Establishment of the Academy

The Joint Command and Staff College was established in 2013, and an Emiri Resolution No. (64) was issued in 2014 to establish the Joint Command and Staff College and to name it "Joaan bin Jassim Joint Command and Staff College".

The first 3 courses were delivered in English in partnership with Serco Group and both of the British Ministry of Defense and Newman Spar Company for conducting the War-game, drawing upon the curricula of King's College, London. During the years 2014-2016, a master's degree was offered to those who fulfill the conditions.

 The courses were held in the Arabic language up to 2016, and Joint Operations Course No. (1) & (2) were added to them.

An agreement was signed with Qatar University to grant a master's degree in Defense Studies to those who fulfill the specified conditions for the Joint Command and Staff courses No. (7, 8, 9).

In 2019, the National Defense Course was introduced, and the first and second batches have already graduated.

In 2021, a contract was signed with King's College to give a master's degree to students of the Joint Command and Staff courses, and a MoU was signed also with Georgetown University.

In 2022, Emiri Resolution No. (11) was issued to cancel Emiri Resolution No. (64) and to establish and organize the Joaan bin Jassim Academy for Defense Studies, under Ministry of Defense.

This high level academic edifice was named Joaan to glorify the name of Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani (aka Joaan).

Sheikh Joaan bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani is the fourth son of the founder of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, and the brother of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim, the former ruler of Qatar. Sheikh Joaan descends from the Al Thani family, a branch of Bani Tamim, one of the famous Arab tribes.

Born in Al-Wajba in 1865, he grew up on Islamic values and the eloquence of Arabic literature and poetry. He learned horse riding, sword fighting and shooting. He recited poetry when he was young, learned equestrian, fencing and archery, and was famous for his courage and composure.

in 1888, Sheikh Ali embraced martyrdom while defending homeland beside fellow Qataris after expelling the invaders at Rawdat Al Khail.