League in Doha in March 2013.

While serving in a national security role, he helped strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia, Qatar's neighbor and often contentious rival. Tamlu sees Qatar's rivalry with Saudi Arabia as counterproductive, as has been the case with the so far failed attempt to build a cohesive Syrian opposition.

In October 2014, Sheikh Tamim met with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Queen Elizabeth II on his first official visit to the UK. Qatar and the UK were awaiting a Qatar-British economic forum to explore mutual investment opportunities. Before and during this meeting Telegraph the newspaper launched a campaign to urge Cameron to discuss Qatar's funding of Islamic extremists with Tamim. Telegraph's "Stop Terror Funding" campaign highlighted the role of Qatar and other Gulf countries, supposed allies in the war against Isil and al-Qaeda, in providing terrorist financing. Stephen Barclay, a Tory MP, has repeatedly called for transparency in Britain's relations with Qatar and said it was "essential" for Mr Cameron to raise the issue of terror finance. "I welcome the fact that the prime minister will meet with the emir," he said. “As part of these discussions, it is important that the issue of funding for Sunni tribes in Syria and Iraq is raised. The MP called on Cameron to brief Parliament after the meeting claiming

On 25 March 2015, Sheikh Tamim visited India and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that the government has "trust" in the Indian economy, so they will invest in India.

Egypt

Qatar actively invested in the form of loans and aid into Egypt during the Muslim Brotherhood government. In August 2013, Qatar joined an attempt by the US to mediate escalating tensions between the Muslim Brotherhood and the military. Speaking at Georgetown University during his first visit to the US, Tamim reiterated that Qatar will not interfere in Egypt, although he condemned what happened in Egypt after the 2013 coup. Since Morsi's removal from office, the new government has rejected Qatari offers of financial assistance. Qatar's continued support for the Muslim Brotherhood resulted in a diplomatic rift between Doha and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates in 2014, which led to the withdrawal of the ambassadors of the latter three countries in March this year. In June 2016, former Egyptian President Morsi received a life sentence for charges of passing state secrets to Qatar.

Syria

Qatar called for military intervention by Arab countries to stop the bloodshed in Syria in 2012. Analysts expected that it would have been under immediate pressure to reduce Qatari support for rebels in the Syrian civil war, which had previously supported Tamim. In fact, Sheikh Tamim took a step back after taking responsibility in the first place in response to the irritation expressed by Western powers over Qatar's efforts to arm Syrian rebel groups, which were targeted haphazardly. IN Lately Under the auspices of a joint initiative with Saudi Arabia and Turkey promoted by Sheikh Tamim, Qatar provided the Syrian rebels with new weapons and forged a new opposition coalition in Syria, known as the "Conquest Army." The sheikh also renewed his country's support for the Syrian people's demands for justice and freedom during a meeting with Syrian National Coalition chief Khaled Hoxha and his delegation in April 2015.

The Syrian rebel group Al-Rahman Legion is supported by Qatar. Since 2017, the Qatari-backed Al-Rahman Legion has been fighting the Saudi-backed Jaysh al-Islam rebel coalition.

Türkiye

Tamim signed a military cooperation agreement with Turkey during an official visit to the country in December 2014. The agreement is aimed at promoting cooperation in military training and defense industry, and also allows for the deployment of the Turkish armed forces to Qatar and the Qatari military to Turkey.

On December 2, 2015, Tamim signed a series of agreements with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Agreements were signed on cooperation in the field of education, maritime transport and correspondence pacts between intelligence services. An agreement was also reached by Turkey to purchase liquefied natural gas from Qatar for a long time. The leaders of the two countries also announced the planned establishment of a Turkish military base in Qatar; a first for Turkey in the Persian Gulf.

United States

In July 2014, Tamim extended the defense agreement with the US and reaffirmed Qatar's cooperation with the US at the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) at Al Udeid Air Base.

Sheikh Tamim visited with US President Barack Obama at the White House during a visit to Washington, D.C. on February 24, 2015, according to a statement from the White House Office of the Press Secretary. Doha-based analysts described the challenge before him during the visit as one of balancing the need to maintain a strong relationship with the United States versus Qatar's desire to control its own foreign policy, which is sometimes at odds with the United States on key regional issues. He said the US-Qatar "strategic partnership has deepened in recent years despite regional turmoil" and reiterated its commitment to supporting a more comprehensive approach to addressing strategic challenges facing the Middle East.

