Qatar’s massive oil and gas industry accounts for more than 60% of the country’s gross domestic product, about 85% of export earnings and 70% of its government’s revenues. Naturally such a significant earning sector of the economy requires an experienced guiding hand at the helm.
Qatar’s longstanding Deputy Prime Minister, Abdulla bin Hamad Al Attiyah had, until recently, been the gas-rich Gulf State’s energy sector’s leading international figure. Al Attiyah has been instrumental in Qatar’s energy industry. Having entered the sector in 1972, he has been responsible for much of the giant energy projects Qatar has become famous for, and can take credit for the huge future revenues these will generate. Al Attiyah held his post as Qatar’s Minister of Energy and Industry for 20 years..
He was appointed to head up Qatar General Petroleum Corporation (now known as Qatar Petroleum or QP) in 1996 by the Emir of Qatar. During his tenure as Qatar’s Energy and Industry Minister, Al Attiyah witnessed the rapid expansion and diversification of the country’s economy fueled primarily by its burgeoning gas production activities. In the last decade or so, Qatar has seen its higher education sector blossom with the establishment of local branches of many world-renowned institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University and Texas A&M University.
In January 2011 Al Attiyah was appointed to the post of Chairman of the Emiri Diwan, Qatar’s Royal Palace. The role of Energy and Industry Minister has passed to Mohammed Saleh Al Sada who also assumes the position of QP Chairman. Al Attiyah will retain his role as Deputy Premier.
As Qatar’s economy booms, the country’s increasingly strategic geopolitical location has helped it become an ideal destination for hosting major international conferences and summits such as the World Trade Organization which is 2001 held the Doha Development Agenda commonly referred to as the “Doha Round” which is still referred to in international discussions on trade.
Perhaps the single-most important entity that has helped to put Qatar on the map in recent years is the advent of its popular satellite television channel Al Jazeera in both its Arabic and English incarnations. The channel launched in 1996 by an Emiri decree with a seed loan of US$137 million from the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and has since outgrown its audience in the Arab world where it is the most popular satellite news channel, into far away markets such as North America and Europe.
Back in the energy sphere, Qatar, home to the largest non-associated gas reserve in the world, celebrated its achievement of reaching 77 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) production per year in December 2010. This amazing feat skyrocketed the country to number one LNG exporter in the world. An achievement such as this and in such a relatively short amount of time was made largely due to Al Attiyah’s fast-tracking of oil and gas development projects in which foreign companies were to be involved.
Al Attiyah has a number of personal interests that include fishing and reading, he is also is a keen amateur radio enthusiast and is chairman of the Qatar Amateur Radio Society.
Fast Facts:
Name: Abdulla bin Hamad Al Attiyah
Born: 1952
Marital status: Married with five children
Education: BA, History, Alexandria, Egypt, 1976
Professional career highlights:
Started career with Ministry of Finance & Petroleum, State of Qatar, 1972
Head of International & Public Relations, Ministry of Finance & Petroleum, 1973–86
Office Director, Minister of Finance & Petroleum, 1986–89
Minister of Finance & Petroleum, 1989–92
Chairman of Gulf Helicopter, 1975 to date
Board Director, Gulf Air, 1986 to date
Vice Chairman Qatar Public Telecommunications Corporation (Q-Tel), 1987 to date
Minister of Energy & Industry, September 1992 to 2011
Chairman of the Emiri Diwan, January 2011 to date
Chairman & Managing Director of Qatar Petroleum, 1996 to date
Second Deputy Prime Minister, September 2003–April 2007
Deputy Premier, April 2007 to date
Head of Resources Development & Expenditure Rationalization Committee
Chairman of Al-Saad Sports Club
Chairman of Qatar Amateur Radio Society
Leisure interests:
Amateur radio, fishing, reading.
Sources:
US Energy Information Administration (www.eia.doe.gov)
OPEC (www.opec.org)
CIA World Factbook (www.cia.gov)
