In the mid-18th century, Bedouins moved to what is now Qatar. One of these Bedouin tribes was the al-Thani clan. They settled in the settlement of al-Bidda. This later grew into Doha, the current capital of Qatar. The then head of the family, Sheikh Muhammad al-Thani, became the strongest force and thus the founder of Qatar’s ruling family, the al-Thani dynasty, which still rules today.
The man who rules the country today is Emir Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani (42). He has three wives and twelve children. In 2013, at the age of 33, he took power in Qatar from his father Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (70). Thanks to the wealth of the coveted resources of oil and gas, he laid the foundation for modern Qatar.
Disputed ruler
Sheikh Tamim has also greatly increased the influence of the small peninsula. Raised in Britain, he attended the famous Sandhurst Military Academy. He then took on various duties in the emirate, including deputy army chief and chairman of the National Olympic Committee. For example, sports enthusiast Tamim brought the World Cup to Qatar.
The al-Thanis hold the most important positions in politics and business. The extended clan of the family includes at least 20,000 people. Despite his moderate attitude, the emir is considered a controversial ruler. He is said to have ties to the Islamic Muslim Brotherhood.