The Most Famous

POLITICIANS from Qatar

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This page contains a list of the greatest Qatari Politicians. The pantheon dataset contains 19,576 Politicians, 10 of which were born in Qatar. This makes Qatar the birth place of the 143rd most number of Politicians behind Jamaica, and Turkmenistan.

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Qatari Politicians of all time. This list of famous Qatari Politicians is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Qatari Politicians.

Photo of Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani

1. Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (b. 1952)

With an HPI of 65.89, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is the most famous Qatari Politician.  His biography has been translated into 55 different languages on wikipedia.

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Hamad bin Abdullah bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani (Arabic: حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني; born 1 January 1952) is a member of the ruling Al Thani Qatari royal family. He was the ruling Emir of Qatar from 1995 until 2013 when he abdicated the throne, handing power to his fourth son Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani who was born to his second spouse, Moza bint Nassir. The Qatari government refers to him as the Father Emir. Hamad seized power from his father, Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, in a bloodless palace coup d'état in 1995. During his 18-year rule, Qatar's natural gas production reached 77 million tonnes, making Qatar the richest country in the world per capita with the average income in the country US$86,440 a year per person. During his reign, several sports and diplomatic events took place in Qatar, including the 2006 Asian Games, 2012 UN Climate Change Conference, Doha Agreement, Fatah–Hamas Doha Agreement, and it was decided that the 2022 FIFA World Cup would be held in the country. He established the Qatar Investment Authority. By 2013, it had invested over $100 billion around the world, most prominently in The Shard, Barclays Bank, Heathrow Airport, Harrods, Paris Saint-Germain F.C., Volkswagen, Siemens, and Royal Dutch Shell. Hamad ruled a sovereign regime in Qatar without any support from opposition political parties. During Hamad's rule, Qatar hosted two U.S. military bases. It also maintained relations with Iran. The Sheikh founded news media group Al Jazeera. He also played a part in negotiations between the U.S. and the Taliban. In June 2013, Hamad, in a brief televised address, announced that he would hand power to his fourth son, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Photo of Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani

2. Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani (1932 - 2016)

With an HPI of 62.44, Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani is the 2nd most famous Qatari Politician.  His biography has been translated into 33 different languages.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Abdullah bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani (Arabic: خليفة بن حمد آل ثاني; 17 September 1932 – 23 October 2016) was the Emir of Qatar from 27 February 1972 until he was deposed by his son Hamad bin Khalifa in a coup on 27 June 1995. He died during the reign of his grandson, the current Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Photo of Moza bint Nasser

3. Moza bint Nasser (b. 1959)

With an HPI of 59.42, Moza bint Nasser is the 3rd most famous Qatari Politician.  Her biography has been translated into 25 different languages.

Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned (Arabic: موزا بنت ناصر المسند; born 8 August 1959) is one of the three consorts of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of the State of Qatar. She is the mother of the current Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. She is the co-founder and chair of the Qatar Foundation, the largest state-owned NPO in the country. The Guardian has labelled her "the enlightened face of a profoundly conservative regime.

Photo of Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

4. Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (b. 1980)

With an HPI of 57.17, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is the 4th most famous Qatari Politician.  His biography has been translated into 65 different languages.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (Arabic: تميم بن حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني, romanized: Tamīm bin Ḥamad bin Khalīfa Āl Thānī; born 3 June 1980) is Emir of Qatar, reigning since 2013. Tamim is the second son of former Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, born to his second spouse, Moza bint Nassir. He became heir apparent in 2003 when his older brother Sheikh Jassim renounced his claim to the throne. He became emir when his father abdicated in his favour in 2013. Tamim rules an authoritarian regime. He holds all executive and legislative authority in Qatar; political parties are forbidden, and elections are not free and fair. The citizens of Qatar have limited political and civil rights.

Photo of Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani

5. Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani (1920 - 1977)

With an HPI of 55.87, Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani is the 5th most famous Qatari Politician.  His biography has been translated into 22 different languages.

