Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani became Emir of Qatar after his father, Hamad bin Khalifa, abdicated in his favor. The transition was peaceful and marked a generational shift, with Tamim inheriting a wealthy state with ambitious foreign policy goals.

Under Tamim's rule, Al Jazeera continued to expand its global reach, launching new channels and digital platforms. The network remained influential in shaping Middle Eastern media, though it faced accusations of bias and censorship.

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt imposed a blockade on Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism. Tamim resisted the demands, maintaining ties with Iran and Turkey, and the crisis solidified Qatar's independent foreign policy, though it caused economic strain.

Qatar hosted the FIFA World Cup, the first Arab and Muslim-majority country to do so. The event drew global attention and criticism over labor rights and corruption, but Tamim used it to project Qatar's soft power and modernize its infrastructure.