Sheikh Faisal’s book emerges as bestseller at Doha book fair

Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, one of Qatar’s most successful businessmen, launched his book ‘Qatar We Lived: Its History, People and Rulers’ in the presence of State Minister and President of Qatar National Library HE Dr Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari during a press conference on Sunday.
Speaking at the press conference, which was organised as part of the activities of the Doha International Book Fair, Sheikh Faisal said, “My inspiration for writing the book came from my desire to testify to and document Qatar’s history, making use of historical documents and rare photographs since its inception until today, basing this history on authentic sources, in addition to my testimony of information and events that I heard and witnessed in the Majalis of Qatar’s people and rulers alike.
“I have lived through six out of the eight rulers of Qatar and Sheikh Jassim bin Muhammad Al Thani, the founder of Qatar, is my great grandfather and that I lived in different times and eras for more than seven decades, not to mention that my father was the Prince of Dukhan, the area in which the first oil wells were discovered in the late 40s of the past century.”
Speaking on the occasion, Kuwari said, “It is not a surprise that Sheikh Faisal consolidates such valuable information in his book, which we consider an important treasure for us, the future generation of Qatar’s leaders, citizens and residents. With the efforts of every member of the publishing team headed by Sheikh Faisal, we look forward to seeing that this book reaches all homes and libraries in Qatar to make sure that the wider community are aware and being educated on this valuable history.”
It was also announced on the occasion that the book has already emerged as the best-seller at the going Doha International Book Fair.
Answering a question asked by Qatar Tribune, Sheikh Faisal stated that the book consists of 10 chapters in the Arabic language and that it is being translated into English, French, Spanish, German, Turkish, Mandarin, Hindi, Persian and Portuguese and will be available for public soon.
He said a number of experts were involved in collecting and researching authentic information for the book.
While research and information collection for the book was going on for quite some time, Sheikh Faisal said, it took him almost nine months to do the writing part when he had enough time away from his business activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He added that his book describes the inception of Qatar that has gone through so many hardships and harsh years that are inconceivable before it made it to the list of richest countries per capita annually, possessing the best airport and airline, plus being the largest exporter of liquified natural gas in the world at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Indeed, those challenges and achievements make for an inspirational journey and transformation.
Sheikh Faisal added that his book demonstrates with documents, photographs and numbers the huge scale of development and achievements happening under the leadership of the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and how HH the Amir had to face extraordinary circumstances that have boosted his ability to govern the state and protect its sovereignty, with the historic support from the people of Qatar around him.
He said HH Amir’s leadership during such a difficult period has not only been crucial for his reign but rather was crucial in the history of Qatar and its destiny forever, stressing that HH the Amir came out of the challenge as a young leader defending his country in a very wise and civilised manner, with an enhanced position on the international stage.
“Thus, in a couple of years, we have achieved what otherwise requires decades to be achieved. It is said that the skill is hitting a target that others cannot hit, but brilliance is hitting a target nobody else can see, and that is what has been accomplished in the reign of HH the Amir, the defender of sovereignty and the leader of development,” Sheikh Faisal said.
“The book also confirms that great achievements can only be charged by an ambition that transcends reality, and as such, Qatar was fortunate to have HH The Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the founder of the modern state. History shall remember how his vision transformed Qatar’s character and positioned it as an active and respectable player on the world stage, how he developed and diversified Qatar’s economy to the point that Qatar became a leader in the field of energy, in addition to his ability to find a solution to the unsolvable questions, where he found the balance between modernity and openness while holding firmly and adhering to its origins and roots,” he added.
The last chapter includes facts about Qatar and pictures of Qatar old and present times that showcase the extent of development that the country underwent.