Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani, the current emir of Qatar, was born on June 3, 1980 in Doha, Qatar. He succeeded his father as the emir in 2013.

In 1995, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani became the Amir of Qatar, ruling until 2013.

In October 1996, Sheikh Jassim sent a letter to his father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, expressing his desire to step down as Crown Prince. He mentioned that he had only accepted the position due to 'sensitive circumstances'.

In 1998, Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani graduated from the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in the United Kingdom. This educational background prepared him for his future roles in the Qatari armed forces.

In February 2002, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani was elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee, showcasing his involvement in sports governance.

In August 2003, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani became the Heir Apparent to the Qatar throne after his older brother Sheikh Jassim renounced his claim to the title.

The permanent constitution of the state of Qatar, published in 2005, establishes that the rule is hereditary and limited to descendants of Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani chaired the organizing committee for the 2006 Asian Games held in Qatar. This was part of his efforts to enhance Qatar's international reputation through major sporting events.

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani announced his intention to step down as the Emir of Qatar on June 25, 2013. Tamim succeeded his father as the Emir after the smooth transition of power.

In his inaugural speech to the nation on 26 June 2013, Sheikh Tamim pledged to continue to diversify Qatar's economy away from hydrocarbons.

In July 2014, Sheikh Tamim renewed the defence agreement with the U.S. and confirmed Qatar's cooperation with the U.S. in the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) at Al Udeid Air Base.

In October 2014, Sheikh Tamim visited the UK and met with UK Prime Minister David Cameron and Queen Elizabeth II. Discussions were held regarding mutual investment opportunities and the issue of Qatar's funding of Islamic extremists.

After visiting U.S. President Barack Obama in February 2015, Sheikh Tamim wrote an editorial emphasizing the deepening of the U.S.-Qatari strategic partnership despite regional unrest.

In January 2016, Tamim made additional changes to his cabinet, appointing Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani as the new foreign minister and moving Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah to the position of Minister of State for Defense Affairs.

In July 2017, the US and Qatar signed a memorandum of understanding to combat the financing of terrorism. Then U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson acknowledged Qatar's progress in halting financial support to terrorists.

In 2017, Sheikh Tamim passed two laws protecting workers' rights in Qatar, which included clauses on maximum working hours and rights to annual leave, aiming to address the exploitation of foreign migrant workers.

In July 2018, Sheikh Tamim and UK Prime Minister Theresa May signed a letter of intent to exchange information and intelligence on terrorism, cooperate in law enforcement related to terror activities, and fight financial crime.

In July 2019, Sheikh Tamim visited the U.S. to meet President Donald Trump and attended a state dinner. The visit strengthened bilateral relations.

On August 30, 2020, Law No. 19 was adopted in Qatar, allowing migrant workers to change jobs without needing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer, effectively dismantling the 'kafala system' of sponsorships.

On July 29, 2021, Sheikh Tamim signed Law No. 6 for the conduct of the first legislative (Shura Council) election in Qatar, a significant step towards political reform, although criticized for excluding certain groups.

On October 2, 2021, the first-ever election took place in Qatar, recording a 63.5% voter turnout, but faced protests from disenfranchised groups, labeled as an 'experiment' by Qatari officials.

On 31 January 2022, Sheikh Tamim visited U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House. Biden praised Qatar as a good friend and announced its designation as a major non-NATO ally.

On June 10, 2022, FIFA announced that Israeli nationals would be permitted entry into Qatar during the World Cup tournament, indicating a positive development in sports diplomacy between the two nations.

Sheikh Tamim and Sheikha Jawaher attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on 19 September 2022.

Sheikh Tamim and Sheikha Jawaher attended the coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey on 6 May 2023.

In February 2024, an agreement worth €10 billion to support the French economy was signed by Sheikh Tamim and French President Emmanuel Macron, focusing on various sectors and discussing the Middle East situation.

In March 2024, Qatar facilitated a reconciliation between Russia and Ukraine under the guidance of Sheikh Tamim, reuniting children with their families who were separated during the conflict.

In April 2024, Sheikh Tamim and Dr. Pedro Sanchez discussed enhancing cooperation between Qatar and Spain, addressing recent developments in Gaza, and initiating a joint strategic dialogue.