MODERN STATE BUILDING AND

PRELUDES TO INDEPENDENCE
 SHEIKH ALI BIN ABDULLAH

• Sheikh Ali Bin Abdullah Al Thani was born around 1896.

He became the Ruler of Qatar following the abdication of
his father on August 20, 1949.
• Sheikh Ali took important steps for the establishment of an
effective administrative system to undertake the
management of the oil economy and oversee the social and
economic development of the emerging stage.
 KEY TRANSFORMATIONS DURING THE REIGN OF
SHEIKH ALI BIN ABDULLAH (1949-1960)

Qatar entered a new phase of its modern history in the second half of the twentieth century.
1. Qatar's cash flow from revenues increased tremendously as a result of increased oil production and
exports.
2. A British political agent, John Wilton, based in Doha was appointed for the first time in Qatar's modern
history. This meant that Qatar came under direct British protection..
3. Urbanization of Qatar. This period witnessed profound transformations in the life of Qatar and Qatari
people. The Qatari society was no longer a community of Bedouins and pearl divers. It changed
dramatically, opening up to modern civilization in all aspects of political, administrative, economic and
social life.
4. Qatar started to engage in Arab affairs for the first time, especially at the time of the Suez Canal
nationalization in 1956 when Qatari citizens demonstrated in support of Egypt. Qataris also became highly
concerned with the Palestinian cause.
5. Qatar witnessed an administrative evolution, improving the services provided to citizens, which
transformed Qatar from a traditional emirate into a modern state or emirate. There was also significant
population growth owing to an abundance of oil resources and improved health and education services.
 SHEIKH ALI’S APPROVEMENT OF BRITISH
TREATIES

After Sheikh Abdullah relinquished power to Shaykh Ali in 1949, Shaykh Ali agreed with the British
authorities to implement all treaties signed by his father with Britain (1916 ‐1935) and agreed to the provisions
that remained unfulfilled in the 1916 agreement, namely:

1. Appointing a British political agent in Qatar. Britain appointed John Wilton as its first political agent in
Qatar in 1949,
2. Opening the Qatari market to British merchants and companies,
3. Establishing mail and telegraph offices in Qatar,
4. Sheikh Ali asked for a British advisor. Britain welcomed the request and immediately appointed Philip
Plant as advisor to the Emir. Plant arrived in Doha in 1950 along with a group of British experts and
professionals including a police chief, managers of water, electricity, public works and postal services, and
engineers to manage telegraph, telephone and post facilities.
 THE INCREASE OF THE BRITISH AUTHORITY

British influence grew in Qatar after the appointment of a political agent in 1949. The mission of the
British political agent in Qatar was the following:

 Manage Qatar's foreign affairs as Britain become responsible for the management of Qatar's external
ties with other countries. This significantly intensified Qatar's connection with Britain.
 Represent British interests in Qatar.
 Undertake judicial tasks for expats in Qatar like Europeans, Indians and Pakistanis (banyan merchants).
 Look after the businesses of British nationals in Qatar.
 BRITAIN'S POLICY FOR ESTABLISHING MODERN
LOCAL ADMINISTRATION IN QATAR

Qatar began its transformation from a traditional shaykhdom to modern administration in 1950 following the
beginning of oil exports in 1949 through four basic steps:
1. Establishing a local police force,
2. Drafting a budget,
3. Organizing local administration to create modern living conditions (health and education services, water
and electricity, roads and markets),
4. Developing the judicial apparatus and regulating the judiciary.
 SHEIKH AHMED BIN ALI (1960-1972)

• Sheikh Ahmad Bin Ali Al Thani was born

around 1920 in Doha.

• He became the Ruler of Qatar on October 24,

1960 upon the abdication of his father.
 DEVELOPMENT CONTINUED UNDER THE RULE OF SHEIKH
AHMED BIN ALI (1960-1972)

After creating the first two ministries in Qatar (Education in 1957 and Finance in 1960), administration
development continued during the ruling of Sheikh Ahmad Bin Ali and include:

 The cancellation of the post “British Government Advisor” of the Sheikh.

 The setup of the official newspaper for Qatar’s government which publishes decrees and legislations.
 The issuing of Qatari nationality law clarifying its granting conditions.
 The issuing of many laws and legislations regarding the organization of the top governmental
administrations, such as administration of financial affairs, oil affairs, legal affairs…
 ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE

Oil economy = modernizing administrative system.

• Government organization: 
• I: The Ruler (the Emir): sovereignty and ultimate authority over the executive, legislative and judicial arms of
government. Exercised those powers himself or through the crown prince. Until independence he was called “the Ruler”,
after independence the “Emir.”
• II: Crown Prince: Ruler’s Deputy Responsible for:
1. Planning government projects and submitting them to the Ruler for approval.
2. Suggesting laws.
3. Issuing administrative decisions and regulations
4. Plans executed by the President, the Finance Minister and the President of the Judicial Council.
• 1960’s: Rising importance of the Crown Prince, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad. He served as Director of Security, President
of the Judicial Council, and first Minister of Finance in 1960 (Ministry of Finance second ministry after Ministry of
Education in 1957).
 THE FIRST QATARI CONSTITUTION

In April 1970, the first Qatari Constitution was issued in the form of Temporary Essential System which is
considered the first cabinet in the history of Qatar.
The objective of this temporary system is:
 Be the basis for the regime during this transitional period,
 Strengthening the main foundations which govern different general authorities,
 Duties and rights of citizens in relation with the status quo,
 To establish the first elected Shura Council.
 TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE

• The British decision to withdrawal from the Gulf starting from 1968 and ended in 1971 has freed the
space for preparing the independence and filling the gap.

