Qatar and its power: The top priority for the emir is his political survival – whatever the cost

It was only a few days before Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s likeness adorned entire house walls, coffee cups and T-shirts in Qatar. Back then, in June 2017, the neighboring Gulf monarchies of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt imposed a blockade on Qatar. The aim was to put the emirate, which had become increasingly influential and uncomfortable since the “Arab Spring” in 2010/11, in its place.

A diplomat described the crisis at the time as a “conflict of egos” between Tamim and the crown princes in Saudi Arabia, Mohammad bin Salman (MbS), and in the UAE, Mohammad bin Zayed (MbZ). Because Tamim’s flight seemed to undermine the ambitions of MbS and MbZ and fueled the rivalry that already prevailed among the Gulf monarchs.

Bin Salman, born in 1985, and Tamim, born in 1980, are both representatives of a young generation of rulers. They struggle not only for political power, but also for social acceptance.

Four years before the crisis erupted, Tamim, the fourth son of his father, Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, had been appointed as his successor. The transfer of power went smoothly and is described in Qatari history as a symbol of family unity within the Al Thani ruling dynasty.

During his reign, Hamad had already turned Qatar into a reliable, sought-after and wealthy partner in the world economy with the help of enormous revenues from the gas business. In 2003, he even managed to persuade the United States to relocate the central command of US troops from Saudi Arabia to Qatar’s Al Udayd – a key pillar in Qatar’s rise to regional power.

At the same time, the local cultural and educational landscape was remodeled and expanded. The main architect was Hamad’s wife and mother of Tamim, Sheikh Moza al Misnad. As chairwoman of the Qatar Foundation, she still determines the education and development policy of the emirate and is an icon for many Qatari women. She should also be a formative reference person for the Emir.

After taking power, Tamim largely continued his father’s policies. However, while Hamad pursued a clearly pro-Islamist foreign policy during the course of the “Arab Spring”, Tamim is more dominated by ideological pragmatism.

Qatar shares the largest gas field in the world with the Shiite Islamic Republic of Iran and therefore maintains good contacts with Tehran – to the annoyance of Saudi Arabia, at times hosted the Afghan Taliban with the knowledge of the USA, still supports Hamas in the Gaza Strip with Israel’s approval and gives shelter to Muslim Brotherhood.

This has brought accusations against the emirate of financing Islamist terrorism. At the same time, however, Qatar uses its wide range of contacts to distinguish itself as a mediator, even in tricky cases. World politics – it is also sometimes made in Doha, Qatar’s capital.

For years, Tamim had been preparing for his role as head of state. His most important field of activity: sport. The leaders of the tiny state – smaller than Schleswig-Holstein, with a native population of just 300,000 people sandwiched between regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia – saw it as an opportunity to forge global networks and garner international attention and recognition.

In the country’s young history – Qatar only gained independence from the British 50 years ago – around 500 sporting events are said to have taken place there. Tamim drew the self-confidence to apply for the World Cup primarily from the successful organization of the Asian Games. After that, he was actively involved in the application for the 2022 World Cup – and to this day uses the sporting stage to put himself in the right light.

So it is fitting that he is also known as a sports enthusiast in his private life and likes to play badminton and tennis in addition to football. Only: Tamim is described as a bad loser by confidants. His subordinates are unlikely to notice much of this. Large parts of the population see him as a charming, cosmopolitan ruler.

Qatar’s increased prominence and visibility also helped Tamim during the conflict with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In the end, the blocking states had to end the isolation of the emirate in January 2021; Tamim had won the “Conflict of Egos”. That made him even more popular.

Since the successful management of the crisis, he has finally been regarded as the nation’s patron saint. A veritable personality cult has grown up around him. He presents his country as a pioneer in sports, diplomacy, business and culture.

The emir repeatedly points out that, in contrast to its neighbors Saudi Arabia and the UAE, immense progress has been made in his country in terms of labor and women’s rights. With this strategy, he wants to counter the massive criticism from Europe in the run-up to the World Cup about the exploitation of migrant workers and the problematic human rights situation, in order to distract from his own misconduct.

Because Tamim has cemented the autocratic system of rule and controls almost every strategic decision. The top priority for him is the political survival of his family and his rule – no matter what the cost.

The emir – married to three wives, father of seven sons and six daughters – surrounds himself with a few faithful people, mostly from his own family. Foreign Minister Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani is one of them, as is his sister Sheikh Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani. She is responsible for establishing Qatar as a center of arts and culture.

In addition, the ruler relies on a few followers who do not come from his family branch. Among them is Nasser al Khelaifi. President of the state-owned soccer club Paris St. Germain (PSG), board member of UEFA and chairman of the European Club Association, he has become one of the most influential masterminds of European football – and thus makes politics on behalf of the Emir.

In times of the global energy crisis and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Qatar has become more than ever an indispensable partner – despite all the problems and conflicts. Chancellor Olaf Scholz was recently the Emir’s guest to negotiate possible gas supplies and concluded an energy partnership with Qatar.

The emirate has long been active in Germany and owns shares in Siemens, Deutsche Bank and RWE. Qatar is said to have invested a total of 25 billion euros in the German market.

Democracy doesn’t matter to Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Admittedly, elections to the advisory assembly took place last year. But these served more to give deserving family representatives a podium and to show them respect. When in the end no female candidate was elected, the Emir intervened and appointed two women.

Trade unions and political parties are largely banned, and there is no critical press and no opposition. Just one year after taking office, Tamim enacted a strict law against cyber crime, which has been criticized by human rights organizations as an instrument of repression.

Thus, Tamim established an autocratic model that has made him one of the most powerful men in the region. And makes Qatar seem bigger and more influential than it possibly is.

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