Sheikh Hamad Al Thani yesterday on Tuesday June 25, 2013 handed over power to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, yesterday, June 25, 2013, abdicated, announcing that he was handing over power to his son, Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, BBC reported.
The hand over of power was expected to be immediate, Reuters news agency said. In an address on the occasion of the country’s National Day, Sheikh Hamad, 61, said it was time for a new generation to take over after 18 years in power. Qatar-based al-Jazeera TV said Sheikh Hamad informed the ruling family and top advisers of his decision the day before. He expressed confidence in Sheikh Tamim’s trustworthiness and qualification for the responsibility.
At 33, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani becomes the youngest leader in the Arab world. He was educated at the exclusive Sherborne School and Sandhurst Military Academy in the U.K. He replaced his brother, Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, as Crown Prince in 2003 and has held many influential posts, including head of Qatar Investment Authority. In addition to being the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the new Emir also chairs the 2030 Vision Project which outlines the country’s development goals. Sheikh Tamim is also head of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee in charge of preparing the 2022 Fifa World Cup.
The ruling royal family has reigned over the emirate for more than 130 years. Qatar is a small country of two million people, but is a big exporter of natural gas and a global investment powerhouse. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa seized power from his father in 1995 and transformed the country into an influential global player. The International Monetary Fund, IMF, estimates that Qatar now has the highest economic output or Gross Domestic Product per capita in the world.
The outgoing Emir will be remembered for elevating Qatar's global profile through the creation of the Al Jazeera television network and the successful bid to host the 2022 soccer World Cup tournament.
