(Qatar today has about 2.2 million residents, but most are workers from countries like India, Pakistan and Iran, and not citizens.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani, who as the emir of Qatar for 23 years oversaw its independence from Britain and the rapid modernization of its economy, died on Sunday. The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani arrived in the island yesterday on the invitation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. In 1957, Khalifa was appointed as Minister of Education.On 22 February 1972, Sheikh Khalifa became the Emir of Qatar, seizing power from his cousin, Emir Khalifa's reorganization of the system of government saw a dramatic shift in the hierarchy of authority.
Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (Arabisch: حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني, Ḥamad b. Ḫalīfa Āl Ṯānī) (Doha (), 1952) is een voormalige emir van Qatar. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani (Arabic: جوعان بن حمد بن خليفه ال ثاني ; born 23 July 1984) is a close member of Royal House of Thani.He is the fifth son of former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and the third child of the Emir with his second wife, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al Missned. He became the country’s deputy ruler on Oct. 24, 1960, and its finance minister two weeks later.Sheikh Khalifa became the first prime minister of Qatar — then a British protectorate — on May 29, 1970, after the job was created by the emir at the time, his cousin Sheikh Ahmad bin Ali al-Thani.
He was 84.
In February 1974, he Oil exports boomed, making Qatar one of the world’s wealthiest nations per capita. In 1981, it joined five neighboring countries — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — to form the Gulf Cooperation Council, although historical disputes over territory persisted.After Iraq, under President Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait in 1990, Sheikh Khalifa joined other Arab leaders in making his country’s military bases available to the American-led coalition that liberated Kuwait. He immensely reduced the traditional powers afforded to the heir-apparent while projecting all of the power onto himself.On 18 July 1989, the cabinet was reshuffled for the first time, replacing most of the previous ministers and making it consist of 15 ministers.
He announced an immediate increase in salaries for civil servants and the 15,000 members of the police and armed forces, as well as plans to modernize government administration and cut consumer prices.The new ruler aimed to consolidate control over oil production. Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Abdullah bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani GCB GCMG (17 September 1932 – 23 October 2016; Arabic: خليفة بن حمد آل ثاني ) was the Emir of Qatar from 27 February 1972 until he was deposed by his son Hamad bin Khalifa on 27 June 1995. Sheikh Jassim was the Heir Apparent of Qatar, but gave up his rights to become the next heir of the country on 5 August 2003 and gave the title to his brother H.H.
Sheikh Hamad bin Suhaim bin Hamad bin Abdullah bin Jassim bin Muhammed Al Thani (born 1958 in Doha), is a former government minister of Qatar.He is the son of Sheikh Suhaim bin Hamad Al Thani, the granduncle (and father-in-law, through the current Emir's first marriage to Hamad's daughter Sheikha Jawahir bint Hamad bin Suhaim al-Thani) of the current Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Hij behoort tot de familie Al-Thani.. Hij kreeg zijn opleiding aan de Britse Koninklijke Militaire Academie Sandhurst tot 1971. )“Sheikh Khalifa boldly brought Qatar onto the stage of world affairs, even defying his new ally the United States — largely seen as Britain’s successor in guaranteeing the security of the gulf — by reaching out to the Soviets,” said On June 27, 1995, the crown prince, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, who had already assumed a substantial amount of power, Sheikh Khalifa had already begun to step back from governing in the late 1980s, while power and influence accrued to a younger generation of royals who “wanted to accelerate the modernization of Qatar’s economy and develop its gas reserves,” said After several years in Europe, Sheikh Khalifa returned to Qatar in 2004 and led a low-profile life until his death.
When Qatar declared independence on Sept. 3, 1971, Sheikh Ahmad was on vacation in Switzerland, and it was left to Sheikh Khalifa to issue the proclamation.Sheikh Khalifa deposed Sheikh Ahmad on Feb. 22, 1972. The Father Amir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s third son and his firstborn from his second wife Her Highness (H.H.) Sheikh Khalifa also served as finance minister and oil minister.From that point on, he was effectively the ruler.