Visit of Sheikh Khalifah bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of Qatar, to UK, 8-24 September 1973

This file concerns the visits by the Ruling Family of Qatar to the UK, from April to December 1973. It contains correspondence relating to:

• A proposed visit by the Ruler of Qatar Amir Khalifa Bin Hamad Al Thani to London in July, and the Amir's intention to discuss the stability of the Gulf in general and Anglo-Qatar relations in particular during a meeting with the British Prime Minister Edward Heath if possible
• The planned visits of Amir Khalifa to France and Tunisia and an official invitation to visit Britain
• The indications from the Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Suhaim Bin Hamad Al Thani and Chef de Cabinet Isa Bin Ghanim Al Kawari that the Amir would like to be received by the Queen during his visit as was the Ruler of Bahrain Sheikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa
• The plans for a lunch in Amir Khalifa's honour by the Qatari Ambassador in London and including the Defence Secretary Lord Carrington [Peter Carington] as one of the guests; a possible lunch (or courtesy call) to the Prime Minister's residence at 10 Downing Street; and a call on the Foreign Secretary Sir Alec Douglas-Home after meeting the Prime Minister
• The Amir of Qatar's intention to attend the summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Algiers, accompanied by Isa Kawari, Advisor to the Government of Qatar Dr Hasan Kamel, the Minister of Commerce and Economy Sheikh Nasir Bin Khalid Al Thani, the Ambassadors of Qatar to Lebanon and Kuwait and the Acting Director of Information Mahmoud Shahad
• The plans regarding the Prime Minister's lunch with the President of the UAE Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan who will be accompanied by the Prime Minister Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Minister of the Interior Sheikh Mubarak Bin Mohammad Al Nahyan and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sayyed Ahmad Khalifa Al Suwaidi
• The tentative plans for the Amir of Qatar to visit the Barbican Scheme, meet the Lord Mayor H W K Wontner, and visit the Houses of Parliament during his stay in London
• A brief for the Defence Secretary Lord Carrington's lunch with the Amir of Qatar, including sections on: the Qatar Security Forces (QSF) and Qatar Police Force, expansion of the QSF, British interest in the stability of the Gulf and financial aid to the Sultanate of Oman
• A brief on recent and prospective defence sales to Qatar, the engagement of a Project Officer, and the employment of Millbank Technical Services Limited to handle procurement; and personality notes on Amir Khalifa, Kawari and Sheikh Ahmad Bin Saif Al Thani
• A brief for the Prime Minister in preparation for his lunch with the Amir of Qatar, including sections on: UK-Qatar relations, Egypt and oil, neighbours in the Gulf, Oman and internal affairs
• A conversation between Prime Minister Heath and Amir Khalifa on 18 September 1973
• A photograph of the Amir of Qatar with the Prime Minister, the Guardian, dated 19 September 1973
• A conversation between the Foreign Secretary and Amir Khalifa, dated 19 September 1973
• A proposal by HM Ambassador E F Henderson for an invitation to be issued to Amir Khalifa to make a private visit to the UK in order to counter the influence of France, and the extension of the invitation during Lord Balniel [Robert Alexander Lindsay's] visit to the Gulf