Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani


Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is a member of the Royal House of Thani. He is the brother of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the son of the former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, with his second wife Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.

Early life and education

Mohammed holds a bachelor's degree from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar and a Master's in public administration from Harvard Kennedy University's School of Government.
Mohammed is a former captain of the Qatar equestrian team.

Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup

Mohammed was chairman of the committee that presented Qatar's winning bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Qatar's bid has been marred by allegations of bribery, including that several African officials were reportedly paid $1.5 million each by Qatar. Additionally, in March 2014 it was discovered that disgraced former CONCACAF president Jack Warner and his family were paid almost $2 million from a firm linked to Qatar's successful campaign. There have subsequently been calls to strip Qatar of the right to host the tournament.
Mohammed is the managing director of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, which is responsible for developing the infrastructure in Qatar for the World Cup. Qatar has allegedly engaged in "modern-day slavery, as defined by the International Labour Organisation, during a building binge paving the way for 2022." According to a September 2013 Guardian investigation, evidence was found "to suggest that thousands of Nepalese, who make up the single largest group of laborers in Qatar, face exploitation and abuses that amount to Nepalese workers in Qatar have been dying at a rate of one per day." According to the International Trade Union Confederation, Qatar's construction work for the World Cup could ultimately cost the lives of 4,000 migrant workers.

Investments

In 2008, Mohammed acquired a 5.1% stake of Kaupthing Bank in Iceland for $280 million. Mohamed's investment was later revealed to be part of a scheme to defraud investors and manipulate the bank's valuation for which four members of the bank's leadership, including its CEO and chairman, were sentenced to 5.5 years in prison.
Thani has been leading Qatari government efforts to acquire the conservative media outlet Newsmax.

Lawsuit

In May 2018, Mohammed was named a defendant in a lawsuit filed by Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy. Broidy alleges that Mohammed and an associate, Ahmed Al-Rumaihi, oversaw Qatar's cyber warfare campaign targeting him and his company.