Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani

Ali bin Abdullah bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani (; 5 June 1895 – 31 August 1974) was the Emir of Qatar. Sheikh Ali was also the first Emir of Qatar to have traveled abroad, visiting India, Egypt, Europe, Lebanon and the Levant.

Biography

Early life and reign Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani was born on 25 June 1895, in Doha. His father was Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani. He had a younger brother, Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani, and a half brother, Sheikh Hassan bin Abdullah Al Thani.

He became the emir of Qatar on 20 August 1949, after his father retired due to poor physical health. According to the US Consul in Dhahran, M. R. Rutherford, in a 1950 report on the prominent personalities of Qatar, he wrote "I am not in position to remark extensively upon the character of Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani; his reputation as a boor is well established." He went on to further state, that he displayed a remarkable lack of interest in the outside world and even in his own immediate surroundings. Among the close early confidantes of the sheikh were Saleh Al Mana and several members of the Darwish family.

He is also known as the first emir of Qatar to have visited other countries abroad. His reign also saw emphasis on education and infrastructure. After his abdication, he lived in Qatar for a few years during which he was very sociable and befriended many Muslim scholars.

Events during his rule During his reign, Sheikh Ali oversaw the first shipment of onshore Qatari oil from the port city of Mesaieed on 31 December 1949, marking Qatar's entry into the oil age.

His reign saw the establishment of the first regular school for boys, the first regular school for girls, the funding of university places and the construction of the first permanent hospital. In addition to these, Sheikh Ali also oversaw the construction of the Doha International Airport, several road networks, and water, electricity and port facilities. He also established additional government departments and ministries as well as the first joint stock companies. Ronald Cochrane was made responsible for organizing the police force in Qatar.

In May 1960, a cousin of Sheikh Ali attempted to assassinate him with a firearm at the Sheikh's holiday residence in Beirut. The assassination attempt was allegedly related to finances. He abdicated in favor of Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani on 28 October 1960.

Post-abdication After befriending numerous Muslim scholars after his abdication, he started printing many historical Islamic books that were never printed before; these were printed in the Al Maktab Al Islami in Lebanon. He has 13 children, 11 sons and 2 daughters. Sheikh Qassim bin Ali Al Thani Sheikh Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani Sheikh Muhammed bin Ali Al Thani Sheikh Fahad bin Ali Al Thani Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Thani Sheikh Ghanim bin Ali Al Thani Sheikh Hamad bin Ali Al Thani Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al Thani Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Thani Sheikh Al Waleed bin Ali Al Thani Sheikha Mariam bint Ali Al Thani (1942 – 21 May 2014) Sheikha Bothaina bint Ali Al-Thani