Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani

Title: Emir, Qatar

Biography: Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani became the the Emir of Qatar after his father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, voluntarily ceded power on June 25, 2013. Rumours of the decision to hand him power had begun to circulate in the weeks before the formal announcement was made.

Sheikh Tamim had become the heir apparent to the Qatari throne on 5 August, 2003 after his older brother, Sheikh Jasim bin Hamad al-Thani, renounced his rights to the throne, which he had accepted in 1996.

Born in Doha on 3 June 1980, Sheikh Tamim is the fourth and youngest son of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Qatar’s emir, and his second wife, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser al-Missned.

He was educated in the UK, first studying at Sherborne School and Harrow School before graduating from the Royal Military Sandhurst in 1998.

He married Sheikha Jawahar bint Hamad al-Thani, daughter of Sheikh Hamad bin Suhaim al-Thani, in January 2005.

As Crown Prince, he held a number of key positions including deputy commander-in-chief of the Qatar Armed Forces, chairman of the Supreme Education Council, and vice-president of the Supreme Council for Economic Affairs and Investment.

In his role as National Olympic Committee chairman, Sheikh Tamim led Qatar’s unsuccessful bid for the 2020 Olympics. He was also a member of the International Olympic Committee and head of the Doha 2020 Olympic bid committee.

Sheikh Tamim also served as chairman of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the country’s sovereign wealth fund. As chief executive, he oversaw many high-profile investments that made Qatar a key player in international finance. He is expected to continue in his role as chairman of QIA during his tenure as emir.