1/7Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, 61, took the rare step for a Gulf Arab ruler of voluntarily ceding power to his son Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani to try to ensure a smooth succession.
Qatar's emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani is stepping down and handing power to his son, the country's 33-year-old crown prince.
2/7The former defence minister and Crown Prince of Qatar Prince Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani makes a speech on state-run radio, that he has taken control of the oil-rich Gulf emirate by ousting his father, Sheik Khalifa Bin Hamid al-Thani, while he was out of the country, in Doha, Qatar, June 27, 1995.
Qatar's emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani is stepping down and handing power to his son, the country's 33-year-old crown prince.
3/7U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, meets with Qatari Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani at Wajbah Palace in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday, June 23, 2013. In Qatar Kerry spent time discussing Syria and Afghanistan. The meeting is the last event in Qatar befo
Qatar's emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani is stepping down and handing power to his son, the country's 33-year-old crown prince.
4/7Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar gestures as he speaks during a meeting with President Barack Obama, not shown, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, April 23, 2013.
Qatar's emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani is stepping down and handing power to his son, the country's 33-year-old crown prince.
5/7French President Jacques Chirac, right, smiles to Qatar emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani prior to their talks at the Elysee Palace December 11, 1996 in Paris.
Qatar's emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani is stepping down and handing power to his son, the country's 33-year-old crown prince.
6/7President Barack Obama stands with Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar following their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, April 23, 2013.
Qatar's emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani is stepping down and handing power to his son, the country's 33-year-old crown prince.
7/7In this March 26, 2013 file photo, Emir of Qatar Sheik Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, center, attends the opening session of the Arab League Summit in Doha.
Qatar's emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani is stepping down and handing power to his son, the country's 33-year-old crown prince.
