Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud al-Thani

Company: Qatar Telecom (QTel)

Position: Chairman

Biography: Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud al-Thani has been chairman of Qtel since 2000. The role has ministerial status. Sheikh Abdullah has led Qtel through a period of rapid growth since the launch of its expansion strategy in 2005, which has transformed the company from a domestic operator to a group with presence in 17 countries. The acquisition of Kuwait’s Wataniya in 2007, the biggest telecoms deal in the region at the time, resulted in Sheikh Abdullah becoming chairman of Wataniya as well. He is also president commissioner of Indosat in Indonesia, in which Qtel has a 65 per cent stake. He has held various high-profile positions in Qatar, including chief of the Royal Court from 2000 to 2005. Sheikh Abdullah has a background in the military and aviation sectors, and studied at the Senior Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, in the US.

Contact: Tel (+974) 4 440 0400