built the Al Koot Fort, also known as Doha Fort, in the Al Bidda neighbourhood, in the midst of Souq Waqif, near Doha Corniche, in Doha, the capital city and state of Qatar, to serve as a police station, at the same time, to protect the Souq Waqif from thieves. In 1938, Sheikh Abdullah built the famous Zubarah Fort, in the town of Zubarah, which in turn, is located in the Al Shamal municipality, on the northwestern coast of the Qatari peninsula, about 105 km from Doha. Discovery of oil Following British recognition of Sheikh Hamad, the second son of Sheikh Abdullah as the Heir Apparent of Qatar, Sheikh Abdullah signed the first Oil Concession Agreement with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company on 17 May 1935. Accordingly, in October 1938, drilling of the first well in Qatar began and the discovery of oil was made at Dukhan structure in January 1940. However, the oil wells were capped as the Second World War progressed. Sheikh Abdullah's last act as ruler was the signing of a Seabed Concession with Central Mining and Investment Corporation Ltd. on 5 August 1949. He died on 25 April 1957. Appointment of the next Emir On 30 June 1948, Sheikh Abdullah appointed Sheikh Ali Bin Abdullah Al-Thani as the Deputy Ruler of Qatar, following the death of Sheikh Hamad on 27 May 1948, and after abdicating for his eldest son. Marriage and children Although Sheikh Abdullah's first wife is Sheikha Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah, he further married a second wife named Sheikha Fatima bint Isa Al Thani, daughter of Sheikh Isa bin Thamer Al Thani, to whom he bore his third son, Sheikh Hassan bin Abdullah Al Thani. In total, Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani had three sons. Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani Sheikh Hassan bin Abdullah Al Thani Death Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani died on 25 April 1957 by a natural death. But before he died, he appointed his eldest son as the ruler of the Qatar Peninsula as a whole in 1949. See also Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani Al Koot Fort Zubarah Fort Percy Cox References External links Amiri Diwan Al Thani Family Tree Qatari Ministry of the Interior 1880 births 1957 deaths Abdullah bin Jassim Emirs of Qatar 20th-century Arabs