Former Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Dies at 74

Qatar’s Diwan of the Emir announced that Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir and father of the current ruler, has passed away at the age of 74. No further details about the cause of his death have been released. Sheikh Hamad led Qatar from 1995 to 2013. After his abdication, he transferred power to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and received the title of ‘Father Emir.’ His tenure was marked by significant economic, social, and cultural developments, which elevated the small Gulf nation’s role in regional dynamics and the international community. Qatari media remember him as one of the influential figures in the country’s modern transition and development.