Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (Arabic:تميم بن حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني,romanized: Tamīm bin Ḥamad bin Khalīfa Āl Thānī; born 3 June 1980) has reigned as theEmir of Qatar since 25 June 2013, succeeding his father,Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Born in Doha, he is the fourth son of the former Emir and his second wife,Moza bint Nasser. Tamim became heir apparent in 2003 after his older brotherSheikh Jassim renounced his claim to the throne.[1]
Sheikh Tamim was commissioned as asecond lieutenant in theQatar Armed Forces upon graduation from Sandhurst.[1] He became the heir apparent to the Qatari throne on 5 August 2003, when his elder brotherSheikh Jassim renounced his claim to the title.[3][1] Since then he was groomed to take over rule, working in top security and economics posts.[2] On 5 August 2003, he was appointed deputy commander-in-chief of Qatar's armed forces.[1]
TheOlympic Council of Asia (OCA) Evaluation Committee completed its tour to Doha in November 2020, and confirmed that the city will have much to offer for theAsian Games, and that they were satisfied with the prioritizing and support from Tamim.[7][8] At the 39th General Assembly of the OCA, PresidentAhmed Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah announced that Doha would host the2030 Asian Games.[9]
Sheikh Tamim with U.S. Secretary of DefenseChuck Hagel, 10 December 2013
On 25 June 2013, Tamim's father, SheikhHamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, revealed to close relatives and aides that he planned to step down as the Emir of Qatar.[15][16] Tamim then became the Emir of Qatar after his father handed over power in a televised speech.[17] While the previous two Qatari rulers from theAl Thani family ascended to power in bloodless coups, Tamin was the first to ascend to power via anabdication.[18] According toThe Economist, of his siblings who had previously contended for the throne, "One played too much, the other prayed too much."[19] The transition of power went smoothly, as family members hold many of Qatar's top posts.[1]
According to a diplomatic source close to the Al Thani family, Sheikh Tamim has "a strong personality" that allowed him to "establish himself within" the rulingHouse of Thani.[10] He became crown prince on 5 August 2003, after his brother Sheikh Jassim had stepped down.[20] Diplomats quoted by theBBC argued that Jassim, who served as crown prince for eight years, had hoped to expand his political powers. In 2003, Sheikh Jassim stepped down from the position of crown prince. According toQatar News Agency Jassim sent a letter to his father saying, "The time is appropriate to step down and prepare for a successor".[21] In the letter, Jassim stated, "I did not want, as I have told you from the start, to be appointed as crown prince" and said that he had only accepted the position in October 1996 because of "sensitive circumstances".[22] According to a report by Stratfor, Jassim had no allies among the military forces or secret police at the time of the 2013 political transition, and thus had few chances to overturn Hamad's decree.[23]
Tamim rules an authoritarian regime.[24] He holds all executive and legislative authority in Qatar; political parties are forbidden, and elections are not free and fair.[25] The citizens of Qatar have limited political and civil rights.[25]
One of Tamim's first moves after coming to power was to merge bureaucracies, such as the Qatar National Food Security Program, which was incorporated into the Ministries of Economy and Agriculture. He lowered the budget of theQatar Foundation andQatar Museums Authority and other institutions.[26][27]
Since his accession to power, the government has expanded the roads around the capital, developed the newDoha Metro system, and completed the construction of a new airport, theHamad International Airport.[28] During theArab Spring, Tamim promised to establish a directive to lower the price of foodstuffs sold by companies working with the country's National Food Security Programme and anticipated social allowances and pension increases.[29]
Russia handing over the symbolic relay baton for the hosting rights of the2022 FIFA World Cup to Qatar in June 2018
