Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has left Qatar this afternoon to make his first trip outside of the country as the nation’s ruler.

According to QNA, the Emir will visit King Abdullah in neighboring Saudi Arabia and perform Umrah.

It has been a busy summer for Sheikh Tamim, who at the age of 33 assumed power from his father a little more than a month ago.

Since then, he has been visited and congratulated by a host of government officials from across the world. In between receiving guests, he has also started the process of reorganizing Qatar’s government, with the advent of five new ministries, among other things. 

In keeping with his promise to focus on domestic issues above all, it was announced yesterday that Sheikh Tamim doubled allowances for judges and prosecutors. The move was hailed by the Justice Minister as an effort to strengthen the independence of the judiciary.

Also on Thursday, the Emir appointed Qatar’s first female ambassador, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani, as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Croatia.

Thoughts?

Credit: Photo by Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs