Qatar’s former Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, has died at the age of 74, according to an announcement by the country’s Amiri Diwan.
Sheikh Hamad served as Qatar’s ruler from 1995 until 2013, when he stepped down and transferred power to his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who remains the country’s current Emir.
In a statement, the Amiri Diwan paid tribute to the late leader, praying for mercy upon his soul and acknowledging his significant contributions to Qatar’s growth and development.
During his reign, Sheikh Hamad transformed Qatar into a major regional and global player. His leadership oversaw the expansion of the Al Jazeera media network and helped secure Qatar’s successful bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Although Qatar has a relatively small population of just over 2.5 million people, it has become one of the world’s leading exporters of liquefied natural gas, a major global investor, and an influential voice in Middle Eastern diplomacy.
Sheikh Hamad made history in 2013 by voluntarily handing over power to his son in a rare peaceful transition among hereditary Gulf monarchies. Earlier in his own rise to power, he had assumed leadership in a bloodless coup that removed his father from office in 1995.
