Qatar Airways Ex-Chairman and Qatari Royal Family Member Sentenced in High-Profile Corruption Case

Ali Sharif Al-Emadi, the former Chairman of the Board of Directors at Qatar Airways, has been sentenced to a 20-year prison term following convictions on multiple charges, including money laundering. Al-Emadi was found guilty of laundering over $5.6 billion from unverified sources. The court’s decision further implicates him in bribery, abuse of power and position, and causing damage to public funds.

In a related judgment, Sheikh Nawaf bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, a prominent member of Qatar’s royal family and brother to the nation’s ex-prime minister, was also convicted. He faced charges of misusing public funds and was sentenced to six years in prison. Additionally, Sheikh Nawaf was fined 825 million Qatari riyals, as revealed in the court documents.

Both Emadi and Sheikh Nawaf, who were tried alongside 14 other individuals, have the right to appeal the convictions handed down on January 10. The trial’s specifics, including whether the accused entered pleas in response to the charges, remain unclear.

This high-profile case underscores ongoing efforts against corruption and financial misconduct in Qatar, involving figures at the highest levels of business and governance.