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Role: Ambassador to the United States Career diplomat Sheikh Mishaal Bin Hamad Bin Mohammed Al-Thani has been ambassador to the United States since December 2016. He is a member of a distant branch of the family from Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani; former foreign minister and premier Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani is from the same branch.

Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad has a tight grip on power in Qatar, having strengthened his position during the 2017-21 regional boycott and with the success of the 2022 World Cup. While some of his siblings are prominent in the arts and sports arenas, few have made an impression on the political scene where Tamim has tended to emphasise technocratic ability over family ties – a trend highlighted in GSN’s new series of profiles of key decision-makers in Qatar.

Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy, established by King Abdelaziz (Ibn Saud) in 1932. After the founder died 20 years later, his son Saud took charge and since then power has been passed from brother to brother.

Role: Ambassador to the UK Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed was named as Qatar’s ambassador to the United Kingdom on 12 June 2024. It is his second major diplomatic post, having been ambassador to Germany from August 2020, following a long career in business, finance, politics and the military.

Role: Culture minister Sheikh Abdulrahman Bin Hamad was appointed culture minister in the October 2021 cabinet reshuffle.

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan was named a deputy chair of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs in a decree by his father, President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, on 10 July.

The Court of Cassation annulled Mohammed Rafiq Al-Hussaini’s membership of the Council of Representatives on 10 July, following claims by the government that he held citizenship of a second, unnamed country

Role: Sports and youth minister Born in 1952, Sheikh Hamad was appointed sports and youth minister in January 2024, replacing Salah Bin Ghanem Al-Ali who had been in the post since 2013.

According to reports, Prince Abdelaziz Bin Salman Bin Mohammed has suffered a heart attack while under house arrest in Riyadh. Prince Abdelaziz was arrested with his son Salman in 2018. It is not clear what charges or allegations they face.

The Abu Dhabi Federal Appeals Court sentenced 43 people to life imprisonment and a further ten to terms of 10-15 years, while dismissing the cases against 24 others. Critics say the trial was fundamentally unfair and the defendants had already been convicted of the same crimes in 2013

The new Labour government in London is considering drawing up a new definition of state-sponsored terrorism

Given his position as the only moderate standing in the presidential election, Masoud Pezeshkian was not expected to win the race to become the Islamic Republic’s next president. Having jumped that hurdle, he now faces a daunting set of domestic and international policy challenges.

A memorandum of understanding was signed by Saudi Arabian Military Industries (Sami) with the drone maker in early July, during a visit by defence minister Prince Khalid to Türkiye.

Role: Al-Rayyan Sports Club president Born in 2000, Sheikh Al-Qaqa is former Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani’s youngest son with his third wife Sheikha Noura Bint Khalid Bin Hamad Al-Thani. His full brothers are Deputy Ruler Sheikh Abdullah, Sheikh Khalid and Sheikh Thani. 

Role: Qatar University assistant professor The most prominent of the Father Emir’s daughters with his first wife Sheikha Mariam, Dr Hessa Bint Hamad Al-Thani is assistant professor of education sciences at Qatar University and former dean of the College of Education.