Thani, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al- (1932– )

Qatar political leader, emir (ruler) 1972–95. He utilized the small state's burgeoning oil revenues to modernize the bureaucratic structure, diversify the economy, and develop education and the social services. He also sought to curb the extravagances of the royal family and pursued a pro-Western foreign policy, joining the UN-coalition forces in the 1990–91 Gulf War against Iraq. However, although he appointed an advisory council, he continued to rule in an authoritarian manner. In June 1995 he was deposed as emir by his son, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (1950– ), who had been crown prince and defence minister since 1977.

Born in Ar Rayyn, the fourth son of Hamad, of the ruling al-Thani dynasty, Khalifa received a traditional Arab Islamic education from private tutors. His father died, in 1947, while his grandfather Ali bin Abdullah al-Thani, who ruled 1913–49, was still emir. In 1960, when his cousin, Sheikh Ahmad bin Ali al-Thani, became the new emir, Khalifa became Qatar finance minister and by the mid-1960s was effectively running the country. In 1968, he was made president of the Provisional Federal Council, which brought together the smaller states of the Gulf in preparation for independence after the announced withdrawal of British military forces from the Gulf region. Independence was achieved in 1971. A year later, Khalifa became emir, deposing Ahmad in a bloodless coup, while he was out of the country.