Abdication of HH The Emir, Sheikh Hamad: June 24, 2013

[dazzling]

Emiri Diwan Announces HE the Emir Will Address Qatari people Tuesday
QNA

Tomorrows a public holiday in Qatar.

[carlota]

will there be a formal ceremony for the new sheikh's enthronement?

[Jackswife]

Maybe someone with more insight into Qatari politics can enlighten me here-is this kind of thing common? I suppose I was always of the impression that the Emir was more or less ruler for life. I find this a very interesting situation.

[wyevale]

How sad, since i assume this will signal the disappearance of Sheika Mozah from high profile public life? Royal watchers everywhere will miss her outstanding sence of style !

[Imamonarchist]

Originally Posted by Jackswife

Maybe someone with more insight into Qatari politics can enlighten me here-is this kind of thing common? I suppose I was always of the impression that the Emir was more or less ruler for life. I find this a very interesting situation.

According to Wikipedia's article "list of emirs of Qatar" (I don't know how to link things on this forum):

• Hakim Thani bin Mohammed Al Thamir ruled 1825-1850, when I believe he died.
  Hakim Mohammed bin Thani Al Thamir ruled 1850-1878, dying in December on the 18th, a day which is still Qatar's national day.
  Emir Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani ruled 1878-1913, dying in power 100 years ago this July.
  Emir Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani ruled 1913-1949, when he abdicated for his son, dying in 1957.
  Emir Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani ruled 1949-1960, when he abdicated for his son, dying in 1974.
  Emir Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani ruled 1960-1972, when his cousin Khalifa deposed him. He died in 1977.
  Emir Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani ruled 1972-1995, when his son Hamad deposed him. Emir Khalifa still lives today.
  Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani ruled 1995-2013, when he abdicated for his son Tamim. Emir Hamad is still obviously alive.
  Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani ruled 2013-present, will apparently become Emir of Qatar on June 25th, 2013, when the present emir Hamad abdicates tomorrow.

So as you can see, Emir Hamad will tomorrow become the 5th successive Emir of Qatar to cease reigning before his death. He will be the 3rd Emir to give up the throne of his own volition. (The other two were deposed in coups, both bloodless.)

Qatar is in this respect quite similar to the Netherlands, but with bloodless coups sometimes replacing abdications.

[Imamonarchist]

Could somebody help me bullet that list properly?

[Mademoiselle Lilo]

Originally Posted by wyevale

How sad, since i assume this will signal the disappearance of Sheika Mozah from high profile public life? Royal watchers everywhere will miss her outstanding sence of style !

i don't think saw maybe she will be more active and involved with Qatar issues as she is the mother of Tamim.
in general she is powerful woman and i don't see her taking a side and leaving her mega Projets however it will be intersting to see wich one of Tamim wives will have the role of the first lady.

[NGalitzine]

Well better to go voluntarily than to be deposed by your son.

[blauerengel]

Originally Posted by Mademoiselle Lilo

i don't think saw maybe she will be more active and involved with Qatar issues as she is the mother of Tamim.
in general she is powerful woman and i don't see her taking a side and leaving her mega Projets however it will be intersting to see wich one of Tamim wives will have the role of the first lady.

That´s true, Sheikha Moza has many important posts in Qatar and also internationally & she is still leading the Qatar foundation that does a lot of charity work. She has always emphasized that her role is humanitarian and not political,
she will certainly go on working & continue with her fashion statements as well

I do not know any of Sheikh Tamim´s wives except for their name, but they seem to prefer to keep a low profile, this is why I can´t imagine that any of them will be as public, opinionated and influental like Sheikha Moza.

[Ephram]

The third abdication this year.

[Rossina]

Shaikh Hamad had just announced his abdication officially to his nation through Qatar tv.
Qatar

[dazzling]

Qatar emir steps down, hands power to son
Article

Qatar emir hands power to 'new generation' son
Article

[Rossina]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?hl=en-G...rm8&nomobile=1

[dazzling]

For some reason this seemed like a pre-recorded announcement and not live as mentioned.

[Rossina]

Maybe recorded shortly before 8:00 am.

[Marengo]

Interesting that they relate the abdication to the arab spring in the article posted by dazzling. Like Queen Beatrix in January, the emir mentioned that it was time for a new generation to take over.

Was there a special ceremony for the abdication?

For the sake of us royalty watchers I hope that we will still see sheikha Mozah out & about though.

[Al_bina]

Emir Hamad deserves a retirement. If needed, I am sure he can advise his son on various issues.

[Jackswife]

Thank you ,Imamonarchist for the Wiki link. I guess in retrospect an abdication is not all that unusual for Qatar. I'm guessing there are a variety of factors involved in the Emir's decision. And I also can't see Sheikha Mozah fading away!

[NGalitzine]

I wonder if Hamid and Mozah will stay married now that he has abdicated and her son is on the throne and there can be no political motivation to stay together.

[Al_bina]

Qatar: new emir, new broom? - Telegraph

The abdication of Sheikh Hamad in favour of his son Tamim will be felt far beyond the Gulf’s richest state – not least in Britain, where its vast sovereign wealth fund has been active.