The reins of power in Qatar have been transferred from father to son. Unlike the last transition, this was a peaceful shift in the region. Now, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani has taken over from his father. It has been reported that he’s suffering from a health condition.
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Tamim inherits his place at the top of a rising Gulf giant. However, his father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, is expected to remain influential from behind the scenes. Propped up by abundant natural gas reserves and an international portfolio of real estate and business investments such as Britain's Total and Barclays Bank, Qatar is bursting onto the global diplomatic stage.
The pressure's on for the successor now to maintain a legacy of power, wide-reaching influence and national pride set by the Al Thani dynasty, as he takes the helm of the small rich Gulf peninsula.
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