Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of Qatar who transformed the small Gulf state into a diplomatic and investment powerhouse, has died at the age of 74.
On July 12, the Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported the death of the former emir, although the specific cause was not disclosed.
Sheikh Hamad came to power in 1995 through a bloodless coup that ousted his father, Sheikh Khalifa, and ruled Qatar for 18 years. He is credited with leveraging the country’s vast oil and gas resources to elevate Qatar’s status as a center for international diplomacy, investment, and media.
During his reign, Qatar established the satellite news channel Al Jazeera and grew Qatar Airways into a major international airline. He expanded the country’s influence through overseas investments, including the acquisition of Harrods department store in London and a stake in the French football club Paris Saint-Germain.
Qatar's successful bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup is seen as a key achievement of Sheikh Hamad's strategy to enhance the nation’s global standing. He attended the opening match of the World Cup, receiving a warm welcome from Qatari fans.
Sheikh Hamad also focused on positioning Qatar as a mediator in international conflicts. The country played a role in mediating the Darfur conflict in Sudan, the political strife in Lebanon, and the division between Hamas and Fatah in Palestine. Qatar supported the establishment of a Taliban office in Doha, which later facilitated negotiations between the U.S. and the Taliban.
However, Qatar's independent foreign policy, which maintained close ties with Iran, Hamas, and the Muslim Brotherhood, led to tensions with neighboring countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. Al Jazeera was both praised for breaking traditional media practices in the Arab world and criticized for representing the Qatari royal family's interests.
In June 2013, Sheikh Hamad voluntarily transferred the throne to his then-33-year-old son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. This peaceful transfer of power is considered unusual in a region where leadership changes often occur through death or ousting.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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