Emir Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Abdullah bin Jassim bin Muhammed Al
Thani GCB GCMG was the Emir of Qatar from 27 February 1972 until he was
deposed by his son Hamad bin Khalifa on 27 June 1995. He is the grandfather of
the current Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
Early years Sheikh Khalifa was born in Rayyan in
1932. He was the son of Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani and grandson of
Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani. Career
In 1957, Khalifa was named as the minister of education. Then he was
appointed the deputy Emir. He was named as the heir apparent on 24 October 1960.
In the 1960s he also served as the prime minister and the minister of finance.
On 22 February 1972, Sheikh Khalifa became the Emir of Qatar, seizing power
from his cousin and then emir Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani. While many Western news
outlets referred to it as an overthrow, the Qatari population merely considered
to be a succession of power. His initial activity was the process of the
reorganization of the government. He also limited the financial privileges of
members of the ruling family. Next, he appointed a foreign minister and an
adviser to himself regarding the day-to-day affairs. On 19 April 1972, he
amended the Constitution and expanded the Cabinet by appointing more
ministers. Diplomatic relations were also established with a number of the
foreign countries at ambassadorial level.
Khalifa's reorganization of the system of government saw a dramatic shift in
the hierarchy of authority. He immensely reduced the traditional powers afforded
to the heir-apparent while projecting all of the power onto himself.
On 18 July 1989, the cabinet was reshuffled for the first time, replacing
most of the previous ministers and making it consist of 15 ministers. The
Cabinet was again reshuffled under his premiership on 1 September 1992,
expanding it to 17 members. The state revenue from oil sector had
increased as the result of the rising of a number of production sharing
agreements with foreign oil companies. Two production-sharing agreements were
signed with the Standard Oil Company of Ohio in January 1985 and Amoco in
February 1986. In January 1989, another production sharing agreement was signed
between Qatar and the France State owned oil company Elf Aquitaine. In the middle
of 1991, production of gas in the Qatar North Field, the world's largest single
field of non-associated gas commenced, which has proven gas reserves of around
250 trillion cubic feet and probable reserves of 500 trillion cubic feet.
While the search for finding more oil deposits in Qatar continued, Qatar built
an industrial base in order to reduce dependence on the oil sector.
Coup While Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani was
staying in Geneva, Switzerland, in July 1995, his son Hamad bin Khalifa took the
throne. Khalifa lived in France until he returned to Qatar in 2004.
Marriages and children Sheikh Khalifa has five sons and ten
daughters from four wives. Sheikha Amna bint Hassan bin Abdulla Al
Thani Sheikh Abdelaziz bin Khalifa, Petroleum
and finance minister Sheikha Noora bint Khalifa
Sheikha Aisha bint Hamad Al Attiyah Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa, Emir of Qatar
from 1995 to 2013. Sheikha Hissa bint Khalifa
Sheikha Amina bint Khalifa Sheikha Jafla bint Khalifa
Sheikha Amal bint Khalifa Sheikha Rudha bint Jassim bin Jabr Al
Thani Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa, Prime
Minister Sheikh Muhammed bin Khalifa
Sheikha Aisha bint Khalifa Sheikha Mouza bint Khalifa
Sheikha Maryam bint Khalifa Sheikha Mouza bint Ali bin Saud Al Thani
Sheikh Jassim bin Khalifa Sheikha Al Anud bint Khalifa
Sheikha Nouf bint Khalifa References