Qatar's ruler handed over the reins of the tiny but influential Persian Gulf nation to his son Tuesday -- a remarkable development for several reasons. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani's decision to cede power willingly is a first in the modern history of the region. The norm is for Gulf leaders to rule for decades until their death or until circumstances conspire to over throw them, such as the Arab Spring uprisings that did in leaders in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.
Sheikh Hamad himself came to power in 1995 by overthrowing his father in a coup.
The second reason Tuesday's transition is historic is because the son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, now becomes the youngest monarch in the region. He is 33.Sheikh Hamad made the announcement in a televised speech Tuesday morning, and declared the day a national holiday.
"God only knows I never wanted power for personal reasons and I never sought power for any personal motive," the outgoing emir said.
"It is all about the best interest of the nation that made us decide that it is time to start new page in our history where the new generations take over with their great qualifications and ground-breaking ideas."
The outgoing emir is 61 and appears to be in good health.
The energy-rich emirate has backed Syrian rebels in their fight against the Bashar al-Assad regime, and Taliban militants have set up an office there amid diplomacy to end the Afghan war.
The prestigious soccer World Cup will be held there in 2022.
Social media has been abuzz over the news, with people thanking the outgoing for his efforts. One tweeter said, "You changed a tiny desert hamlet to a powerful economic empire. Deeply indebted."
Another said, "I have watched Qatar become an economic, sports, education and political leader. Thank you Hamad for everything. You will always be in our hearts."
British Foreign Secretary also chimed in, tweeting, "Historic day for Qatar as the new generation takes over."
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