Ayoon wa Azan (Qatar and reasons for optimism)

I keep looking for a ray of hope amidst the disaster that they call the “Arab Spring.” At one point, I feel that I found that hope in Qatar, but I am instantaneously overwhelmed by a feeling of cautiousness and I am afraid that this is just wishful thinking. Sheikh Hamad Ben Khalifa gave up power to his son Tamim, which represents a healthy first in Qatar. The fact that Sheikh Tamim is a young, 33 year old graduate of the finest English schools and military academies represents another healthy first. However, we should wait for the outcomes. Sheikh Tamim has a large, not to say, heavy legacy. Qatar is a country of 200,000 nationals. Nevertheless, Qatar has an overwhelming political dimension, one that exceeds the Gulf to encompass the entire world. I read that Qatar’s per capita income is 100,000 USD a year, which is double that of the USA where the per capita income ranges between 35,000 to 50,000 USD per annum. However, I believe that the per capita income in Qatar is around one million dollars per annum, if the country’s oil and gas income were to be divided on the number of people. In the Gulf, the Kuwaitis have the reputation of being the best traders. However, the Qataris are competing with them and perhaps outpacing them. Qatar owns a share in Barclays Bank, Shell Company, the London stock market, and the tallest building in Western Europe, the Shard. In addition Qatar has a twenty percent share in the company that owns Heathrow Airport. In addition, it owns the Olympic Village in London, the Chelsea Barracks, Tiffany’s jeweler, Valentino Fashion House, and dozens of high end hotels around the world, including the Carlton in Cannes and the most important hotels in London. Qatar also played a major part in the merger between the Xstrata and Glencore. We are not quite sure about the possessions of the state of Qatar around the world and the possessions of the ruling family within and outside the country. I am however confident that the young prince will eventually clear things up and sketch a clear line for the Qatari investments. The Qatari politics will definitely proceed in the same spirit as indicated through the speech of Sheikh Tamim during the power delivery process. However, change is coming and we have seen the features of this change through the formation of a new cabinet including a new prime minister, a foreign minister and others. The fact that Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber is no longer part of the government represents a noteworthy development, the effects of which will reflect on Qatar’s foreign politics and its investments (knowing that the domestic politics will remain unchanged). Indeed, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber was a successful businessman before becoming a minister then a prime minister. I hope that one specific person will continue to be active in the new term and that is Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned. I realize that Sheikh Tamim will have a “first lady” by his side. I do however wish that his mother will continue her successful work in the area of educating and empowering women and opening up to the local society and to the entire world through her chairmanship over the Arab Institution for Democracy and her other endeavors Sheikha Mozah continued her college education after marriage. Her interest with education is still prevailing until this day and Qatar is now hosting major international universities. In other words, the efforts of Sheikha Mozah are way more important than her image as a beautiful and elegant woman as perceived by the external world on TV stations. I must say that she never sought publicity for herself but rather worked on elevating her country’s status. I never saw her taking credit for herself and she always lets her work speak for her. There are definitely other unknown soldiers who worked for the rise of Qatar. Sheikh Tamim must stand by them thanks to his training, culture, and youth. I hope that Qatar’s involvement in every foreign Arab and international affair will be tuned down, because this is creating pointless problems for the country. Supporting a part of the Syrian opposition that included pro Al-Qaeda terrorists was wrong. Qatar and others must be supporting the well-known national opposition in Syria. Welcoming the change in Egypt was an indication to the political maturity of the new young Qatari leadership. Sheikh Tamim is capable of preventing Qatar from turning into a country thriving on war, oil, or gas (…). The views expressed by the author do not necessarily represent or reflect the editorial policy of Arabstoday.