São Paulo – The emir of Qatar, Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, should transfer power in his country to his son, crown prince Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, informed television network Al Jazeera, which belongs to the government of Qatar, on Monday (24). The decision was announced by the emir during a meeting with members of the royal family and country characters, according to the television channel.
The emir, aged 61, took over power in 1995, when his father, then ruler, was travelling abroad. Since then, the small country in the Gulf has lived a radical transformation boosted by the natural gas revenues and by a policy aiming to be a protagonist in the region.
Today, Qatar has the highest per capita income in the world, and the local government has been seeking to act as a mediator of regional conflicts, not always successfully. Other highlights of the Hamad government are the re-inauguration of Qatar Airways, considered the second best airline in the world, according to the Skytrax ranking, and creation of Al Jazeera, which has transformed journalism worldwide.
Crown prince Tamim, aged 33, is Hamad’s fourth son, the second with Mozah Bint Nasser, his wife who is greatly prominent on the international scenery, mainly in the areas of culture and education, as well as being renowned for her beauty and elegance.
According to Al Jazeera, Hamad should make a pronouncement on Tuesday (25).
*Translated by Mark Ament
