São Paulo – On June 26th this year, Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani celebrates his 15th anniversary as emir of Qatar. Responsible for establishing the economic and political bases for his country, Al-Thani comes, in this, his second visit to Brazil, seeking closer economic and political ties between both countries. His first trip to Brazil took place in 2005, for the Summit of South American-Arab Countries (Aspa).
The emir of Qatar should be today (20th) in Brazilian capital Brasília. During his visit to the federal capital, Al-Thani should meet with president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and, after that, should travel to Costa Rica.
Hamad Al-Thani was born in Doha, in 1952, starting his education in the Arab country and proceeding at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in England. After finishing his course, in 1971, he was named lieutenant-colonel of the armed forces of Qatar and commanded the 1st Mobile Battalion, which was named “Hamad Mobile Battalion”, in his honour.
When he was made commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Al-Thani promoted broad modernization of the sector, increasing the number of troops, establishing new units, acquiring new weapons and improving training.
Highly interested in sports, the emir of Qatar also involved his country in several competitions, like the youth football championship of the Gulf, Asia and also the World championship as well as the creation of the Qatar Tennis Open, dreamed up to become one of the main tennis competitions in the Middle East.
Al-Thani has also received several awards both in the Arab world and also in Latin America and Europe, like the Medal of Oman, the Nile Sash (Egypt), the King Abdul-Aziz Medal (Saudi Arabia), the Diagam Tanda Kehormation (Indonesia), the Francisco de Miranda Order (Venezuela), the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (Great Britain), the Order of the Grand Officer de la Legion d’Honneur (France), the Al-Muhammadi Medal (Morocco) and the Sash of Merit (Lebanon).
The honours were received due to the monarch’s efforts in the promotion of bilateral ties and cooperation with these countries.
*Translated by Mark Ament
