Qatar: Tamim ally rises in reshuffle

Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani’s 27 January cabinet reshuffle replaced Hamad Bin Ali Al-Attiyah with Khalid Bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, formerly at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), as state minister for defence affairs (see Politics). Khalid Al-Attiyah is said to be well-trusted by the emir – and with plans for further big spending on defence (see below), Tamim needs someone able to keep control of costs. Khalid Al-Attiyah has military experience, training as a fighter pilot in Saudi Arabia and peppering his foreign policy speeches with allusions to military strategy and aerial manoeuvres. His move is seen as a loss to the MFA.