Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Hamad bin Abdullah bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani (حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني; born 1 January 1952) is a member of the ruling Al Thani Qatari royal family.

Hamad was born in 1952.

His mother died soon after his birth and he was raised by his uncle.

He graduated from the British Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in 1971, and was then commissioned as a lieutenant colonel in Qatar's armed forces.

A few months later he returned to Qatar and was made commander of a mobile brigade, which later became a force called "Hamad Brigade".

In 1972, Hamad had the rank of general, and became army chief of staff.

Next he was appointed commander-in-chief of Qatar's armed forces with the rank of major general.

In 1977 he was named minister of defense.

Hamad was appointed Heir Apparent of Qatar in 1977 and held the post until 1995.

In the early 1980s, he led the Supreme Planning Council, which sets Qatar's basic economic and social policies.

In the early 1980s, Hamad led the Supreme Planning Council, which sets Qatar's basic economic and social policies.

From 1992, Hamad had a growing responsibility for the day-to-day running of the country, including the development of Qatar's oil and natural gas resources.

Starting in 1992, Hamad's father handed over responsibility for the day-to-day running of the country, including the development of Qatar's oil and natural gas resources, rendering him the effective ruler.

However, his father ultimately retained control over state finances.

He was the ruling Emir of Qatar from 1995 until 2013 when he abdicated the throne, handing power to his fourth son Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani who was born to his second spouse, Moza bint Nassir.

The Qatari government refers to him as the Father Emir.

Hamad seized power from his father, Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, in a bloodless palace coup d'état in 1995.

During his 18-year rule, Qatar's natural gas production reached 77 million tonnes, making Qatar the richest country in the world per capita with the average income in the country US$86,440 a year per person.

On 27 June 1995, he won the throne from his father in a palace coup, Hamad became Emir of Qatar and was crowned on 20 June 2000.

With the support of his family, Hamad took control of the country in a bloodless coup d'état in 1995 when his father Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani was on vacation in Geneva, Switzerland.

The deposition came after a falling out between Hamad bin Khalifa and his father, who had tried regaining some of the authority he had bestowed upon Hamad in early 1995.

In 1995, Sheikh Hamad and his wife Sheikha Moza bint Nasser founded the Qatar Foundation.

A sportsman and an accomplished diver, Hamad has played an active role in promoting and developing athletics in Qatar.

However, a counter-coup was attempted against Hamad in February 1996 under the leadership of former Economy Minister Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The coup failed, and several of Qatar's traditional Arab allies were implicated in the plot, namely Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt.

In a break with the traditional role, his second wife Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned has been a visible advocate for education and children's causes.

Thereafter, his father lived in exile in France and Abu Dhabi until he returned to Qatar in 2001.

Hamad then engaged an American law firm to freeze his father's bank accounts abroad in order to deter a possible countercoup.

During his reign, several sports and diplomatic events took place in Qatar, including the 2006 Asian Games, 2012 UN Climate Change Conference, Doha Agreement, Fatah–Hamas Doha Agreement, and it was decided that the 2022 FIFA World Cup would be held in the country.

He established the Qatar Investment Authority.

By 2013, it had invested over $100 billion around the world, most prominently in The Shard, Barclays Bank, Heathrow Airport, Harrods, Paris Saint-Germain F.C., Volkswagen, Siemens and Royal Dutch Shell.

Hamad ruled a sovereign regime in Qatar without any support from opposition political parties.

During Hamad's rule, Qatar hosted two US military bases.

It also maintained relations with Iran.

The Sheikh founded news media group Al Jazeera.

He also played a part in negotiations between the US and the Taliban.

In June 2013, Hamad, in a brief televised address, announced that he would hand power to his fourth son, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

His activism has enhanced the country's involvement and performance in a number of international competitions, including: winning an Olympic medal in track and field; hosting a wide variety of international sporting events such as the 15th Asian Games, GCC, Asian and World Youth soccer championships; and initiating the Qatar Open Tennis Championship which has grown to become one of two premier tennis competitions in the Middle East.

Under his rule the Qatari government helped to fund the Al Jazeera news network by an emiri decree.

In an analysis of Al Jazeera, Hugh Miles said that diplomats from other countries know that the Emir was the real power behind Al Jazeera but he also quotes a network spokesman denying 'countless times' this accusation, adding that many independent news sources also have subsidies from their respective governments without this implying editorial dabbling and explaining that trying to coerce the kind of journalists Al Jazeera has would be like trying to 'herd cats'.