In his inaugural speech on 26 June 2013, Sheikh Tamim pledged to continue to diversify Qatar's economy away fromhydrocarbons.[30]
In 2014, Tamim passed new "cybercrime" legislation, which was said to be part of an agreement among Gulf states to criminalize online insults of the region's royal families.[34] The law outlawed the spreading of "false news" as well as digital material that violates the country's "social values" or "general order". The legislation made it illegal to incite, aid and facilitate the publication of offensive material. The law was criticized as being intended by the authoritarian regime to silence dissent in Qatar.Amnesty International called the law "a major setback for freedom of expression in Qatar" and other critics suggest that the new law will violate provisions of the country's constitution that protect civil liberties.[35]
In January 2016, Tamim made additional changes to his cabinet. He named a new foreign minister,Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani,[36] moving the previous foreign minister, Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah, to the position of Minister of State for Defense Affairs.[37] Tamim also merged several ministries, including communication and transport, culture, youth and sports. Journalists have speculated reasons behind the cabinet changes. Some have come to the conclusion that the reorganization was either an economic move, meant to save the country money at a time when the falling price of gas had forced the country to scale back its workforce or for reasons of political stability.[38]Eurasia Group indicated in a report that the cabinet change aimed to increase efficiency in government operations and would not negatively impact political or economic stability.[39] According to others the appointments showed that Tamim was trying to make the government his own by bringing in a new, younger generation of ministers that were more loyal to him than to his father.[40]
On 29 July 2021, Sheikh Tamim signed Law No. 6 of 2021 for the conduct of first legislative (Shura Council) election in Qatar and fifth in theGulf cooperation Council (GCC). The law was first approved in a 2003 constitutional referendum but was never enforced.[41][42] Of the 45 seats of the Shura Council, two thirds (30 seats) were elected, while the emir appointed the remaining 15 members of the council, giving this minority group and his cabinet overwhelming power of decision making on issues of defense, foreign policy and other critical issues of the state.[43] The Assembly's powers are limited. The body can only question the prime minister, who is appointed by theEmir of Qatar, on his policies if two-thirds of the members agree, which was unlikely given that one third of its members were appointed by the Emir.[44] This law was widely criticized by international rights groups for the exclusion of naturalized Qatari citizens and other groups. On 2 October 2021, the first ever election held in Qatar recording 63.5 per cent voter turnout[45] but with protests by disenfranchised groups.[46][47][48]
Eligibility for the vote was limited to people aged 18 years and up who had a grandfather born in Qatar; candidates were required to be at least 30 years of age and of Qatari origin.[49][50] Some members of the seminomadicAl Murrah tribe were barred from the election, causing discontent among some members of the tribe.[49][50] Some members and supporters of the Al Murrah tribe were arrested after protesting the law.[50] After the vote controversy, Tamim pledged equal citizenship[51] and ordered legal amendments.[52]
In November 2024, the initial experiment of legislative elections that took place in the 2021 general poll was formally discontinued. The electoral component for the advisory assembly was fully eliminated, scrapping the planned "general election" process for its seats and returning the appointment power to the Emir.[53][54][55]
During Tamim's rule, Qatar's abuse and exploitation of foreignmigrant labors (mostly Indians andNepalese) has been a subject of international controversy, in particular in the lead-up to the2022 FIFA World Cup.[56][57][58]
