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| Emir of Qatar | |
| Reign | 22 February 1972 – 27 June 1995 |
| Predecessor | Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani |
| Successor | Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani |
| Born | (1932-09-17)17 September 1932 Doha, Qatar |
| Died | 23 October 2016(2016-10-23) (aged 84) Doha, Qatar |
| Burial | Al Rayyan Cemetery |
| Spouse | Sheikha Amna bint Hassan bin Abdullah Al Thani Sheikha Aisha bint Hamad Al Attiyah Sheikha Rudha bint Jassim bin Jabr Al Thani Sheikha Moza bint Ali bin Saud Al Thani |
| Issue | Sheikh Abdelaziz bin Khalifa Sheikha Maryem Bint Khalifa Sheikha Noora bint Khalifa Sheikha Hissa bint Khalifa Sheikha Jafla bint Khalifa Sheikha Moza bint Khalifa Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Sheikha Aisha Bint Khalifa Sheikha Sheikha bint Khalifa Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Sheikha Amna Bint Khalifa Sheikha Muna bint Khalifa Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Sheikha Lolwa Bint Khalifa Sheikha Amal Bint Khalifa Sheikha Al Anoud bint Khalifa Sheikh Jassim bin Khalifa Sheikha Nouf bint Khalifa |
| House | Thani |
| Father | Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani |
| Mother | Aisha bint Khalifa Al Suwaidi |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Qatar |
| Branch | Qatar Armed Forces |
| Years of service | 1951–1995 |
Khalifa bin Hamad Al ThaniGCB GCMG (Arabic:خليفة بن حمد آل ثاني; 17 September 1932[1][2] – 23 October 2016) was theEmir of Qatar from22 February 1972 until he was deposed by his sonHamad bin Khalifa in acoup on 27 June 1995.[3][4]
He died during the reign of his grandson, the current Emir,Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Sheikh Khalifa was born inDoha in 1932.[5][6] He was the son of SheikhHamad bin Abdullah Al Thani and grandson of EmirAbdullah bin Jassim Al Thani.
In 1957, Khalifa was appointed Minister of Education.[7] Then, he was appointed Deputy Emir.[7] He was named as the heir apparent on 24 October 1960.[8] In the 1960s, he also served as Prime Minister andMinister of Finance.[7]
On 22 February 1972, Sheikh Khalifa became the Emir of Qatar, seizing power from his cousin, EmirAhmad bin Ali Al Thani in a bloodlesscoup d'état.[9] While many Western news outlets referred to it as anoverthrow, the Qatari population merely considered it to be a succession of power.[8] His initial activity was the process of the reorganization of the government.[6] He also limited the financial privileges of members of the ruling family.[8] Next, he appointed a foreign minister and an adviser to himself regarding the day-to-day affairs.[6] On 19 April 1972, he amended the Constitution and expanded the Cabinet by appointing more ministers. Diplomatic relations were also established with a number of foreign countries at the ambassadorial level.[citation needed]
Khalifa's reorganization of the system of government saw a dramatic shift in the hierarchy of authority. He immensely reduced the traditional powers afforded to the heir-apparent and gave all of the power to himself.[10]
On 18 July 1989, the Cabinet was reshuffled for the first time, replacing most of the previous ministers and making it consist of 15 ministers. The Cabinet was again reshuffled under his premiership on 1 September 1992, expanding it to 17 members.[11]
The state revenue from the oil sector had increased as the result of the rising of a number of production sharing agreements with foreign oil companies. Two production-sharing agreements were signed with the Standard Oil Company ofOhio in January 1985 andAmoco in February 1986. In January 1989, another production sharing agreement was signed between Qatar and the French state-owned oil companyElf Aquitaine. In the middle of 1991, production of gas in the Qatar North Field, the world's largest single field of non-associated gas (proven gas reserves of around 250 trillion cubic feet and probable reserves of 500 trillion cubic feet), commenced. While the search for finding more oil deposits in Qatar continued, Qatar built an industrial base in order to reduce dependence on the oil sector.[citation needed]
While Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani was staying inGeneva, Switzerland, in June 1995, his son Hamad bin Khalifa seized power inanother bloodless coup d'état.[12] Hamad bin Khalifa accused his father of treason and demanded thatInterpol arrest him. He charged his father with 4 counts that included his execution.[4]
Khalifa lived inFrance until he returned to Qatar in 2004 to attend to the funeral of his wife Sheikha Moza bint Ali Al Thani. He was received by Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and his crown prince Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. This marked his return to Qatar after 9 years in exile.[13][14] He died on 23 October 2016 at the age of 84.[15][16] Qatar declared 3 days of national mourning after his death.[17]
Sheikh Khalifa had five sons and thirteen daughters from four wives.
Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani Born: 1932 Died: 23 October 2016 | ||
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| Preceded by | Emir of Qatar 1972–1995 | Succeeded by |
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