Sheikh Ali Bin Abdullah Al-Thani was born around 1896 and became Ruler of Qatar following the abdication of Sheikh Abdullah in his favor on 20 August 1948. On 31 December 1949, the first shipment of onshore Qatari oil was made from Mesaieed terminal making Qatar’s entry into the oil age. On 29th of November 1952, Sheikh Ali signed an agreement with Shell external exploration limited company to extract oil from offshore fields. On 1st September 1952, a new Agreement was signed between Sheikh Ali and the Iraq Petroleum Company (later Qatar Petroleum Company).

Under the terms of these agreements, Qatar acquired 50 per cent of profits from oil exports. In line with the exploration of oil in Qatar, Sheikh Ali took steps to establish an effective administrative system to manage oil economy. While Ronald Cochrane was commissioned to organize an effective police force, Phillip Plant, a former British Royal Air Force officer was appointed in January 1950, as adviser to the Ruler. In August 1950, Britain appointed Arthur John Wilton as the first Political Officer in Qatar. He died on 31 August 1974.