Two laws protecting workers' rights, which included clauses on maximum working hours and rights to annual leave, were passed by Sheikh Tamim in 2017.[59] The next year, Sheikh Tamim passed Law No. 13 of 2018, abolishing exit visas for roughly 95% of the country's migrant workers. The remaining 5% of workers, which amount to approximately 174,000 people, still require their employer's permission to exit the country. Amnesty International described the step taken by the emir as an "important first step towards meeting the authorities' promise to fundamentally reform the exploitative sponsorship system" but called on the government to follow through with more reforms.[60]
In November 2017, Qatar and theInternational Labour Organization (ILO) started a technical cooperation programme to improve working conditions and labour rights.[61][62] The ILO opened its first project office in Qatar in April 2018.[63][64]
Following the adoption on 30 August 2020 of Law No. 19 of 2020, migrant workers can now change jobs before the end of their contract without first having to obtain a no objection certificate (NOC) from their employer.[65] This new law, coupled with the removal of exit permit requirements earlier in the year, effectively dismantles the "kafala system" of sponsorships,[65] although elements of the system remained.[66] In March 2021, Qatar implemented a monthly minimum wage of 1,000riyals (USD 275) for all workers, making it the first country in the region to do so.[67][68]
Tamim's transition to power was welcomed by leaders across the world, who expected him to continue to work in his father's footsteps and increase Qatar's role in vital international affairs, including the Syrian crisis and Darfur agreement.[69]
Analysts said he would be tasked with overseeing substantial upgrades to the national infrastructure, which have recently gotten underway. While some view Tamim as more religious than his father, most analysts expect him to retain his father's largely pragmatic habits of governing – usingIslam to further objectives where useful, but not pushing strictly Islamic agenda items such as outlawing alcohol.[70] In 2020, the Qatari government condemned "populist rhetoric inciting the abuse of religions" and "hate speech based on belief, race or religion."[71] From 2020 onward, Qatar took gradual steps to remove hateful or violent content from school textbooks.[72][73]
In his inaugural speech to the nation, Tamim vowed that he would continue to pursue a central role for Qatar in the region but that he will not "take direction" in foreign affairs.[74] He committed to the "highest possible level of integration" with his Gulf neighbors.[75]
In May 2022, Tamim met in Iran withAyatollahAli Khamenei and Iranian presidentEbrahim Raisi. Tamim expressed satisfaction with his second visit to Iran and pointed to the prominent position of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution in the Islamic world and said: "The crimes of the Zionist regime in Palestine are horrible and we must all stand against the events in Palestine". Tamim also discussed the solution to the problems of the countries in the region, including Syria, Iraq and Yemen, and also mentioned the economic relations between Iran and Qatar, saying: "The Economic Committee between the two countries has become active, and we hope that economic cooperation will significantly improve by next year".[76]
Tamim in Colombia, November 2024.
In late October 2013, a few months after taking charge, Sheikh Tamim took a regional tour of the Gulf. Even before his accession to power, he formally represented his father at the annual Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Bahrain in December 2012 and welcomed delegates to the Arab League Summit in Doha in March 2013.[29]
Working in a government security post, he promoted stronger ties with Saudi Arabia, a neighbour and often contentious rival to Qatar.[70] Tamim considers Qatar's rivalry with Saudi Arabia unproductive, as has been the case in the so far unsuccessful attempt to build a cohesive Syrian opposition.[77] Despite this, Tamim worked within the GCC to support the Syrian opposition.[78]
Thani with Brazilian PresidentJair Bolsonaro on 28 October 2019.
Qatar has also provided aid through loans and investments to the democratically electedEnnahdha Party in Tunisia,[79] and to parties in Yemen and Morocco.[32]
Arab leaders, U.S. presidentJoe Biden and Tamim (third from right) at theGCC+3 summit inJeddah, 16 July 2022.
