New Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim ‘set to announce reshuffle’

Qatar’s new Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is set to announce a cabinet reshuffle, a day after taking over from his father Sheikh Hamad, officials say.

Sheikh Tamim is due to address the nation on Wednesday after his official enthronement.

Long-serving Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani is expected to step aside.

Sheikh Hamad – also known as “HBJ” – has been a prominent figure in regional diplomacy.

One man mentioned as a possible replacement for the role of prime minister is Abdallah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, currently minister for internal affairs.

The previous emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, 61, announced the handover to his 33-year-old son in a speech broadcast on Qatari television on Tuesday, saying it was time for a “young leadership” to take over.

“Our youth have proved in recent years that they are resolute people, that they comprehend the spirit of the times and participate in it,” he said.

A peaceful handover is a rarity for the Gulf, where most rulers stay in place for decades, normally until they die.