DistantNews
Support us
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ญ Ghana /Culture & Society

Former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Dies at 74

From Ghanaian Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former emir of Qatar who ruled from 1995 to 2013, has died at age 74.
  • His rule transformed Qatar into a regional powerhouse through developments like Al Jazeera and hosting the 2022 World Cup.
  • He abdicated in favor of his son, Sheikh Tamim, in 2013, ensuring a smooth succession.

Qatar's former emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, has died at the age of 74. The Amiri Diwan, Qatar's top government body, announced his death on Sunday. Sheikh Hamad ruled the Gulf nation from 1995 to 2013, during which he significantly elevated Qatar's global standing.

His transformative reign saw the development of the Al Jazeera television network and the successful bid to host the 2022 soccer World Cup. Under his leadership, Qatar, a small U.S.-allied state, became the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, a major global investment hub, and a key player in Middle East diplomacy and international media.

Sheikh Hamad handed over power to his son, Sheikh Tamim, in June 2013. This rare abdication by a hereditary Gulf Arab ruler was intended to ensure a smooth succession. He had previously seized power from his father in a bloodless coup in 1995.

The Amiri Diwan announced the death of HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani on Sunday morning. May Allah have mercy on his soul and grant him the best reward for what he achieved for his homeland and nation.

โ€” Amiri DiwanThe official announcement of the former emir's death.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ghanaian Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog