{{Short description|none}} {{Infobox legislative election | country = Qatar | next_election = | seats_for_election = 30 of the 45 seats in the Consultative Assembly | turnout = ~63.5% | election_date = 2 October 2021 | first_election = yes | noleader = yes
| party1 = Independents | seats1 = 30 | percentage1 = 100
| title = Chairman of the Consultative Assembly | before_election = Ahmad bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud | before_party = Independent politician | after_election = Hassan bin Abdulla Al-Ghanim | after_party = Independent politician }}{{Politics of Qatar}}
'''General elections''' were held in Qatar for the first time on 2 October 2021 to elect 30 of the 45 seats in the Consultative Assembly. The elections had originally been scheduled for the second half of 2013,<ref>[http://dohanews.co/emir-qatar-to-hold-first-legislative-elections-in-2013/ Emir: Qatar to hold first legislative elections in 2013] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831132814/http://dohanews.co/emir-qatar-to-hold-first-legislative-elections-in-2013/ |date=2014-08-31 }} Doha News, 1 November 2011</ref> before being postponed in June 2013 until at least 2016.<ref>[http://dohanews.co/advisory-councils-term-extended-until-2016-amid/ Advisory Council’s term extended until 2016 amid government transition] Doha News, 2 July 2013</ref> In 2016 they were postponed again.<ref name=DT>[http://dohanews.co/legislative-elections-in-qatar-postponed-until-at-least-2019/ Legislative elections in Qatar postponed until at least 2019] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822135736/https://dohanews.co/legislative-elections-in-qatar-postponed-until-at-least-2019/ |date=2017-08-22 }} Doha News, 17 June 2016</ref> Finally, in November 2020, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani pledged to hold the election in October 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/ara/قطر-تعتزم-إجراء-أول-انتخابات-لمجلس-الشورى-في-2021/46137298|title=Qatar intends to hold its first elections for the Shura Council in 2021|work=Swissinfo|language=ar|date=3 November 2020|accessdate=9 December 2020|archive-date=20 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520163803/https://www.swissinfo.ch/ara/%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B2%D9%85-%D8%A5%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%89-%D9%81%D9%8A-2021/46137298|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In a 2024 referendum future elections were abolished, making this the only legislative election in Qatar's history for the foreseeable future.<ref name=":32" />
==Background== The elections were originally scheduled to be held in the last six months of 2013, but were postponed prior to the retiring Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani transferring power to his son Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-qatar-emir-idUSBRE95N19M20130625 | work=Reuters | title=Qatar emir hands power to son, no word on prime minister | date=2013-06-25}}</ref> The Consultative Assembly's term was extended until 2016<ref>[http://en.annahar.com/article/199010-postponing-democracy-qatars-modernizationization-attempts-fail-without-inclusive Postponing democracy: Qatar’s modernization attempts fail without inclusive political institutions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150420030004/http://en.annahar.com/article/199010-postponing-democracy-qatars-modernizationization-attempts-fail-without-inclusive |date=2015-04-20 }} An-Nahar, 18 December 2014</ref> and then until 2019.<ref name=DT/>
In October 2019 Al Thani issued an order for a committee to be formed to organise the elections, chaired by Prime Minister Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz Al Thani.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-qatar-politics/qatar-takes-step-toward-first-shura-council-election-qna-agency-idUSKBN1XA1CH Qatar takes step toward first Shura Council election: QNA agency] Reuters, 31 October 2019</ref>
==Electoral system== Men and women aged over 18 are eligible to vote for 30 of the 45 seats in the Consultative Assembly according to the constitution,<ref name="BBC_Qatar_2013">{{cite news | title=Qatar elections to be held in 2013 - Emir | date=2011-11-01 | publisher=BBC News | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15537725 | accessdate=2012-01-07 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106200756/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15537725 | archivedate=2012-01-06 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ArabGazette">{{cite news | first=Hina | last=Agarwal | title=Qatar to hold elections in 2013 | date=2011-11-09 | publisher=Arabian Gazette | url=http://arabiangazette.com/qatar-hold-elections-2013/ | accessdate=2012-01-07 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522042357/http://arabiangazette.com/qatar-hold-elections-2013/ | archivedate=2012-05-22 | url-status=dead }}</ref> with the remainder appointed by the Emir.<ref name=LN/>
