Manama: Shaikh Hamad Bin Jasem Bin Jaber Al Thani was prime minister of Qatar from April 3, 2007 until June 25, 2013 and foreign minister from January 11, 1992 to June 25, 2013.
HBJ, as he is internationally known, was born in the Qatari capital Doha in 1959.
In 1982, he was appointed head of the Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture and in 1989 he was appointed Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture. In May 1990, he was given the additional position of Deputy Minister of Electricity and Water.
On September 1, 1992, Shaikh Hamad Bin Jasem was appointed Foreign Minister of Qatar by the new emir’s grandfather, a post he kept under the emir’s father Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, who became ruler in June 1995.
He was named First Deputy Prime Minister on September 16, 2003 and kept his position of Minister of Foreign Affairs.
On April 2, 2007, he became Qatar’s prime minister and continued to serve as foreign minister.
The two positions gave him tremendous power in the country as it moved on to the world stage thanks to an aggressive policy and the support of the powerful pan-Arab television station Al Jazeera, with its millions of viewers throughout the Arab world and in several other regions.
Shaikh Hamad Bin Jasem is unusually outspoken and direct in his media appearances, in sharp contrast with most Arab diplomats who prefer softer approaches.
He is credited with special roles in mediating in political and military conflicts and brokering peace deals that included Yemen, Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan, Darfur, Chad, Lebanon, Ethiopia and Yemen. He reportedly had an active role in the reconciliation drive between Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas, in the release of prisoners in Eritrea and in freeing Bulgarian nurses from a Libyan jail. He helped launch humanitarian efforts for refugees in coordination with United Nations agencies.
Whether wearing the traditional Qatari kandoura or impeccably cut suits, he was regularly applauded in Qatar for his performances in representing his country on the world stage.
His outstanding business skills helped him oversee Qatar’s sovereign funds and make high-profile deals.
Shaikh Hamad Bin Jasem is among the most shrewd businesspeople in Qatar and he is believed to have stakes in many strong businesses at home and abroad.
Qataris believe that as he is not expected to have a political role in the new government, he will devote his time to his businesses and social life.
