Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
FILE - The Olympic Rings light up the stadium during opening ceremonies for the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, Friday, Feb. 10, 2006. Creative director Marco Balich, reveals to The Associated Press that he has been working for a year on a 30-minute show that will run ahead of the Soccer World Cup 2022 opening game between Qatar and Ecuador. He says local organizers "wanted to create a real show, which FIFA is not accustomed to.”(AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, Pool, File)
AP Exclusive: Balich leads Olympics-style World Cup ceremony

By Andrew Dampf Nov. 16, 2022 04:05 PM EST

Chinese President Xi Jinping, bottom second from right, waves as he arrives for the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
In opening of Winter Olympics, chances at politicking abound

By Adam Schreck Feb. 04, 2022 07:08 AM EST

Gold medalist Mutaz Barshim of Qatar celebrates on the track after winning the final of the men's high jump at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Cameron Spencer/Pool Photo via AP)
'You made me cry': Olympian touched by impact of shared gold

By Rob Harris Aug. 07, 2021 04:23 AM EDT

Saudi journalists watch a large display screen in a media center, showing Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at the 41st Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meeting, in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. Qatar’s ruling emir arrived in Saudi Arabia to attend the high-level summit of Arab leaders, following an announcement that the kingdom would end its yearslong embargo on the tiny Gulf state. The Qatari emir's arrival in the kingdom’s ancient desert city of Al-Ula on Tuesday was broadcast live on Saudi TV. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Qatar ruler lands in Saudi Arabia for summit to end blockade

By Aya Batrawy, Isabel Debre And Amr Nabil Jan. 05, 2021 06:19 AM EST

Qatar's emir promises Shura Council elections next year

By Isabel Debre Nov. 03, 2020 04:13 AM EST
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Qatar’s emir announced on Tuesday that the country will hold elections for its top advisory panel next year, a long-promised...

The new Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, waves after he performed the constitutional oath at the Kuwaiti National Assembly in Kuwait, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. Kuwait's Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah was sworn in Wednesday as the ruling emir of the tiny oil-rich country, propelled to power by the death of his half-brother after a long career in the security services. (AP Photo/Jaber Abdulkhaleg)
Sheikh Nawaf sworn in as Kuwait's new ruling emir

By Isabel Debre Sep. 30, 2020 08:01 AM EDT

A giant replica of the UEFA Champions League trophy is displayed at the Rossio square downtown Lisbon, Portugal, Friday, Aug. 21, 2020. PSG will play Bayern in the Champions League final on Sunday. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
425 days later, Champions League ends with PSG-Bayern final

By Rob Harris Aug. 22, 2020 08:19 AM EDT