Since the 2011Arab Spring, Qatar vied withSaudi Arabia and theUnited Arab Emirates for influence in theMiddle East and North Africa, including in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia.[80] Qatari support for Islamist causes and for organizations that oppose the absolute rule of the Gulf's hereditary rulers provoked tensions with the GCC countries.[81]
In March 2014, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain withdrew their ambassadors to Qatar for nine months; diplomatic relations were restored following the November 2014 Riyadh Agreement.[80][82][83]
The officially cited reason for the 2014 diplomatic crisis was Qatar's alleged refusal to ratify the agreements of non-interference in domestic policy within the GCC in December 2013,[82] but the underlying causes was a long-term degeneration in Qatar's relationships with other Arab states, precipitated by Qatari's backing of Islamists during Arab Spring revolts.[82][83] Qatar and Turkey supported the Egyptian government ofMohammed Morsi of theMuslim Brotherhood, while the other Gulf Arab statements supported themilitary coup that ousted Morsi from power.[83] As part of the 2014 agreement, Qatar expelled seven senior Muslim Brotherhood figures and agreed to stopal-Jazeera broadcasts critical of the Egyptian government.[83] The 2014 agreement was vague and lacked verification provisions, however, and both sides later claimed that the other had breached the agreement.[80]
On 5 June 2017, theQatar diplomatic crisis began, with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, and Bahrain severing diplomatic ties to Qatar and blockading Qatar,[80] citing Qatar's support for the Muslim Brotherhood, its continued harboring of key Muslim Brotherhood figures within Qatar, and support for theInternational Union of Muslim Scholars, the Brotherhood's clerical affiliate, which is linked toHamas.[84] In January 2020, following a summit inAl-Ula, Saudi Arabia, Qatar reconciled with its neighbors, with a statement issued at the conclusion of the statement signed by Saudi Arabia, members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and Egypt, although the statement did not specifically address the rift or its causes.[84] In January 2021, Tamim signed an agreement ending the 43-month air, land and sea blockade of Qatar by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt. The nations reopened their land border and airspace to Qatar.[80]
Sheikh Tamim, UN Secretary-GeneralAntónio Guterres and NATO Secretary GeneralJens Stoltenberg, 16 February 2018.Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with Ukrainian PresidentPetro Poroshenko in Qatar, 20 March 2018.
Qatar heavily invested in loans and aid to Egypt during theMuslim Brotherhood's government.[29] According to documents obtained by Al Arabiya, Qatar had agreed to stop providing support to the Muslim Brotherhood.[85] In August 2013, Qatar joined a U.S.-led attempt to mediate the escalating tension between the Muslim Brotherhood and the military.[29] Speaking atGeorgetown University during his first visit to the United States, Tamim reiterated that Qatar would not interfere in Egypt but condemned what happened in Egypt after the2013 coup.[86] SinceMohamed Morsi's removal from office, the new government has turned down Qatari offers for financial aid.[77] Qatar's continued support for the Muslim Brotherhood resulted in a diplomatic rift between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE in 2014, culminating in the withdrawal of the latter three countries' ambassadors in March of that year.[87] Qatar has continuously denied allegations of support for the Muslim Brotherhood,[88] with the Foreign Minister stating in 2017: "In Egypt, when the Muslim Brotherhood assumed power, some linked this to Qatar's support, even though nearly 70 percent of the assistance program provided by Qatar was during the era ofEssam Sharaf, during the period of themilitary council".[89] In June 2016, Morsi was given a life sentence for passing state secrets to Qatar.[90][91]
On 20 January 2021, Qatar and Egypt agreed to resume diplomatic relations.[92] In March 2021, during a visit toCairo, Qatari foreign ministerMohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani handed over Sheikh Tamim's invitation for Egypt's presidentAbdel Fattah el-Sisi.[93] Sheikh Tamim named the Qatari ambassador to Egypt in July 2021[94] and met with el-Sisi inBaghdad on 28 August 2021.[95] On 24 June 2022, Tamim met with el-Sisi inCairo. They discussed diplomatic and economic relations[96] after Qatar and Egypt had signed investments contracts worth more than US$5 billion in March 2022.[97]
