The positions, or at least the credibility, of some members of the Al-Thani look perilous in the glare of the global scrutiny reignited by The Sunday Times’ investigations into how corruption might have influenced Qatar’s win of the 2022 Fifa World Cup. But this is not the first time Gulf-centred corruption has erupted across the world’s media, and the Gulf’s ruling families appear to have a good survival record. Saudi Arabia’s Prince Bandar Bin Sultan’s activities surrounding the 1985 Al-Yamamah arms sales appeared – to consumers of western media at least – to threaten his powerbase.
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