Published July 12, 2026
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former emir of Qatar who built the small Gulf state into one of the world’s richest and most powerful countries thanks to its vast natural gas reserves and an ambitious program of political, economic and social reform, has died. He was 74.
A charismatic figure with a friendly demeanor, Father Emir took over the reins in 1995. Considered the architect of modern Qatar, he began to develop plans for development and reform, as well as educational programs.
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During his reign, Qatar’s GDP increased more than twenty-four times, and production from the North Field turned the country into the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas by 2006. After four years, the small country’s LNG production capacity reached 77 million tons per year, according to government data.
His tenure also led to the creation of the Qatar Foundation, the launch of the Al Jazeera news channel in 1996, the promulgation of Qatar’s first permanent constitution in 2004, and the start of municipal elections in which women were given the right to vote and stand as candidates. Under his leadership, the Gulf country also adopted the Qatar National Vision 2030 and won the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Sheikh Hamad was born in Doha in January 1952. He graduated from the British Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and later became commander of the Qatari armed forces. He became heir apparent and Minister of Defense in 1977, took office as emir on June 27, 1995, and handed over leadership to his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on June 25, 2013.
“The future lies before you, the children of this homeland, as you enter a new era with young leadership raising the banner,” Sheikh Hamad said as he announced his abdication and a carefully orchestrated transition to his son, the British-educated Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, then 33.
Peaceful, voluntary transfers of power have been rare in the region, where such changes usually occur through death or overthrow.