On 29 July 2021, Al Thani approved the electoral law, which mandated the thirty members being elected from single-member constituencies by first-past-the-post voting.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/qatars-emir-approves-electoral-law-first-legislative-polls-2021-07-29/ |title=Qatar approves electoral law for first legislative polls |website=Reuters |date=29 July 2021 }}</ref> The law requires candidates to be at least thirty years old and 'of Qatari origin' (as defined by the 2005 nationality law).<ref name=LN/> This limited voting to those descended from people who held citizenship in 1930,<ref name=AJ1/> barring people who had been naturalised and members of the Al Murrah tribe from contesting the election and leading to protests.<ref name=LN>{{cite web |url=https://thelevantnews.com/en/2021/08/qatari-al-murra-tribe-protests-against-the-election-law/ |title=Qatari Al-Murra tribe protests against the election law |website=The Levant News |date=10 August 2021 |access-date=10 August 2021 |archive-date=20 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120234911/https://thelevantnews.com/en/2021/08/qatari-al-murra-tribe-protests-against-the-election-law/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Campaign== A total of 284 candidates contested the 30 seats, with 29 women running.<ref name=AJ1>[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/2/vox-pops-qatari-voters-weigh-in-on-first-legislative-elections Qatari voters weigh in on first legislative elections] Al Jazeera, 2 October 2021</ref> Political parties are banned and all candidates ran as independents.<ref>[https://freedomhouse.org/country/qatar/freedom-world/2021 Qatar] Freedom House</ref>
==Preliminary results== No women were elected.<ref>[https://www.dohanews.co/qatars-first-legislative-elections-see-63-5-voter-turnout-as-women-fail-to-break-through/ Qatar’s first legislative elections see 63.5% voter turnout as women fail to break through] Doha News, 3 October 2021</ref> Voter turnout was 63.5%.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mills|first=Andrew|last2=Barrington|first2=Lisa|date=2021-10-02|title=Qatar's first legislative elections see 63.5% voter turnout|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/qatar-holds-first-legislative-elections-2021-10-02/|access-date=2021-10-02}}</ref> According to Human Rights Watch, thousands of Qataris were excluded from voting.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Mills|first=Andrew|last2=Barrington|first2=Lisa|date=2021-10-03|title=Qatar's first legislative elections see 63.5% voter turnout|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/qatar-holds-first-legislative-elections-2021-10-02/|access-date=2021-11-07}}</ref>
{| class=wikitable !Constituency !Elected member |- |1. Fereej Al Khulaifat||Abdulrahman Yousef Abdelrahman Al Khulaifi |- |2. Fereej Al Hitmi||Ahmed Hitmi Ahmed Al Hitmi |- |3. Fereej Al Salata||Abdullah Ali Jumaa Al Sulaiti |- |4. Al Mirqab||Issa Ahmed Issa Nasr Al Nasr |- |5. Old Al Ghanim||Hassan bin Abdulla Al-Ghanim |- |6. Mushayrib||Khalid Ghanim Nasser Al Ali Al Maadeed |- |7. Al Jasrah||Khalid Ahmed Nasser Ahmed Al Obaidan |- |8. Al Bidda||Nasser Salmin Khalid Al Suwaidi |- |9. Barahat Al Jufairi||Hamad Abdullah Abdulrahman Ali Al Mulla |- |10. Dawhah al Jadidah||Khalid Abbas Ali Kamal Al Emadi |- |11. Rawdat Al Khail||Nasser Mohsin Mohammed Bukshaisha |- |12. Al Rumeilah||Issa Arar Issa Ali Al Rumeihi |- |13. Fareej Al Najada||Mohammed Yousef Abdulrahman Al Manaa |- |14. South Al Wakrah||Mohammed Muftah Abdulrahman Al Muftah |- |15. North Al Wakrah||Yousef Ali Yousef Al Khater |- |16. Al Sailiya||Ali Futais Al Merri |- |17. Old Rayyan||Mohammed Bati Salem Khalifa Al Abdullah |- |18. Al Kharaitiyat||Ali Shbaib Nasser Al Attiyah |- |19. Al Daayen||Nasser Metref Essa Al Metref Al Humaidi |- |20. Al Khor Thakhira||Ahmad bin Hamad Al Muhannadi |- |21. Al Mashrab||Mohammed Eid Saad Al Hassan Al Kaabi |- |22. Al Ghariyah||Mubarak Mohammed Matar Al Matar Al Kuwari |- |23. Ar-Ruʼays||Yousef Ahmed Ali Al Sada |- |24. Abu Dhalouf||Mohammed Omar Ahmad Al Salem Al Mannai |- |25. Al Jumail||Nasser Hassan Al Nfeihi Al Kubaisi |- |26. Al Kuwariya||Nasser Mohammed Nasser Al Jufaili Al Nuaimi |- |27. Al Nasraniya and Al Khurayb||Sultan Hassan Mubarak Al Dabet Al Dosari |- ||28. Dukhan||Mubarak Saif Hamdan Maasad Al Mansouri |- ||29. Al Kharsaah, Ummahat Sawi and Al Owaina||Ali Saeed Rashed Al Khayareen |- ||30. Rawdat Rashed||Salem Rashed Salem Rashed Al Muraikhi |- |colspan=2|Source: [https://www.dohanews.co/preliminary-results-for-qatars-first-ever-elected-shura-council/ Doha News], [https://www.gulf-times.com/story/701553/Legislative-history-made-as-Qataris-elect-30-membe Gulf Times] |}
== Aftermath == In 2024 general elections were formally discontinued. On 15 October Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani announced a constitutional referendum on proposals to abolish elections to the Consultative Assembly and revert to a fully appointed body. On 5 November the amendments were reportedly approved by 91% of voters, with a turnout of around 84%. As a result, the 2021 election stands as the only time in Qatari history that members of the assembly were chosen by voters.<ref name=":32">{{Cite web |last=Gambrell |first=Jon |date=2024-11-05 |title=Qataris votes to end limited polls for legislative seats in shadow of US election |url=https://apnews.com/article/qatar-constitutional-amendment-vote-elections-9c9125cb4bb6d6e98bc73cf5a7cbdaea |access-date=2025-10-30 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-10-15 |title=Qatar's Amir calls for referendum on holding legislative elections |url=https://dohanews.co/qatars-amir-calls-for-referendum-on-holding-legislative-elections/ |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=Doha News {{!}} Qatar |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Qatar - November 2024 {{!}} The Global State of Democracy |url=https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/report/qatar/november-2024 |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=www.idea.int}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://portal.moi.gov.qa/shura/index.html Shura Council Election Supervisory Committee]
{{Qatari elections}}
Category:Elections in Qatar Qatar General Category:Non-partisan elections Category:Election and referendum articles with incomplete results