Personal characteristics and types

According to a diplomatic source close to the Al Thani family, Sheikh Tamim has a “strong personality” that allowed him to “establish himself in the ruling family” despite not being the family’s first choice for emir. He is described as friendly, confident, and approachable by those who know him. He is also described as being common sense, cautious, and conservative. Additionally, he is considered to be a pragmatist, and to have "excellent relations" with the West, including the US and France.

Political analysts expected Tamim to be more conservative and risk-taking than his father. Because Tamim is very close to the Muslim Brotherhood, keeping the national identity grounded in Islamic traditional values ​​is Tamim's first priority.

Personal life

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:

• Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born 15 January 2006)
• Sheikh Hamad bin Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born October 20, 2008).
• Sheikha Aisha bint Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born August 24, 2010).
• Sheikh Jassim bin Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born June 12, 2012).

Sheikh Tamim married his second wife, Anoud bint Mana Al Hajri, on March 3, 2009. She is the daughter of Mana bin Abdel Hadi Al Hajri, the Qatari ambassador to Jordan. They have five children, three daughters and two sons:

• Sheikha Naylah bint Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born May 27, 2010).
• Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Tamim Al Thani (born September 29, 2012).
• Sheikha Roda bint Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born 2014)
• Sheikh Alqaqaa bin Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born October 3, 2015)
• Sheikha Moza bint Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born May 19, 2018).

On 8 January 2014, Sheikh Tamim married his third wife, Sheikha Noora Bint Hathal Aldosari. They have three sons:

• Sheikh Joaan bin Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born March 27, 2015).
• Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tamim al-Thani (born July 17, 2017)
• Sheikh Fahd bin Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born June 16, 2018)

Tamlyu participates in sports competitions. He was filmed playing badminton and skating with former Egyptian military chief Mohammed Hussein Tantawi. He has a keen interest in the history and heritage of his country. He speaks fluent English and French.

Controversial

Support for Islamists

Qatar has supported a range of Islamist groups across the region for many years. Moreover, at the beginning of the Arab Spring coup in 2011, the country provided diplomatic and medical initiatives and warnings to Islamist groups. Qatar's Al Jazeera-based pan-Arab satellite TV channel promoted the narratives of Islamist parties and causes supported by Qatar, thereby contributing to the electoral success of some of these movements in national polls. For several years, the channel ran a talk show, "al-Sharia in al-Hayya" ("Sharia and Life"), featuring the controversial brotherhood-associated Egyptian cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi.

Regarding Qatar's support of the Muslim Brotherhood, Qatar has welcomed Brotherhood cadres since 1950. Sheikh Hamad was one of the first foreign leaders to visit Morsi following his success in the June 2012 Qatar elections, providing a significant financial push for Mursi's Freedom and Justice Party and Brotherhood opponents argued that Morsi's narrow election victory was achieved through Qatari funding. Since Morsi's election, Qatar has contributed a total of US$5.5 billion to the Muslim Brotherhood administration.

Ostensibly, Qatar looked to the Brotherhood in Syria as a natural Islamist ally to advance its political goals in the region. The Financial Times reported that, according to official sources, Qatar provided the SYRIAN rebels with financial support of 1 billion UAH dollars; people close to the Qatari government said the real amount is close to $3 billion. In addition, there were rumors that Qatar was using its funds to develop networks of loyalty among the rebels and allegedly provide the basis for Qatari influence in the post-Assad era.

Analysts say that, like Qatar and Saudi Arabia are involved in the proxy war in Syria and Libya. Tamlu, in particular, played a role in mediating with Taliban leaders with whom he established contacts under his father's rule. He proposed and supported the idea of ​​creating a Taliban office in Doha. In June 2013, the Taliban opened their first official overseas office in the Qatari capital as part of Broker's long-running bid for a long-term Afghan peace treaty. In June 2015, Qatar successfully mediated an effort to free four Tajik soldiers kidnapped in December 2014 in Afghanistan by the Taliban group.

In addition, Qatar has provided loans and large investments to the democratically elected Ennahdha party in Tunisia, and to Islamist parties in Yemen and Morocco.

