Shaikh Ahmad Bin Ali Bin Abdullah Al-Thani was born around 1920 in Doha.

He became the Ruler of Qatar on 24 October 1960, upon the abdication of his father Shaikh Ali. On the same date Shaikh Khalifa Bin Hamad Al-Thani was appointed as the Heir Apparent and Deputy Ruler.

Shaikh Ahmad’s rule witnessed the growing economic activities in the country as the result of the discovery of a large number of oil fields in Qatar.

In January 1964, full-scale production commenced in the Idd al-Shargi field, the first seabed field in the world to be operated entirely as an offshore facility.

In 1963, the larger field at Maydan Mahzam was discovered and in 1965 an oil terminal was set up on the Island of Halul. Exploration of the Bul Hannien field started in 1965 and production commenced in 1977.

With the growth of oil economy, Qatar moved rapidly towards the introduction of modern administrative system. Shaikh Ahmad established the Ministry of Finance in November 1960 and Shaikh Khalifa was appointed as the first Minister of Finance.

The Department of General Financial and Administration was established to handle all governmental affairs of a financial and administrative nature. In 1967, the Department of Civil Service was also set up.

Gradually the administration of Qatar began to take final shape and the country moved for independence. Following the British Labour Government’s announcement in January 1968, for withdrawal from the East of Suez terminating the Treaties of Protection with the Gulf Rulers and their failure to form a Confederation of the Nine Gulf States, Qatar moved forward for forming a Cabinet.

On 2 April 1970, the Provisional Constitution for Qatar was promulgated and the first Council of Ministers of the country was formed on 28 May 1970.

The independence of Qatar as a sovereign state terminating the Anglo-Qatari Treaty of 1916 was declared on 3 September 1971.

Shaikh Ahmad died on 25 November 1977.