Qatar allegedly provided a financial boost to Morsi'sFreedom and Justice Party, and Brotherhood opponents allegedly argued that Morsi's narrow election victory was achieved through Qatari funding.[98] After Morsi's election, Qatar contributed a total of US$5.5 billion to the Muslim Brotherhood administration.[98] Qatar has repeatedly denied that it supports the Muslim Brotherhood, saying it supports "the legitimate peoples and governments elected whatever the ideology of the ruling group as long as it works on the prosperity and welfare of its people."[99] Tamim himself has also repeatedly denied that Qatar supports extremists.[100]
Some countries and regional analysts have claimed that Qatar has supported a spectrum ofIslamist groups around the region.[32] Especially since the beginning of theArab Spring in 2011, the country has provided diplomatic and medical initiatives, and warnings to Islamist groups.[32] There have also been claims that the Qatar-based pan-Arab satellite television channelAl Jazeera promoted the narratives of the Islamist parties and causes supported by Qatar, thereby contributing to the electoral success of some of these movements during national polls.[32] However, Al Jazeera maintains that it was under pressure because "it is the most transparent, balanced and unbiased of all Arab channels".[101] The channel previously hosted a talk-show, "al-Sharīʿa wa al-Ḥayāh" ("Shariah and Life"), featuring the controversial Brotherhood-associated Egyptian clericYusuf al-Qaradawi.[102]
On 1 November 2023, Qatar facilitated an agreement among Egypt, Israel, and Hamas. This agreement, in collaboration with the U.S., allowed for the safe evacuation of civilians from thebesieged Gaza.[103] In February 2024, Hamas proposed a deal with the mediation of Qatar and Egypt, aiming for the release of all Israeli hostages in Gaza and hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, along with an end to the conflict.[104] However, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu declined the proposal.[105] Furthermore, the humanitarian actions of Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani and Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani received accolades from global leaders such as US SecretaryAntony Blinken,[106] Canadian prime ministerJustin Trudeau,[107] US PresidentJoe Biden,[108] and the EU's High Representative for Foreign AffairsJosep Borrell. On 23 May 2024, the U.S. officialWilliam J. Burns, the C.I.A. director leading American negotiation efforts for a Gaza cease-fire, plans to visit Europe for discussions with Israeli and Qatari and Egyptian leaders to reinvigorate talks on halting the conflict and releasing hostages.[109]
Qatar called for amilitary intervention by Arab countries to end the bloodshed in Syria in 2012.[110] Analysts expected that Tamin would have been under immediate pressure to reduce Qatar's support for the rebels in theSyrian Civil War,[70] which he had previously supported.[111] Sheikh Tamim took a step back after taking charge, primarily in response to the irritation voiced by Western powers at Qatar's operation to arm Syrian rebel groups which had been directed haphazardly.[32] However, Qatar has continued to provide support to Syrian opposition groups, with Tamim declaring in a speech to theUN in September 2020 that Qatar would continue to support efforts to achieve justice and hold perpetrators of atrocities, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in Syria accountable.[112] In 2015, under the aegis of a joint initiative with Saudi Arabia and Turkey promoted by Sheikh Tamim, Qatar has provided Syrian rebels with new weapons and forged a new opposition coalition in Syria known as the "Army of Conquest".[113] Tamin also renewed his country's support for the Syrian people's demands for justice and freedom during a meeting with the chief of theSyrian National CoalitionKhaled Khoja and his delegation in April 2015.[114]
The Syrian rebel groupAl-Rahman Legion was supported byQatar in 2018.[115] Since 2017, Qatari-backed Al-Rahman Legion has been fighting Saudi Arabian-backedJaysh al-Islam rebel coalition.[116]
On 7 May 2023, Sheikh Tamim unexpectedly left an Arab League summit before Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's scheduled speech.[117] In September 2022, in an interview with the French news outletLe Point, he highlighted that the factors that resulted in Syria's suspension from the Arab League in 2011 continue to be significant as the regime has been attributed to a prolonged period of conflict within the country, resulting significant refugee crisis on a global scale.[118] According to various reports, theAssad regime has been accused of gravehuman rights violations such as employing distressing torture methods and shelling civilians.[119]
