The French newspaper Le Monde reported that the former Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013, worked to establish a strong presence for the emirate on the international stage. Thanks to him, Qatar acquired a television channel with widespread influence in the Middle East, a major airline, and a large American military base.
He is the man who transformed a patch of desert barely larger than Corsica into a key player in globalization. From his small kingdom, he created a model resembling a world-renowned "startup company," becoming an indispensable player in the gas industry, sports, and in resolving Middle Eastern crises.
When he was born in 1952, his country was a barren peninsula inhabited by a few tens of thousands of recently settled Bedouin. The Al Thani family, into whose ranks he grew up, had ruled the country since the mid-19th century under British protection, which helped counterbalance Saudi influence. The economy was primarily based on the pearl trade, before the first steps toward modernization began with the discovery of oil in 1939.
As was customary among ruling families in the Gulf, Hamad bin Khalifa received his education at the British Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Upon his return, he served as Chief of Staff and then Minister of Defense, before becoming Crown Prince in 1977.
The new emir sought to develop his country , especially after the discovery of the giant North Dome gas field off the Qatari coast. However, his father hesitated to exploit it, fearing a Saudi reaction. On June 27, 1995, he ascended to the throne. The new emir was a strong personality, and his marriage to Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned, the daughter of a political dissident, reflected his independent spirit. Annoyed by the recurring question at airports, "Where is Qatar?", he resolved to make his country known internationally.
Soft power as a matter of survival
After a failed counter-coup attempt, Hamad launched the development of the North Dome gas field. Since pipelines were impossible to run across Saudi territory, liquefied natural gas (LNG) was exported by sea, despite the high cost and risks. Thanks to bold investments, GDP more than tripled from $10 billion in 1998 to $115 billion ten years later.
This wealth enabled him to carry out his ambitions: launching Al Jazeera in 1996, developing Qatar Airways, establishing Al Udeid Air Base in 2002, and building world-class museums such as the Museum of Islamic Art in 2008. Doha also witnessed a huge construction boom, despite relying on low-wage foreign labor, according to the newspaper.
He also invested in sports by purchasing Paris Saint-Germain in 2011 and launching the “beIN Sports” network in 2012.
These investments served as a guarantee for the state’s survival, especially after the experience of the invasion of Kuwait in 1990. They aimed to link the interests of Western powers to the stability of Qatar.
As for Sheikha Moza, she oversaw the establishment of branches of international universities in Doha, bringing about a remarkable social transformation. This “soft power” strategy culminated in Qatar winning the bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Domestically, the prince relied on the support of influential religious figures, such as Yusuf al-Qaradawi, to justify some reforms, such as granting women the right to vote in municipal elections.
Extensive diplomatic activity
Diplomatically, Qatar played a mediating role in several conflicts in Yemen, Sudan, Palestine, and Lebanon. It also contributed to the release of Bulgarian nurses from Libya in 2007. During that period, Qatar invested in major French companies.
With the outbreak of the Arab Spring, Al Jazeera supported the protest movements, and Hamad bet on the rise of political Islam, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood. However, this approach faced setbacks, especially after the overthrow of Mohamed Morsi in Egypt in 2013.
On June 25, 2013, Hamad bin Khalifa decided to abdicate in favor of his son Tamim, due to his health condition and his desire to present a different model for the transfer of power.
Despite his retirement, he remained active behind the scenes, especially during the Gulf crisis (2017-2021), where he and his son helped manage the confrontation with the blockading countries.
As his health deteriorated, he gradually withdrew from the scene, confident that his approach would continue. His son, Tamim, carried on his legacy, whether in organizing the 2022 World Cup or in mediating regional crises.
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