The Al Thani Family

In less than two centuries, the Al Thani family transformed Qatar from a sparsely settled pearling peninsula into one of the world’s wealthiest and most influential states. Tracing the dynasty from its Banu Tamim roots in central Arabia through its rise under Mohammed bin Thani and the founding leadership of Jassim bin Mohammed, this book follows the family’s navigation of Ottoman and British power, the discovery of oil, independence, and the gas boom that remade the country.

It examines the reigns of Khalifa bin Hamad, the transformative rule of Hamad bin Khalifa (the Father Emir), the role of Sheikha Moza, and the current emirate of Tamim bin Hamad, including the 2017–2021 blockade, the 2022 World Cup, and Qatar’s global soft-power strategy. Drawing on public records and established historical accounts, the narrative explores both the achievements that secured sovereignty and prosperity and the enduring challenges of succession, regional rivalry, and concentrated family rule.