Qatar and Western countries, such as theUnited States, theUnited Kingdom, and theUnited Nations, have expressed opposition to Bashar al-Assad's reinstatement into the Arab League. Their concerns primarily revolve around safeguarding the well-being and security of Syrian refugees across the Middle East.[120] On 30 January 2025, Sheikh Tamim became the first head of state to visit Damascus since thefall of the Assad regime, discussing post-conflict reconstruction in Syria and other topics.[121]
In January 2019, a Reuters investigation revealed that a team of formerUS government intelligence operatives working on behalf of the United Arab Emirates had hacked the iPhones of activists, diplomats and foreign leaders, including Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.[122] Beginning in 2016 the spying tool, code named 'K4RM4', enabled the UAE to monitor hundreds of individuals identified as potential critics of, or threats to, the Emirati government and its ideology. The hacking unit using the tool, known as 'Project Raven', was based in Abu Dhabi and composed of local security officials and former US intelligence operatives working for the UAE's intelligence services. Ex-Project Raven operatives described how Karma was able to remotely gain access to iPhones, including that of Sheikh Tamim's, by uploading numbers or email addresses into an automated targeting system. According to Reuters the phones of Sheikh Tamim's brother as well as several associates were also hacked by the Project Raven team.[123]
In November 2024, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani affirmed Qatar's support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, advocating for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. His statement, emphasizing the importance of international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, was delivered during the United Nations' "International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People" event in Vienna.[124]
Tamim signed a military cooperation agreement with Turkey during an official visit to the country in December 2014. The agreement aims to promote cooperation in military training and the defense industry, and allows for the deployment of the Turkish Armed Forces to Qatar and the Qatari military to Turkey.[129]
On 2 December 2015, Tamim signed a number of agreements with PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan. Cooperative agreements in education, maritime transport and correspondence pacts between intelligence agencies were signed.[130] An agreement was also reached by Turkey to purchase liquefied natural gas from Qatar over a lengthy duration.[131] The two leaders also announced the planned creation of a Turkish military base in Qatar; a first for Turkey in thePersian Gulf.[132][133]
In August 2018, Qatar pledged $15 billion investment in Turkey, during currency crisis amid a diplomatic standoff with US. The investment package was announced after Tamim met Erdoğan inAnkara, on 15 August 2018.[134][135]
On 6 December 2021, Tamim received Erdoğan for a state visit in Doha. During the two-day visit, they signed 15 agreements regarding culture, economy, defense and security. In addition, several memoranda of understanding were signed between the countries' ministries.[136] Tamim and Erdoğan also agreed to extend the $15 billioncurrency swap agreement between Qatar and Turkey.[137]
On 4 December 2023, Erdoğan and Tamim chaired the 9th meeting of the Turkey-Qatar Supreme Strategic Committee; and signed 12 cooperation agreements in various fields.[138]
Tamim met UK prime ministerDavid Cameron and QueenElizabeth II in October 2014 on his first official visit to the UK. Qatar and the UK anticipated a Qatari-British Economic Forum to explore mutual investment opportunities.[139] Up to and during this meetingThe Telegraph newspaper launched a campaign to urge Cameron to discuss Qatar's funding of Islamic extremists with Tamim. The Conservative MP,Stephen Barclay, repeatedly called for transparency in Britain's dealings with Qatar and said it was "essential" for Cameron to raise the issue of terror finance. "I welcome the fact that the Prime Minister is meeting with the Emir," he said. "As part of these discussions it is essential that the issue of financing Sunni tribes in Syria and Iraq is raised."[140]
In July 2018, Tamim and UK prime ministerTheresa May signed aletter of intent between the governments of Qatar and the United Kingdom. Both agreed to exchange information and intelligence on terrorism, to cooperate in the areas of law enforcement related to terror activities and security of the transport sector, including airports and aviation, and to fightfinancial crime.[141][142][143]
Tamin with British Prime MinisterRishi Sunak, 20 October 2023.
