Emir of Qatar
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox monarchyThe Emir of the State of Qatar (Template:Langx) is the monarch and head of state of Qatar. The emir is also the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and guarantor of the constitution. The emir holds the most powerful position in the country, controlling all branches of state power, and has a prominent role in foreign relations.
The emirs are members of the House of Thani (Al Thani), whose origins are in the Banu Tamim, one of the largest tribes in the Arabian Peninsula. The current ruler is Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who succeeded on 25 June 2013.<ref name="New Emir BBC">Template:Cite news</ref>
Historical background
All the emirs of Qatar have been members of the Al Thani family.<ref name="qr">Qatar's Rulers. Amiri Diwan. Retrieved 11 July 2022.</ref><ref name="tht">His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Amiri Diwan. Retrieved 11 July 2022.</ref> Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani is recognised as the first ruler, having begun his reign in 1851 when he united the country's tribes under his leadership.<ref name="mbt">Sheikh Mohammed Bin Thani. Amiri Diwan. Retrieved 11 July 2022.</ref>
Qatar became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1871, although Sheikh Mohammed retained control of its internal affairs.<ref name="mbt"/><ref name="Rogan1199">Template:Cite journal</ref> Following his army's victory at the Battle of Al Wajbah in March 1893, the second ruler Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani has been recognised as Founder of the State of Qatar, although it remained part of the Ottoman Empire until July 1913.<ref name="jmt">Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Bin Thani. Amiri Diwan. Retrieved 11 July 2022.</ref>
The Ottomans maintained a military presence in Qatar until August 1915 and Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani signed the Anglo-Qatari Treaty on 3 November 1916. Sheikh Abdullah was the Qatari ruler from 1913 to 1949, and is one of the few monarchs, alongside the likes of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, whose tenure extended through both world wars (1914–1945). Qatar's first oil well was drilled in October 1938, and oil was found at Dukhan in January 1940.<ref name="ajt">Sheikh Abdullah Bin Jassim Al Thani. Amiri Diwan. Retrieved 11 July 2022.</ref>
Qatar became an independent state on 3 September 1971 and, since then, the ruler has been styled emir (or "amir").<ref name="aat">Sheikh Ahmad Bin Ali Al Thani. Amiri Diwan. Retrieved 11 July 2022.</ref>
Constitutional role and authority
Qatar is officially a constitutional monarchy,<ref name="BBC9Sep05">BBC News, How democratic is the Middle East? Template:Webarchive, 9 September 2005.</ref><ref name="USState2011">United States Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2011: Qatar Template:Webarchive, 2011.</ref> but the wide powers retained by the emir and his family have it bordering an absolute monarchy<ref name="ftManage">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and autocracy.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="MEPEI">Template:Cite web</ref> The emir holds the primary role in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and also maintains ultimate control over the military.
Executive authority
The emir and his family hold uncontested control over the executive branch. While the Consultative Assembly holds some "limited ability to offset executive power in certain areas",<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> all its members are themselves appointed by the emir.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref> The emir has the exclusive power to appoint and replace the prime minister and cabinet ministers, who together constitute the Council of Ministers, which is the main executive authority in the country.<ref name="embassycouncil">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0" />
Legislative authority
In 2003, Qatar adopted a constitution that provided for the direct election of 30 of the 45 members of a legislature.<ref name="CIA">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Lambert2011a">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Reut20111101">Template:Cite news</ref> However, the legislature has limited powers to reject legislation by the emir and dismiss ministers.<ref name=":22">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="MEPEI2">Template:Cite web</ref> After nearly 20 years of postponements, the assembly held its first partial election in October 2021.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In May 2024, however, the country's "short-lived experiment" in electing members of the Consultative Assembly ended with a constitutional referendum abolishing future elections. Qatar's state news agency stated that the referendum will "strengthen the social fabric in the most beautiful image and form, which honestly represents an important stage in the country's victorious march and its national unity". The Associated Press noted that the 2021 election came "about a year ahead of Qatar hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, an event that drew intense scrutiny from the West of the country's treatment of foreign laborers and its system of governance", and called the 2024 referendum "another rollback in the hereditarily ruled Gulf Arab states of halting steps to embrace representational rule".<ref name=":3" />
Judicial authority
While the constitution makes some guarantees on judicial independence, and judges are nominated for appointment by a "Supreme Council of the Judiciary" composed of senior judges, the emir appoints all judges, and "ultimately controls the judiciary".<ref name=":0" />
Military and security authority
The emir is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. This title enshrines his role as the ultimate authority over all military branches: the Qatari Emiri Land Force, Qatari Emiri Navy, Qatari Emiri Air Force and Qatari Emiri Guard. He also appoints military personnel and terminates their service. This power is absolute and places the entire military apparatus under his direct control. Setting defense policy "is the sole responsibility of the emir and his closest advisors", and the consultative assembly has never debated security issues.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Succession
The permanent constitution of the state of Qatar, published in 2005, dictates that the rule is hereditary and limited to descendants of Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The constitution dictates that the emir must appoint a crown prince to be his successor from amongst his male children, in consultation with members of the Al Thani Ruling Family. To be eligible for appointment as crown prince, a candidate must be Muslim and born of a Qatari mother. In the event that the ruling Emir has no eligible male children, the emir must select the crown prince from amongst the eligible members of the broader Al Thani family.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The former emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, appointed his fourth son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as heir apparent on 5 August 2003, after his older son Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani (who held the position between 1996 and 2003) renounced his rights to the throne in favour of Sheikh Tamim.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The two previous transitions of power between emirs happened as a result of coups. Hamad bin Khalifa replaced his father, Emir Khalifa bin Hamad, in a bloodless palace coup in June 1995 while Khalifa was on a visit to Geneva, Switzerland.<ref name="ind">Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref name="dnews">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="CSM1">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Current_Leaders">Template:Cite book Gale Biography in Context. Template:Subscription required</ref> Khalifa had himself replaced his own uncle, Emir Ahmad bin Ali, under similar circumstances while Ahmad was on a visit to Iran in February 1972.<ref name="Ottawac">Template:Cite news</ref>
List of rulers
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