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Qatar’s government has announced the death of former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who ruled the Gulf nation from 1995 to 2013 and was widely credited with transforming the country into a major regional and global player.
The Bureau of the Emir confirmed his death in a statement shared on social media, saying the nation was mourning the loss of the former ruler.
“With hearts steadfast in faith in God’s decree and destiny, the Bureau of the Emir mourns the great loss to the nation of the late — may God have mercy on him — His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani,” the statement read.
Sheikh Hamad assumed power in June 1995 after removing his father, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, in a bloodless coup while he was abroad. At the time, Qatar was a small Gulf state with limited influence, but his leadership ushered in a period of significant economic expansion and international prominence.
In a rare move among Arab monarchies, Sheikh Hamad voluntarily stepped down in June 2013, transferring power to his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. His decision marked one of the few peaceful leadership transitions of its kind in the modern Arab world.
Qatar, one of the smallest Arab countries, has a population of about three million people, the majority of whom are foreign workers. The country gained independence from British protection in 1971 and has remained under the rule of the Al Thani family since the mid-19th century.
Sheikh Hamad’s reign remains closely associated with Qatar’s rapid transformation from a relatively modest Gulf state into an influential force in global affairs.
