Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, who remains the key authority in the Gulf state, proposed the referendum with a clear intent to restore stability by avoiding divisive elections. The referendum, held alongside the U.S. presidential elections, has reinforced the emirate’s focus on traditional governance rather than representative systems. Emir Al-Thani’s administration has long been characterized by a centralized decision-making process that prioritizes stability over democratic representation. Under the constitutional amendments, the Shura Council will revert to being fully appointed by the emir, eliminating direct elections altogether. This council retains limited powers to draft laws, approve budgets, and call for ministerial accountability, although the emir retains veto power.
The referendum’s outcome has been characterized by experts as a “rollback” on Qatar’s previous democratic aspirations, particularly as the country has maintained a nuanced approach to representative governance since its first constitution in 2005. The new amendments also introduce expanded rights for naturalized Qataris, granting them eligibility for ministerial roles, which was previously limited to those born in Qatar. This reform, while an advancement for inclusivity in government positions, contrasts with the decision to end legislative elections and hints at a strategic move to placate both local elites and naturalized citizens by granting selective access to governmental roles without fully opening the system to public elections.
Prominent Qatari figures have expressed approval of the referendum outcome, emphasizing national unity under the current political system. Saud bin Khalid Al-Thani, a member of the ruling family, characterized the result as aligned with Qatar’s unique “style” of governance, which he argued fits the nation’s identity and culture. According to some analysts, this sentiment reflects a broader trend in the Gulf region, where stability is often prioritized over democratic reforms. This preference for stability has been observed in other Gulf states as well, especially following the 2011 Arab Spring, which introduced a prolonged discourse over stability versus democracy across the Middle East.
Political commentators and scholars have noted that the decision to discontinue elections reflects Qatar’s alignment with other Gulf monarchies in resisting elected representation. Georgetown University’s Qatar-based expert Danyel Reiche observed that electoral restrictions in 2021 stoked frustration among those unable to vote, revealing a rift even within extended families. The removal of elections is seen as a practical measure to prevent further social divisions that could disrupt national cohesion. Baraa Shiban, an analyst at the Royal United Services Institute, described the referendum as part of a “silent discussion” within Qatar, where economic security and social harmony often outweigh aspirations for political representation.
The return to a fully appointed Shura Council strengthens the emir’s centralized rule over a nation with vast natural gas reserves, which allow Qatar to wield considerable influence on the global energy market. Observers believe the country’s wealth has helped maintain public support for a political structure dominated by the ruling family. Nevertheless, the referendum underscores the state’s balancing act between modernization and preserving traditional governance frameworks, aiming to ensure continued internal stability and avoid the kind of discontent that electoral processes may ignite.