Amir bin Khalifa al-Thani Hamad of Qatar

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Sheikh Hamad was acclaimed Crown Prince in 1977 and at the same time was appointed Minister of Defense.

Since 1992, Sheikh Hamad has selected Qatar's cabinet and been responsible for administering the country's day-to-day affairs.

Sheikh Hamad was later promoted to the rank of Major General and appointed Commander in Chief of the Qatari Armed Forces.

A keen sportsman and an accomplished diver, Sheikh Hamad has played an active role in promoting and developing athletics in Qatar.

Shaikh Hamad is an open-minded ruler and one of the first to sanction ties with Israel.

Whereas his father was suspicious of people and conservative in economics, Shaikh Hamad is sure of himself and takes risks on expensive projects.

Shaikh Hamad was the first man in the post-1970s Qatar to grant a PSA.

By then, Hamad had become in charge of running Qatar's day-to-day affairs of state and had assumed some control over the petroleum sector.

Shaikh Hamad was also the man who, by decree, gave the go ahead in mid-1993 for the Ras Laffan LNG venture RasGas, the second of Qatar's ambitious LNG export proposals which now is expanding rapidly (see Gas Market Trends No.

Relative to other leaders in the region, Shaikh Hamad is a modest man with a reputation for single-mindedness and hard work.

Later on in this decade, as Shaikh Hamad has predicted, QP will be investing overseas to expand Qatar's share of markets for oil, natural gas, condensates, refined products and petrochemicals.

HH Sheikh Hamad has been a leader in providing for the impoverished in times of need across the world, and in peace negotiations between opposing parties across the Middle East.

During the last several years, Sheikh Hamad has represented Qatar on official state visits and at numerous international forums.

Shaikh Hamad is a liberal person by GCC standards.

proposals which now is expanding rapidly.

time was appointed Minister of Defense.

PSA (Professional Services Automation) An information system designed to organize, track and manage all opportunities, work, resources, costs, revenues and invoices to improve the productivity and efficiency of the workforce.

affairs of state and had assumed some control over the petroleum sector.

man with a reputation for single-mindedness and hard work.

natural gas, condensates, refined products and petrochemicals.