HISTORIC.
Without sliding into exaggeration this word amply sums up the transfer of power yesterday by H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani to his son H H Sheikh Tamim. The news had been doing the rounds for some time, first in diplomatic circles and then in the global media, and in a fitting finale, Sheikh Hamad made it official yesterday. Addressing the nation, he said Sheikh Tamim is the new Emir of Qatar.
Since the announcement, political pundits and experts of every hue have gone into a frenzy of analysis about what the change means to Qatar and the world. Much of this frenzy can be attributed to the enviable position Qatar enjoys in the world today. But for the people of Qatar, it’s a change that they knew was coming.
In the 18 years he was in power, Sheikh Hamad made Qatar what it’s today – a resplendent blip on the global map. The region and the world watched in admiration as Qatar marched forward -- in foreign policy, economy, local development -- leaving the global media scrambling for epithets to best describe these achievements. ‘Punching above its weight’ was a favourite for some, ‘oversize portfolio’ and ‘ambitious leadership’, others said, but these phrases are being retired as Qatar forges ahead with perseverance and vision, showing the world that what Doha undertakes to achieve is perfectly within its weight. With every step forward, the bar is set higher.
It’s this glorious legacy and the ever-increasing expectations of our people and the world that Sheikh Tamim will inherit. And it’s precisely for these reasons that questions are coming thick and fast. The two important ones are: Why now, when this nation is at the peak of success? Second, will Sheikh Tamim’s ascension bring about all-encompassing change? Sheikh Hamad has answered the first question. In his address, he said the time had come to turn a new leaf in the history of this nation, and for the new generation to step in and take the country forward. The new generation has proved over the past years that they have the resolve and talent to shoulder new responsibilities. As for the second, it’s gratuitous, if not preposterous, to ask if Sheikh Tamim will deviate from the current path. Sheikh Tamim represents continuity and status quo for the simple reason that he is not a novice who has been parachuted into new responsibilities. As Heir Apparent (who, in Emir’s own words, was in the driving seat), he was part of those seminal decisions and interventions which made Qatar what it’s today. In sports, in which Qatar is a global player, the success has been singularly attributed to his vision and leadership. He is the Chairman of Qatar Olympic Committee. The same is the case with the economy, too. Sheikh Tamim is the Chairman of the board of Qatar Investment Authority, the country’s sovereign wealth fund which global business has noted for the judicious investments it has made.
On the foreign policy front, Qatar’s position is unassailable and irreversible. In the past few years, Qatar has become a force of its own. Whether in Syria, Libya, Egypt, in other Arab countries or the rest of the world, its contributions and interventions have been crucial and have come to define the peace processes and mediations in conflict-ridden countries. With such an indelible footprint, there is no looking back or slowing down.
At the same time, the challenges ahead are as colossal as the successes have been dazzling. Sheikh Hamad has set the bar high. And the world has turned its gaze on us. The burden of these expectations will inspire Sheikh Tamim to leave his own imprint and take Qatar to greater heights.
Our prayers are with him•