• By 3rd September 1971, Qatar announced its independence statement by the prince crown in a
declaration to the nation which declared Qatar independence from Great Britain.

• The independence statement confirmed the Arabic and Islamic roots of Qatar, its good relations with its
neighbors, its support for the Palestinian cause, asserting the importance of the Emirates union, and
having faith in the principles of the Arab League and United Nations.
 A s A C o n s e q u e n c e O f D e c l a r i n g T h e I n d e p e n d e n c e , Q a t a r P r o c e e d e d To Ta k e S e v e r a l Ve r y
I m p o r t a n t S t e p s To E n s u r e I t s N e w I n d e p e n d e n t S t a t e I n T h e Wo r l d , I t I n c l u d e :

• Issuance of a decree concerning the

establishment of foreign ministry headed by the
crown prince

• Changing the title of the president from

governor to prince
SHEIKH KHALIFA BIN HAMAD
AL ‐ THANI

• Sheikh Khalifa Bin Hamad Al Thani was

born in Al-Rayyan in 1932

• February 22, 1972 Sheikh Khalifa became

the Amir of Qatar.
 SHEIKH KHALIFA BIN HAMAD AL ‐ THANI’S PLAN

• Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al‐Thani took office in Qatar on February 22, 1972 (broadcasted on Radio
Qatar life).
• On the same day, HH the Amir issued his manifesto announcing the plan he will take to advance the
country.
The plan is summarized as follows:
• First: The transfer of national income to the public budget.
• Second: Assigning important jobs in the country to the indigenous people of the country.
• Third: Raising the salaries of employees working in the state, as well as increasing the salaries of
retirees, the elderly, widows and orphans.
• Fourth: Establishing a Consulting Council (Shura Council) to aid the President of the State for the
benefit of the country and the people’s interest.
 DOMESTIC POLITICS UNDER SHEIKH KHALIFA

• Sheikh Khalifa pursued a wise policy at both domestic and foreign levels, which won him the love and
respect of his people, and appreciation of the international community.
• He was at the forefront of his work to develop and advance the State of Qatar, and transform the Qatari
society to a welfare society, which was achieved through the following steps:

1. Amending Constitution: On April 19, 1972, the amended constitution was issued, which replaced the
provisional constitution of 1970. The amended Constitution included the regulation of the competence of
the three authorities: legislative, judicial and executive.
2. Shura Council: On April 23, 1972, Sheikh Khalifa issued Resolution No. 41 establishing the Shura
Council
3. The Council of Ministers: The constitution issued under the reign of Emir Sheikh Khalifa gave the
president the right to form the cabinet under his chairmanship and choose the ministers who are sworn in.
 EDUCATION UNDER
SHEIKH KHALIFA

o Education in Qatar has witnessed a rapid development

since Sheikh Khalifa took office in Qatar.
o One of the features of this development is the spread
of schools across the country and providing education
opportunities
Qatar University:
• Believing in the importance of university education in
the process of economic and social development in
the country, the College of Education for Teachers
was inaugurated in mid‐1973 to be the nucleus for the
establishment of Qatar University.
• In 1977, on the occasion of graduation of the first
batch of the College of Education, Decree No. 2 was
issued, declaring the establishment of Qatar
University.
 MEDIA AND PRESS

The media arena attracted the attention of Sheikh Khalifa,

which was crystalized by forming the Ministry of media and
culture. Many achievements have been fulfilled during his
ruling:

• The establishment of many newspapers; Al‐Arab newspaper

(1972), Al‐Raya, Al Watan, and Al Sharq.
• The establishment of the Qatar News Agency (QNA) in
1975.
• The establishment of The voice of Qatar radio in June 1968.
• The development of the Qatari television that began in
August 1970 in black and white. In July 1974, color
broadcasting began.
 FOREIGN POLICY OF THE
STATE OF QATAR

First: Relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council

Countries:

• Between the 25th and 26th of May 1981, a meeting

of the heads of the Gulf states was held in the
Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

• At the end of the meeting, a document establishing

the Cooperation Council for the six Gulf Arab states
was signed, namely: Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia,
Sultanate Oman, United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.

• At the forefront of its aims to establish a military,

naval and air forces to defend the six countries.
 SECOND: RELATIONS WITH ARAB AND FOREIGN
COUNTRIES

• His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al‐Thani made solidarity and closer ties with Arab
countries a priority.
• The Palestinian case has been the first Arab issue, to be supported by Sheikh Khalifa and the State of
Qatar since taking office.
• In 1973, Sheikh Khalifa issued decrees 19 and 20 to stop exporting Qatari petroleum to the United
States and the Netherlands because of their support for Israel in the October War of 1973.