Like every other arriving visitor, I was wondering about the back story.
That’s a representation of the current Amir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani by Qatari artist Ahmed al-Maadheed.
It’s become symbolic of Qatar’s position in the 2017β18 diplomatic crisis. Qatar has been boycotted by a Saudi-led coalition.
Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani became the 8th Amir of Qatar on 25 June 2013 after his father’s abdication. He’s only age-38 now.
A taxi driver told me he was a great and popular leader. But the Amir has his critics too.


A bit of History, the current Emir’s father attempted a coup against the grandfather whom was Emir at the time that was eventually overturned by Saudi Arabia and the other members of the GCC. See, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/emir-of-qatar-deposed-by-his-son-1588698.html
or web search Qarar Coup.
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Thanks. I knew nothing of that history.
Royal families seem a poor way to rule nations.
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