Challenges Facing Qatar's New Emir

The June 25 transfer of power from Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani to his son, Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, aimed to maintain Qatari stability, but there may be unintended consequences for the state's regional and foreign policy. The elder al-Thani's abdication removes much of the doubt surrounding the issue of succession that is present in most Gulf monarchies. Although the 33-year-old Tamim has been the designated heir since 2003 and has been involved in many of the day-to-day affairs in managing the Qatari state, he now faces the daunting task of handling Doha's complex foreign policy and energy agendas. Although the abdication gives Tamim more legitimacy, it is unclear if he will be as successful as his father was in managing the inner workings of the al-Thani family and balancing the regional ambitions of neighboring Saudi Arabia and Iran.