Under the Basic Law of Qatar formulated a year earlier, the country’s emir is the head of state, while Islamic law, or sharia, is the basis for the country’s legal system.

The current emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, came to the throne on 25 June 2013, when his father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, voluntarily ceded power. Sheikh Tamim was 33 years old at the time and had been heir apparent since his older brother Sheikh Jasim bin Hamad al-Thani renounced his right to the throne. The new emir is the fourth and youngest son of Sheikh Hamad and his second wife, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser al-Missned. He has both executive and legislative powers, and is commander in chief of the armed forces.

The former emir, Sheikh Hamad, deposed his father, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani, in a bloodless coup in 1995.

In 1972, a Consultative Council (Majlis al-Shura) was set up to act as the country’s parliament. At the same time, a Council of Ministers, the country’s ruling cabinet, was put in place. The councils are entirely appointed by the emir, while the country’s government is headed by an emir-appointed prime minister drawn from the ranks of the ruling family.

Sheikh Abdullah has directed several special initiatives focused on interior security forces

Sheikh Hamad’s prime minister and foreign minister was the experienced Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, known to many on the world stage as ‘HBJ’. Sheikh Tamim has appointed Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani as both premier and interior minister. Abdullah is less experienced in foreign affairs than Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim was, but has had a long career in the police and security services and has directed several special initiatives focused on interior security forces. He has had a primary focus on international security, particularly in preparing Qatar’s communications networks for the 2006 Asian Games in Doha and the 2022 World Cup.

In a 2003 referendum, Qataris overwhelmingly ratified a new constitution that called for, among other things, an expansion of the Consultative Council to 45 members, 30 of whom would be elected. The constitution was enshrined in law in 2005, and elections for the expanded Majlis al-Shura were due to be held in 2007. The vote was put on hold until 2013, and then postponed again as Sheikh Hamad extended the term of the existing assembly for another three years before transferring power to his son.

Municipal council elections have been held every four years since 1999 after being reintroduced by the previous emir. Women have voted in these elections since 2011. The 29 councillors elected during these polls are selected from the country’s 10 administrative districts and meet at the Central Municipal Council, which advises the Consultative Council and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture.

Under the new constitution, Qatar’s judiciary body should be independent from the government and the emir. However, the emir still makes all judicial appointments, on the basis of recommendations from the country’s Supreme Judicial Council. The council was set up in 1999 as part of a programme of reforms initiated by Sheikh Hamad, and oversees a three-tiered system of courts set up at the same time.

Qatar’s three main courts are the courts of first instance, appeal and cessation. The first two are split into courts of justice, which hear civil, criminal and commercial matters, and courts of sharia, which oversee family and personal matters. The court of cessation is the final court of appeal.