Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani is a Qatari prince who has served as Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the kingdom. He is also the head of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the country's sovereign wealth fund.
Sheikh Jassim has ultimately won the fight to acquire Manchester United in a £5 billion agreement. Now let's take a look at his life.
Sheikh Jassim was born in 1959, the son of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of Qatar. He attended Qatari and British schools and graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1979.
Sheikh Jassim began his career in the Qatari military, and from 1982 to 1986, he was the commander of the Qatari Air Force. He was elected Prime Minister in 1995 and remained in that capacity until 2007.
Sheikh Jassim was in charge of the country's economic and social growth as Prime Minister. He was instrumental in the growth of Qatar's oil and gas sector, which helped the country become one of the wealthiest in the world.
Sheikh Jassim was also an important figure in Qatar's foreign policy. He was essential in the establishment of Qatar's relationship with the US, and he assisted in the 2004 release of American prisoners from Iraq.
Sheikh Jassim resigned as Prime Minister in 2007, but remained politically engaged in Qatar. He was appointed Foreign Minister in 2007, a position he held until 2013.
Sheikh Jassim was a strong champion for Qatar's interests on the international scene throughout his tenure as Foreign Minister. He was a vocal advocate of the Arab Spring and was instrumental in negotiating the Syrian Civil War.