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Qatar's former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani dies aged 74, nine years after handing power to his son

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013 and transformed it from a minor Gulf state into one of the world's wealthiest nations through natural gas revenues and an assertive foreign policy, died on July 12 aged 74; global leaders offered condolences and praised his legacy; his son, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, has led Qatar since Hamad's voluntary abdication in 2013

Leaders· active The Long Game ·23 takes · ·rbtfl upd Jul 14, 2026
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developments

  1. Qatar holds funeral for Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani; Emir Tamim receives condolences at Lusail Palace ↗

  2. Qatar Tribune publishes comprehensive record of Arab and Islamic world condolences; the breadth of diplomatic reaction underscores Hamad's regional stature even nine years after his abdication ↗

  3. Al Jazeera reports funeral prayers held for Sheikh Hamad; he was laid to rest in a simple Islamic ceremony on July 12, the same day he died ↗

  4. India declares national mourning on July 13 for Sheikh Hamad's death, flags at half-mast across the country, reflecting India-Qatar diplomatic and diaspora ties ↗

  5. Al Jazeera reactions roundup: global leaders offering condolences, tributes focus on Qatar's LNG-driven growth and Hamad's establishment of Al Jazeera as a pan-Arab broadcaster ↗

The split

The same story, as told by newsrooms in different countries. Their words, attributed and linked.

Qatar / International

Al Jazeera

“Sheikh Hamad, who ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013, was a key architect of the energy-rich Gulf country's development.”

Qatar's state-aligned international broadcaster; the primary Arabic-world report on the death, noting Hamad's rule from 1995 to 2013 and his role as architect of Qatar's energy-driven developmentread the original ↗

United Arab Emirates

The National

“Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani oversaw economic boom during his rule.”

UAE English-language paper of record; frames the death from a fellow Gulf perspective, noting the economic boom Hamad oversaw and the orderly succession he modelled by abdicating voluntarilyread the original ↗

Qatar / International

Al Jazeera (reactions)

“After Sheikh Hamad's death, global leaders offer condolences, praise his legacy and Qatar's growth.”

Separate reactions roundup from Al Jazeera; captures global leaders' condolences and the internationally acknowledged breadth of Hamad's diplomatic legacyread the original ↗

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Summary

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar's former emir, died on July 12 aged 74. He seized power in a bloodless palace coup in 1995 while his father was abroad, then ruled for 18 years before voluntarily abdicating in 2013 in favour of his son, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, a rare succession model in the Gulf. Hamad oversaw Qatar's rapid expansion: LNG revenues made it one of the world's highest per-capita income states, he founded Al Jazeera in 1996, hosted US military bases, and pursued an activist foreign policy that put Qatar at the centre of regional mediation from Gaza to Libya. Global leaders issued condolences and praised his legacy. Qatar's current Emir Tamim continues policies largely built on his father's foundation, including the role as ceasefire broker in multiple conflicts.

Why it matters

Hamad's death closes the chapter of Qatar's founding transformation. His institutional bets, the Al Jazeera network, the US air base at Al Udeid, the LNG export infrastructure, and the shuttle-diplomacy brand, continue to define how Qatar punches above its weight in a crisis-heavy region.

What to watch

  • State mourning period and any changes to Qatar's active diplomatic posture, particularly mediation in Gaza.
  • Tributes from Iran, the US, and Israel as a read on how Qatar's regional alignment is perceived.
  • Whether succession commentary inside Qatar or in Gulf rival capitals points to any shift under Tamim.

The briefing, by email