Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has reshuffled his government and promoted head of state-owned company QP Saad al-Kaabi to a newly created ministerial position.

Under the Emiri decree issued on 4 November, QP chief executive Al-Kaabi was appointed as the Gulf state’s minister for energy affairs, QNA reported.

It is not immediately clear if Mohammed al-Sada, the minister for energy and industry, will continue in his role, or if his office will be merged with the ministry for energy affairs. The ministries of trade and industry have also been combined under a single office, led by Qatar National Bank CEO Ali Ahmed al-Kuwari.

It is also unclear if Al-Kuwari will retain his position at Qatar National Bank.

As CEO of QP, Al-Kaabi is a key player in the energy sector, maintaining the company’s position as the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, shipping as much as 77 million tonnes a year (t/y). Last month, he outlined plans to raise production capacity to 110 million t/y by 2025.

As well as regulating the traditional oil and gas sectors, his ministry will now also oversee a new renewable energy department.

Changes were also made at the justice, labour and social affairs, and municipality and environment ministries. The boards of QP, the Qatar Financial Markets Authority, National Tourism Council and Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) were also reshuffled.

Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani, Emir Tamim’s brother and deputy emir, was appointed QP chair, while Qatar's Foreign Minister, Mohammed Abdulrahman al-Thani, was appointed as chair of QIA and the Emir’s younger brother, Mohammed bin Hamad, was appointed as QIA deputy chair.

The reshuffle is the first since 2016, when Sheikh Al-Thani took over as emir from his father.