HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani

HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani was born on 23 July 1986 as the fifth son of former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned. He is half-brother of the current Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Raised in Doha during Qatar's transformation into a global economic and sporting power, Sheikh Joaan developed a strategic focus on international sports governance as a vehicle for national prestige and diplomatic engagement.

Sheikh Joaan's educational background reflects the royal family's commitment to international leadership development. He was educated at École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr in France and attended Oak Ridge Military Academy in North Carolina. In 2020, he received a Master's degree in Business Administration from HEC Paris in Qatar. His early involvement in sports governance included serving as torch relay ambassador for the 2006 Asian Games in Doha.

Career History

• Vice President, Al-Sadd Sports Club (2012–2015)
• President, 2012 Asian Handball Championships Organising Committee
• President, 24th Men's Handball World Championship Qatar 2015 Organising Committee
• President, Qatar Olympic Committee (May 2015–present)
• President, 2023 FINA World Championships Organising Committee
• Chairman, Al-Shaqab Racing (2011–present)
• Chairman, Doha 2030 Asian Games Bid Committee (now Organising Committee)
• President, Olympic Council of Asia (January 2026–present)

Since his appointment as QOC President in May 2015, Sheikh Joaan has become recognized as one of Asia's most influential sports administrators. He serves as Senior Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and Chairman of the Doha 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Bid Committee. Under his leadership, the Qatar Olympic Committee has overseen national athletic achievements, including two gold medals and one bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He was re-elected as QOC President for the 2024–2028 Olympic term in December 2024.

His major accomplishments include coordinating the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha and leading Qatar's successful bid for the 2030 Asian Games. He has received the Contribution to the Olympic Movement Award (2019) from ANOC and the Corporate Social Responsibility Person of the Year Award (2015) from Qatar University. Most recently, he was elected OCA President on 26 January 2026, becoming the 22nd President to serve the Olympic Movement in Asia.

What Sheikh Joaan could bring to the Doha 2030 Asian Games Organizing Committee Chair role: With over a decade of experience stewarding Qatar's sports infrastructure modernization and proven track record organizing multiple major international sporting events, Sheikh Joaan brings operational expertise in navigating complex stakeholder coordination, sustainability standards, and legacy planning. His leadership of the OCA simultaneously with this role positions him uniquely to align Doha 2030 with continental Olympic development priorities while ensuring the Games enhance Qatar's position as a global sports destination.