Asia09 September, 20263 min read
UN General Assembly Honors Late Qatar Emir Father Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
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UN General Assembly memorial session honors late Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised his legacy transforming Qatar and expanding development and international role
5 outlets told this the same way.
UN honors Sheikh Hamad
The United Nations General Assembly convened a high-level memorial session at the UN headquarters in New York to honor the late Emir Father of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who passed away on July 12, 2026, and the session opened with a moment of silence for the deceased. UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised Sheikh Hamad’s legacy in development, modernization, and mediation, describing him as “a visionary leader who helped bring about a transformation in Qatar and shaped the contours of its modern history.” The UN session also included remarks by the President of the General Assembly, with the UN News report naming Riyad al-Saleem as President of the General Assembly in its eighty-eighth session, and the Al Jazeera report describing the General Assembly President as Kasim Al-Rahman.
In the same ceremony, the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Said Al Thani, thanked the President of the General Assembly and the Secretary-General and said Sheikh Hamad’s rule from 1995 to 2013 laid foundations for a modern state built around established institutions and a people-centred development approach. The UN News report said the ceremony was held “today, Wednesday, at the United Nations headquarters in New York” as part of the UN’s commemoration of Sheikh Hamad’s anniversary.
Condolences and regional praise
Guterres extended condolences to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Al Thani ruling family, and the government and people of Qatar, and he said Sheikh Hamad “under Sheikh Hamad’s leadership, Qatar developed into a trusted partner in mediation and diplomacy.” The Peninsula Qatar report said formal statements were delivered by UN Secretary-General H E António Guterres and Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN H E Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, and it listed regional and international groupings including the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Arab Group, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Non-Aligned Movement. In the Al Jazeera report, Bahrain’s permanent representative, Jamal Faris Al-Ruwai’i, affirmed that the late leader dedicated his life to serving his country and its nation with a vision that foresaw the future, and the report said Oman’s permanent representative, Ali Omar Al-Kathiri, stressed that the late leader was a wise and principled guide.
The Al Jazeera report also said Turkey’s representative, speaking on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Ahmed Idris, stated that the Muslim world has lost a wise leader who defended the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and protected the Arab and Islamic identity of Jerusalem. For the Non-Aligned Movement, Marvin Ekundi, Deputy Permanent Representative of Uganda, explained that the late leader left a lasting legacy in consolidating dialogue and mediation and boosting South-South cooperation through hosting the 2005 G77+China summit.
Legacy, milestones, and what’s next
Across the UN ceremony coverage, Guterres highlighted milestones during Sheikh Hamad’s tenure, including the adoption of Qatar’s Permanent Constitution, investments in higher education and research through Qatar Foundation and Education City, and the launch of Qatar National Vision 2030. UN News quoted Guterres saying “The United Nations has always valued its partnership with Qatar,” and it said the UN expressed gratitude for Qatar’s support for humanitarian efforts, mediation initiatives and multilateral action for the cause of peace and human dignity. The Peninsula Qatar report said Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani recalled Sheikh Hamad’s rule from 1995 to 2013 and said he was a visionary leader who placed people at the centre of the development process and invested heavily in human capital, with education and scientific research receiving particular attention.
In the Al Jazeera report, the Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations said Qatar’s foreign policy made peaceful dispute resolution and mediation a constitutional approach, and it cited milestones including the Doha Agreement for the Lebanese parties, the Darfur Peace Agreement, mediation between Djibouti and Eritrea, and sponsorship of Palestinian reconciliation. The Al Jazeera report also said the Qatar representative stressed the continuation of the path under the leadership of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, while listing major UN conferences hosted by Doha such as the WTO Ministerial Conference, the Financing for Development Conference, the UNCITAD Conference, and COP-18.