Who is Moza bint Nasser, the wife of the Qatari sheikh?

Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned she is the mother of seven children and the second wife of the third Emir of Qatar, the Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani, whom she married in 1977. She is known as a modern woman who follows Islamic religious rules, but also combines them with a Western way of life. Educated and self-confident, Moza is known for speaking publicly about her opposition to polygamy and violence against women, as well as for her work in health and education.

Her life is marked by luxury and glamour, and Moza is not ashamed to show the public what her husband showers her with. Considering that she bore him seven children, she expects only the best from her husband, which she gets. She often appears in public with him at diplomatic missions, and she herself performs many roles in international organizations. She also has two honorary doctorates, and to top it all off, she is a beautiful oriental woman.

Moza was born on August 8, 1959 in the north of Qatar, namely in the city of Al Khor and in the tribe of Al-Missned. Her father Nasser bin Abdullah Al-Missned was a prominent businessman but also the leader of the opposition during the reign of Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani. She spent her childhood in Kuwait and Egypt before returning to Qatar in 1977 to study sociology at university. She graduated in 1986, but her education didn’t stop there. Eventually, she also earned a master’s degree in public policy in Islam at Hamad bin Khalifa University. She has also been awarded honorary doctorates by Virginia Commonwealth University, Texas A&M University, Carnegie Mellon University, Imperial College London and Georgetown University.

While she was studying at Qatar University, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, then Crown Prince of Qatar, saw her and proposed marriage. Some sources claim that they met when he tried to intervene in the return of the family to Qatar. Sometime in early 1977, they got married and Moza became the second of his three wives. They are her cohabitants Mariam bint Muhammad Al Thani and Noora bint Khalid Al Thani. Over time, she won a position and had more influence on her husband than other wives.

During the 45 years of their marriage, they had as many as seven children, the eldest of the sons Jasim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani he was initially supposed to be his father’s heir to the throne, but was replaced in 2003 by his younger brother Tamim Hamad Al Thani.

The second of her husband’s three wives is known for having introduced major reforms in her country’s education and health systems. Unlike the wives of most Middle Eastern rulers, Moza did not remain within the four walls of the palace, but represented her country at many international events, often alone. Focused, energetic and hardworking, she obtained her university degree nine years after her marriage. Since the age of thirty-six, she has served as president of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, an organization she co-founded with her husband that strives to make Qatar a leader in education and health.