Sheikh Hamad: Former Qatar Emir Dies at 73
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of Qatar who oversaw the country’s transformation into a major regional and global power, has died, the Qatari government announced on Sunday. He was 73.
Former Qatar Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani led the country through nearly two decades of transformation.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of Qatar who oversaw the country’s transformation into a major regional and global power, has died, the Qatari government announced on Sunday. He was 73.
In a statement posted on social media, the Bureau of the Emir expressed its condolences, saying the nation mourned the loss of the former ruler and prayed for God’s mercy upon him.
Sheikh Hamad ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013, taking power in a bloodless coup while his father was abroad. He inherited a small Gulf state with limited financial resources and guided it through a period of rapid economic growth, international influence and political transformation.
During his 18-year reign, Qatar emerged as one of the world’s leading exporters of liquefied natural gas and significantly expanded its diplomatic and economic presence on the global stage.
One of Sheikh Hamad’s most influential initiatives was the launch of Al Jazeera in 1996. The international news network, established under his decree, became one of the Middle East’s most prominent media organisations and reshaped Arabic-language broadcasting.
In June 2013, Sheikh Hamad made history by voluntarily handing power to his son, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The peaceful transfer marked one of the first voluntary successions by a modern Arab ruler.
Leaders from around the world paid tribute to the former emir following the announcement of his death.
On behalf of Pakistan, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar extended condolences to the Al Thani family, the Emir of Qatar, and the people of the Gulf nation.
In a message posted on X, Dar said he was deeply saddened by Sheikh Hamad’s passing, describing him as a visionary leader who played a vital role in Qatar’s modern development and strengthened relations between Pakistan and Qatar.
He also praised Sheikh Hamad’s contributions to regional peace and said his leadership would be remembered for generations.
Qatar, a Gulf nation with a population of around three million people, has been ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-19th century. The country remained a British protectorate until gaining independence in 1971.
Sheikh Hamad’s leadership is widely credited with laying the foundations for Qatar’s rise as an influential economic, diplomatic and media power in the Middle East and beyond.
