The Royal Family
The royal family of Qatar has been in power since the late 1800s, although their beginnings can be traced back to an Arab tribe called the Beni Tamim who lived in the Eastern part of the country. They are from the Al-Thani family. The royal head of state does not automatically pass the ruling power to his first-born son, like other European rulers, but the Emir can choose who is going to be his successor. At the moment, this is Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani. The Qatari people are very proud of the Emir because he helps the country and provides well for his people by supplying power and education for free. The salary working for the Qatar government and the nations defenses are excellent. The Emir is also a great ambassador with other countries and, for a tiny peninsula, it has a lot of power. It is friends with Arab neighbors as well as countries in the West such as America and Britain.
History of Rulers
· Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani (1850 -- 1878)
· Sheikh Qassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani (1878 -- 1913)
· Sheikh Abdullah bin Qassim Al-Thani (1913 -- 1949)
· Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Thani (1940 -- 1948)
· Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al-Thani (1949 -- 1960)
· Sheikh Ahmed bin Ali bin Abdullah Al-Thani (1960 -- 1972)
· Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al-Thani (1972 -- 1995)
· Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani (1995 -- )
History of Rulers
· Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani (1850 -- 1878)
· Sheikh Qassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani (1878 -- 1913)
· Sheikh Abdullah bin Qassim Al-Thani (1913 -- 1949)
· Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Thani (1940 -- 1948)
· Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al-Thani (1949 -- 1960)
· Sheikh Ahmed bin Ali bin Abdullah Al-Thani (1960 -- 1972)
· Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al-Thani (1972 -- 1995)
· Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani (1995 -- )