Former Qatar Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Dies at 74

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, former Emir of Qatar, died on 12 July 2026 at the age of 74. He ruled Qatar from June 1995 until his voluntary abdication in June 2013, when he handed power to his son, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

During his near‑two‑decade reign he oversaw a rapid transformation of the small Gulf state into a global player. The country leveraged its vast natural‑gas reserves, especially the North Field, to become a leading exporter of liquefied natural gas. Hamad also launched Al Jazeera Media Network in 1996, giving Qatar a powerful soft‑power platform and reshaping Arab news media. His legacy includes investments in education, such as the establishment of Doha Academy and collaborative projects with Mauritius to promote moderate Islamic schooling.

His death marks the end of a pivotal era that reshaped Qatar’s economic and diplomatic standing worldwide.