KingCharles III andQueen Camilla hosted Tamim atBuckingham Palace for a state visit on 3 and 4 December 2024. This followed their most recent meeting at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai in December 2023.[146][147]
Tamim met French presidentEmmanuel Macron twice in 2017.[150][151][152] In the latter meeting, they signed commercial contracts worth more than US$14 billion.[153] During their 2018 meeting, Tamim thanked Macron for his support for Qatar in the Gulf crisis.[154][155] They met again in 2021.[156][157][158] In 2024, Macron and Tamim signed a €10 billion agreement on investment in the French economy.[159]
In March 2024, Qatar facilitated negotiations between Russia and Ukraine on reuniting children with their families who were separated during the conflict.[166][167] Russia returned six children to Ukraine with the assistance of Qatari mediators in May 2024.[168] In June, President of UkraineVolodymyr Zelenskyy visited Qatar and met with Tamim. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for Qatar's assistance in the return of Ukrainian children. Zelenskyy also highlighted the importance of Qatar's support forUkraine's Peace Formula, which was held in 15 and 16 June.[169]
PresidentBarack Obama and Tamin at theGCC summit inSaudi Arabia, 21 April 2016.Sheikh Tamim meets with PresidentJoe Biden, 31 January 2022.Sheikh Tamim meets with US Secretary of StateAntony Blinken, 12 June 2024.Sheikh Tamim and Sheikha Jawaher with PresidentDonald Trump, in Lusail Palace 14 May 2025.Sheikh Tamim with PresidentDonald Trump, 14 May 2025.
In July 2014, Tamim renewed the defence agreement with the U.S. and confirmed Qatar's cooperation with the U.S. in the Combined Air Operations Center atAl Udeid Air Base.[170]
After visiting U.S. PresidentBarack Obama at theWhite House in February 2015,[171] Tamim wrote an editorial saying the U.S.–Qatari "strategic partnership has deepened in recent years, in spite of the regional unrest" and reiterated his commitment to support a more comprehensive approach to the strategic challenges facing the Middle East.[172]
Sheikh Tamim was a personal friend of U.S. PresidentDonald Trump prior to the latter's presidency. He visited the United States several times during Trump's presidency and has held bilateral meetings at theWhite House in Washington, D.C.
Tamim in particular played a role in the mediation with Taliban leaders, with whom he initiated contacts under his father's government. The United States requested the establishment of a Taliban office in Doha. In June 2013, the Taliban opened their first official overseas office in the Qatari capital as part of the long-standing attempt to broker a long-term Afghan peace agreement.[173] In June 2015, Qatar successfully mediated efforts to free four Tajikistan soldiers kidnapped in December 2014 in Afghanistan by a Taliban group.[174]
In July 2017, the US and Qatar signed a memorandum of understanding to combat the financing of terrorism.[175] In the same year, U.S. secretary of stateRex Tillerson said that "The emir of Qatar has made progress in halting financial support and expelling terrorist elements from his country".[176]
On an August 2021 telephone conversation, U.S. PresidentJoe Biden thanked Tamim for Qatar's support regarding theUS evacuations from Afghanistan,[180] which according to Biden, the airlifts "would not have been possible without the early support from Qatar".[181][182] Sheikh Tamim visited Biden at the White House on a visit to Washington, D.C., on 31 January 2022.[183] He was the first leader from the Gulf Cooperation Council to visit the White House since Biden took office.[184] They discussed bilateral relations, stability of global energy supplies,[185] the situation in Afghanistan,[186] and peace in the Middle East.[187] Biden called Qatar a "good friend and reliable and capable partner", and announced the designation of Qatar as amajor non-NATO ally.[188][189]
Qatar hosted the historic signing of apeace deal between the US and the Taliban in February 2020 which called for the full withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.[190] Beginning in September 2020, Qatar has hosted the peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban to end decades of war in the country.[191]
Qatar mediated a deal between the United States and Iran, which saw the release of five prisoners in each country and the unfreezing of US$6 billion of Iranian funds in September 2023, which had been frozen due to sanctions imposed by the United States.[192][193] U.S. President Biden thanked Tamim and Qatari officials for their role in the mediation as well as establishing a "Humanitarian channel" for Iran.[194]
