Sheikh Ali is also known as the first Emir of Qatar to have migrated and traveled abroad, visiting India, Egypt, Europe, Lebanon and the Levant.

[citation needed] Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani was born on 25 June 1895, in Doha.

[citation needed] He became the emir of Qatar on 20 August 1949, after his father was forced to retire due to poor physical health.

Rutherford, in a 1950 report on the prominent personalities of Qatar, he wrote "I am not in position to remark extensively upon the character of sheikh ‘Ali bin Abdulla al ‘Thani; his reputation as a boor is well established."

Among the close early confidantes of the sheikh were Saleh Al Mana and several members of the Darwish family.

In addition to these, Sheikh Ali also oversaw the construction of the Doha International Airport, several road networks, and water, electricity and port facilities.

[2] Phillip Plant, a former British Royal Air Force officer, was appointed in January 1950, as adviser to the emir.

One of the largest protests took place that year; it drew 2,000 participants, most of whom were oil workers and high-ranking Qataris allied with Arab nationalists.