Former Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani Dies At 74

Former Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani died at 74, the Qatari government announced on Sunday.

The BBC said the Emir’s office statement read: "The Bureau of the Emir mourns the great loss to the nation of the late, may God have mercy on him," and it reported that funeral prayers would be held on Sunday evening before several days of public mourning.

Al Jazeera

RFI reported that the Emir’s office announced: "It is with resolute hearts in faith in the will and destiny of God that the Emir’s Diwan mourns the passing of His Highness the Emir Father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, a great loss for the nation," and said the authorities announced funeral prayers on Sunday evening and several days of official mourning.

The BBC added that flags would be flown at half mast and government offices and public institutions would be shut as a mark of respect, while AP reported that the Qatar News Agency offered no cause for the death.

World leaders and governments sent condolences after the Amiri Diwan announced the death of the Father Amir, with The Peninsula Qatar describing tributes and condolences pouring in from world leaders.

The Peninsula Qatar quoted Pakistan’s Prime Minister HE Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif saying: “Deeply saddened by the passing away of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Former Amir of the State of Qatar.”

Al Jazeera

The Peninsula Qatar also quoted President of the United Arab Emirates HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, stating through his X account: "I extend my sincere condolences and sympathy to my brother @TamimBinHamad and his family on the passing of his father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani."

In parallel, Kuwait’s Gulf News reported that Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah declared four days of official mourning, with flags to fly at half-mast across Kuwait and at its embassies abroad for four days from Sunday.

Multiple outlets tied Sheikh Hamad’s death to his role in Qatar’s modern transformation and his decision to step down, with the BBC saying he took power from his father in June 1995 in a bloodless coup and voluntarily abdicated for his son in 2013.

AP described him as the architect of energy-rich Qatar’s ambitions and said he stepped down in June 2013 after 18 years as emir, while also noting that he voluntarily turned over power to his son.

The BBC quoted Sheikh Hamad’s abdication message from AP’s account of the transition, saying: "The future lies ahead of you, the children of this homeland, as you usher into a new era where young leadership hoists the banner," as he announced the abdication and transition to Sheikh Tamim.

RFI added that Sheikh Hamad ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013 and that he toppled his father Sheikh Khalifa in a palace coup in 1995 without bloodshed, taking advantage of his father’s trip to Switzerland.