In 1996, Qatar established trade relations with the State of Israel, the first amongst all nations of the Arabian Peninsula and has continued to maintain its "working relationship" with Israel.[195] Qatar cut commercial ties with Israel in 2009, after the first of four wars between Israel and Hamas in Gaza (Gaza War (2008–2009),2012 Gaza War,2014 Gaza War,2021 Gaza War).[196] In 2021, Qatar abstained from entering diplomatic agreement with state of Israel brokered by the United States, the country only maintained "working relationship" in order to aid Palestinians.[197] It stated that it would normalize diplomatic ties when Israel commits to theArab Peace Initiative.[198] In May 2021, it was reported that Qatar had within a period of 10 years provided over $3 billion in aid to Gaza and West Bank with Israeli approval. In 2022, Israeli military officials were secretly dispatched to Qatar'sAl Udeid Air Base, forward operating headquarters of all US forces in the West Asia, also known asCENTCOM as part of a security reshuffle.[199]
TheGaza war disturbed large parts of the world – even countries in theArab world that had good contacts with Israel and were on the path to rapprochement with Israel, such as Qatar. Tamim stressed that his country, in which Hamas had a representative for years, blamed the Israeli government alone for the lack of success of the ceasefire and hostages negotiations and stated that the Israeli government was not a partner for peace: "We are currently not experiencing a peace process, but agenocide."[196]
Sheikh Tamim is described as friendly, confident, and open by those who know him. He is also described as savvy, careful, and conservative.[70] In addition, he is considered to be apragmatist, and to have "excellent relations" with the West, including the United States and France.[2][70]
Political analysts expected Tamim to be more conservative and risk-averse than his father.[70] Because Tamim is very close to theMuslim Brotherhood,[200] preserving a national identity grounded in Islamic traditional values has been Tamim's first priority.[70]
A sketch of Tamim entitledTamim al-Majd (Tamim the Glorious) by advertiser Ahmed al-Maadheed became extremely popular as a nationalistic symbol in Qatar following the beginning of the2017 Qatar diplomatic crisis.[201][202]
Sheikh Tamim married his first wife and second cousin,SheikhaJawaher bint Hamad Al Thani, on 8 January 2005. They have four children, two sons and two daughters:[1]
Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born 15 January 2006)
Sheikh Hamad bin Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born 20 October 2008)
Sheikha Aisha bint Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born 24 August 2010)
Sheikh Jassim bin Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born 12 June 2012)
Sheikh Tamim married a second wife, SheikhaAl-Anoud bint Mana Al Hajri, on 3 March 2009. She is the daughter of Mana bin Abdul Hadi Al Hajri, former Qatari Ambassador toJordan.[203] They have five children, three daughters and two sons:[1]
Sheikha Naylah bint Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born 27 May 2010)
Sheikh Abdullah bin Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born 29 September 2012)
Sheikha Rodha bint Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born January 2014)
Sheikh Alqaqa'a bin Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born 3 October 2015)
Sheikha Moza bint Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born 19 May 2018)
On 25 February 2014, Sheikh Tamim married a third wife, SheikhaNoora bint Hathal Al Dosari. They have four children, three sons and one daughter:
Sheikh Joa'an bin Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born 27 March 2015)
Sheikh Mohammed bin Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born 17 July 2017)
Sheikh Fahad bin Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born 16 June 2018)
Sheikha Hind bint Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (born 5 February 2020)
In total he has thirteen children born between 2006 and 2020; seven sons and six daughters, from three wives.
The permanent constitution of the state of Qatar published in 2005 dictates that the rule is hereditary and limited to descendants ofHamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The order of succession inQatar is determined by appointments within theHouse of Al Thani.[204]
^Agence France-Presse (4 August 2017)."'Tamim the Glorious' enthrals Qatar".The Hindu.In the capital Doha, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's face is everywhere, thanks to a silhouette of the ruler's profile and the slogan "Tamim al-majd" — Arabic for "Tamim the Glorious" — on bumpers, shop windows, concrete walls and mobile phone cases.
^Schanzer, Jonathan; Koduvayur, Varsha (14 June 2018)."Kuwait and Oman Are Stuck in Arab No Man's Land".Foreign Policy.Archived from the original on 18 June 2018. Retrieved19 June 2018.A young artist's sketch of the Qatari emir, titled Tamim the Glorious, has become a symbol of this new nationalism.
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.svg)
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