Sheikh Ahmad bin Ali bin Abdullah bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani (Arabic: أحمد بن علي بن عبد الله بن جاسم بن محمد آل ثاني; 1922 – 25 November 1977) was the Emir of Qatar who ruled from 1960 to 1972. Qatar's financial status witnessed significant improvements during his reign as a result of the enrichment and discovery of several new oil fields. Qatar also gained its independence as a sovereign state in September 1971 under his rule. He was deposed in February 1972 by his cousin, Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani.

Photo of Mohammed bin Thani

6. Mohammed bin Thani (1788 - 1878)

With an HPI of 53.62, Mohammed bin Thani is the 6th most famous Qatari Politician.  His biography has been translated into 20 different languages.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani (Arabic: محمد بن ثاني; c. 1788 – 18 December 1878), also known as Mohammed bin Thani bin Mohammed Al Thamir (Arabic: محمد بن ثاني بن محمد آل ثامر), was the first Hakim (ruler) of the whole Qatari Peninsula, officially being recognized by the British in September 1868 following a meeting with British representative Lewis Pelly. He is known for being the father of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, the founder of Qatar and who fended off the Ottoman army in the late 19th century.

Photo of Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani

7. Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani (1880 - 1957)

With an HPI of 52.16, Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani is the 7th most famous Qatari Politician.  His biography has been translated into 16 different languages.

Abdullah bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani (Arabic: عبد الله بن جاسم بن محمد آل ثاني "Abdullah bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani"), also known as Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani or Sheikh Abdullah bin Qassim Al Thani, was the Emir of Qatar. He was born in 1880 in Doha, the capital city of Qatar. He then abdicated in favour of his crown prince and second son, Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani, in 1940. Sheikh Hamad died eight years later and Sheikh Abdullah assumed office once again until 1949, when he stepped down from office in favour for his eldest son, Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani. Oil was also discovered for the first time during his rule.

Photo of Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani

8. Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani (b. 1959)

With an HPI of 50.28, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani is the 8th most famous Qatari Politician.  His biography has been translated into 26 different languages.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber bin Mohammed bin Thani Al Thani (Arabic: حمد بن جاسم بن جبر آل ثاني; born 1959), who is also known informally by his initials HBJ, is a Qatari politician. He was the Prime Minister of Qatar from 3 April 2007 to 26 June 2013, and foreign minister from 11 January 1992 to 26 June 2013.

Photo of Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani

9. Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani (b. 1960)

With an HPI of 49.38, Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani is the 9th most famous Qatari Politician.  His biography has been translated into 24 different languages.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani (Arabic: عبد الله بن ناصر بن خليفة آل ثاني; born 1960) is a Qatari politician, who served as the Prime Minister of Qatar from 26 June 2013 until his resignation on 28 January 2020. A member of the ruling family, he was Minister of State for Internal Affairs from 2005 to 2013.

Photo of Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz Al Thani

10. Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz Al Thani (b. 1968)

With an HPI of 48.17, Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz Al Thani is the 10th most famous Qatari Politician.  His biography has been translated into 25 different languages.

Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz Al Thani (Arabic: خالد بن خليفة بن عبد العزيز آل ثاني; born 1968) is a Qatari politician who has served as Prime Minister of Qatar from 28 January 2020 to 7 March 2023 and Minister of the Interior since 28 January 2020. Qatar's amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has accepted the resignation of the country's Prime Minister, Sheikh Khaled bin Khalifa Al Thani. The Amir has appointed Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman as Qatar's new prime minister. A member of the ruling Al Thani family, he previously served as Chief of the Amiri Diwan from 2014 to 2020.

People

Pantheon has 12 people classified as Qatari politicians born between 1788 and 1980. Of these 12, 6 (50.00%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living Qatari politicians include Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Moza bint Nasser, and Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The most famous deceased Qatari politicians include Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani, and Mohammed bin Thani. As of April 2024, 2 new Qatari politicians have been added to Pantheon including Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani, and Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

Living Qatari Politicians

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Deceased Qatari Politicians

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Newly Added Qatari Politicians (2024)

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Overlapping Lives

Which Politicians were alive at the same time? This visualization shows the lifespans of the 4 most globally memorable Politicians since 1700.