Hamad bin Khalifa

The emir who founded Al Jazeera and turned Qatar into one of the richest countries in the world.

Life

Sandhurst

Hamad, son of Emir Khalifa, studied at Sandhurst military academy in Britain. In 1995, while his father was abroad, he staged a bloodless coup and became emir.

Liquefied natural gas

He vigorously developed the North Field gas field, making Qatar one of the world's largest exporters of liquefied natural gas, and its per capita income rose to among the highest in the world. In 1996 he funded the founding of Al Jazeera; he pursued an active mediation diplomacy internationally, and in 2010 he won for Qatar the right to host the 2022 World Cup.

Al Jazeera

In 2013 he voluntarily abdicated in favor of his son Tamim.

Legacy

Hamad turned Qatar from a small state into an important player on the international stage.

Did you know? He voluntarily abdicated in favor of his son, something very rare among Gulf monarchs.

Key dates

• 1995Staged a bloodless coup and became emir
• 1996Founded Al Jazeera
• 1997Began exporting liquefied natural gas (approx.)
• 2010Won the right to host the World Cup
• 2013Abdicated in favor of his son