DOHA, Qatar- Qatar’s government has announced the death of former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the leader widely credited with transforming the Gulf nation into a global economic and diplomatic power.
The announcement was made on Sunday through a statement issued by the Amiri Diwan, the office of the Emir.
“With hearts steadfast in faith in God’s decree and destiny, the Bureau of the Emir mourns the great loss to the nation of the late — may God have mercy on him — His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani,” the statement said.
No immediate details were provided regarding the cause of death or funeral arrangements.
Sheikh Hamad served as Qatar’s Emir from 1995 to 2013, a period during which the country underwent remarkable economic growth fueled by its vast natural gas reserves and emerged as a key player in regional and international affairs.
He came to power in June 1995 after peacefully deposing his father, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, in a bloodless palace coup while the latter was abroad.
At the time, Qatar was a relatively small Gulf state with limited international influence. Under Sheikh Hamad’s leadership, however, it developed into one of the world’s wealthiest countries on a per-capita basis and expanded its diplomatic footprint across the Middle East and beyond.
One of his most significant legacies was the launch of Al Jazeera in 1996, the Doha-based satellite television network that reshaped Arabic-language journalism and became one of the world’s most influential international broadcasters.
His government also invested heavily in infrastructure, education, healthcare and energy, helping position Qatar as a leading exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and a major global investor.
In a move that surprised many observers, Sheikh Hamad voluntarily abdicated in June 2013, handing power to his son, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The peaceful transfer of power was widely regarded as unprecedented in the modern Arab world, where leaders have traditionally remained in office until death.
Sheikh Tamim has since continued many of his father’s domestic and foreign policy initiatives, overseeing Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and maintaining the country’s prominent role in regional diplomacy.
Qatar, which gained independence from Britain in 1971, is one of the world’s leading exporters of liquefied natural gas despite having a population of around three million people, the majority of whom are expatriate workers.
The Al Thani family has ruled the Gulf nation since the mid-19th century.