The country's support for Islamist causes and for organizations that oppose the absolute power of the Gulf's hereditary rulers has caused tension with the Gulf countries. In March 2014, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates withdrew their ambassadors from Qatar. Officially, the decision was dictated by Qatar's refusal to ratify agreements on non-intervention in domestic policy within the GCC in December 2013. Some analysts noted that the diplomatic crisis was the peak of Qatar's long-deteriorated relations with Arab countries, which condemned Qatar for supporting Islamists during the Arab Spring riots and supporting the new military-oriented Egyptian regime.

In addition, there were suggestions that Hamad's abdication was motivated by the need to reinvigorate the leadership, but also to defuse criticism from Arab neighbors over Qatar's support of Islamists. In particular, the controversial nature of Qatar's policies in supporting Islamist groups and its active contribution to the American-led coalition to fight the Islamic State has been of recent interest.

Labor issues

According to the German regional public broadcaster WDR, some of its reporters were detained for several days in Qatar to collect evidence about the conditions of migrant workers. The Guardian reported that Nepalese migrants building infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup died at a rate of one every two days in the 2014 World Report. Human Rights Watch confirmed poor conditions among migrant workers who sometimes live in unsanitary conditions and are subject to arbitrary detention restrictions on the right to leave Qatar, exploitation and abuse by employers. In response, Qatar ordered an international investigation law firm DLA Piper, which led to laws that require contractors to provide improved living conditions and prohibit them from jamming their passports. The Emir of Qatar reformed the kafal system law next year.

During the 2016 May Day celebrations in Bonn, Germany, an Amnesty campaigner named Bettina Hoffmann took the opportunity to protest Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who she claims is indifferent to the struggles of foreign workers. She said the amnesty was concerned about the tens of thousands of Asian workers who are working on football stadiums and infrastructure for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Amnesty estimates that around 70,000 workers - many from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh - are quasi-slaves in the Gulf state ruled by the emir of Qatar. Hoffman says foreign workers should give up their passports, receive late wages if they receive wages at all, and are deaf. Worst of all, she says, is the emir's response, "The Qatari government did nothing to prevent this."

Two laws protecting workers' rights, which included provisions on maximum working hours and rights to annual leave, were passed by Sheikh Tamim in 2017. The following year, Sheikh Tamim passed Law No. 13 of 2018, abolishing exit visas for approximately 95% of migrants of the country. The remaining 5% of workers, who make up approximately 174,000 people, still require permission from their employer to leave the country. While there was still work to be done to protect the rights of Qatari workers, Amnesty's Stephen Coburn argued that the emir was taking "an important first step towards meeting the authorities' promise to fundamentally reform the exploitative sponsorship system."

Open image

Sketch of Tamit entitled Tamim al-Maj (Tamit the Glorious) Advertiser Ahmed al-Maadheed became extremely popular as a nationalist symbol in Qatar after the outbreak of the 2017-18 Qatar diplomatic crisis.

Breaking

From at least 2016 onwards, Al Thani has been the subject of hacker attacks, originating from the Raven project; UAE clandestine surveillance and hacking operation targeting another government, militant and human rights activist critical of the UAE monarchy. In 2019, it was reported that Project Raven was able to hack an iPhone used by Al Thani, in addition to one belonging to one of his brothers and other close associates. UAE operatives are using a "sophisticated spying tool called Karma" to spy on the emir's iPhone.

Titles, styles, honors and awards

Titles and styles

• 3 June 1980 - 27 June 1995: Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
• June 27, 1995 - August 5, 2003: His Excellency Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
• August 5, 2003 - June 25, 2013: His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Crown Prince of Qatar
• June 25, 2013 - present: His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar

“The time has come to turn the page in the history of our nation. Now all responsibility will be on the new generation, with its innovative ideas,” said the now former emir Hamad. Everyone knows that he is seriously ill (he has diabetes), and it is possible that deteriorating health was the reason for the resignation of this very controversial leader. He has done a lot both for the profound modernization of the emirate and the transformation of Qatar into one of the decision-making centers in the Middle East, and for its serious weakening in recent years.

Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani came to power in a palace coup in 1995. His father Khalifa lived in the style traditional for all monarchs of the Gulf - he entrusted the protection of his native dunes to the American allies and spent petrodollars right and left (mainly, of course, in Europe, where he lived a significant part of the time). This did not suit the Qatari elite, who understood that there was little oil in Qatar and it would soon run out, as well as Prince Hamad, who shouldered the entire burden of real governance of the country. And one day Hamad called the Zurich hotel where Emir Khalifa lived and said that he was now the new Emir of Qatar. The deposed Emir Khalifa tried to stage a counter-coup, but his son, with the help of American friends, froze all of his father’s assets in foreign accounts and forced him to admit exile. Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani received serious assistance from his relative, Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani, for which the new emir made him prime minister.

Emir Hamad began to pursue extremely effective policies - both in the field of economy and in the field of security. Under him, Qatar has become one of the largest exporters of LNG, as well as the largest transport hub (both air and sea). The Emirate was buying up Western assets, profitable from both material and image points of view. “In the current crisis, many countries prefer to keep money to themselves rather than invest it in foreign enterprises. For us, this is a unique opportunity, the likes of which will not be expected in the next 20 years,” the emir said then at the height of the financial crisis. As a result, the Qataris now own processing plants in China, fashion houses France, Spain's football teams, have stakes in leading UK banks and department store chains. However, the emir’s most important asset was al-Jazeera, the most popular Arabic news channel. Its main “trick” was the combination of news in Arabic with Western standards of journalism. Al Jazeera was the first Arab channel to look at conflicts from both perspectives. It turned into a platform for speeches by the entire spectrum of opposition forces in the Middle East - both secular and religious (even Israel was given the floor). As a result, in the current era information wars al-Jazeera has become a powerful tool for the country's defense, as well as a means of putting pressure on its neighbors.

In addition, under Emir Hamad, Qatar (whose official religion is Wahhabism) began to improve women's rights. In particular, they were allowed to drive cars, and the emir's beloved wife Muse became the first wife of the monarch of the Gulf to take off her burqa (evil tongues say that it was not so much because of her liberal views as out of a desire to show off her expensive jewelry to the world).

However, the last years of the reign of Emir Hamad al-Thani can hardly be considered an asset to him. The emir wanted to take advantage of the Arab Spring and move from Qatar's security policy to regional expansion. And at the same time punish your enemies. He succeeded in the latter. President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak once told the emir: “You behave as if you are at the head of a great power, although the entire population of your Qatar could be accommodated in the Ramses Hilton hotel in Cairo.” And now he has lost power. Leader of Libya Muammar Gaddafi, who insultingly walked over the weight of the head of Qatar, lost his life. However, in other respects, the emir’s policy did not justify itself - largely because the rules of geography are the same for everyone, even for Emir Hamad. A country that is tiny in terms of territory (11.5 thousand square kilometers, 158th place in the world) and the size of its population (1.6 million, 162nd place in the world) cannot become one of the leaders in the region. Qatar cannot compete with either the Turks or the Saudis. Qatar gained practically nothing, but lost a lot. In particular, with his active participation in regional conflicts, he spoiled relations with a number of regional countries, primarily with Iran (which will undoubtedly settle scores after the end of the Syrian conflict). In addition, the emir devalued al-Jazeera. A number of canards and outright distortions that the journalists of this channel made when covering the Arab revolutions seriously tarnished its reputation.

Of course, to the new emir Tamimu you will have to deal with all these problems. It is possible that he will be able to sort everything out. The former prince cannot be called a politically unsavvy person - it was he who oversaw the process of “buying out” the Hamas organization from Iran. In addition, the stable internal political situation in the country will also play in Emir Tamim’s favor (unless, of course, he begins to settle scores with some of his father’s supporters who do not suit him, in particular Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani). Next year the country is facing parliamentary elections, and they are unlikely to lead to destabilization of the situation. Of the 1.6 million population, only 300 thousand people have citizenship (and, accordingly, the right to vote), 10% of whom are millionaires. The rest also don’t have much to complain about - Qatar ranks first in the world in terms of GDP per capita. In terms of the level of corruption, which is the scourge of all authoritarian regimes, Qatar occupies one of the highest places in Arab countries, so the indigenous population has no reason to sabotage the policies of the new emir. However, it is clear that Qatar will have to forget about its ambitions for regional dominance.