Qatar’s government on Sunday announced the death of former leader Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who led the country from 1995 to 2013. He was 74, according to a government website.
“With hearts steadfast in faith in God’s decree and destiny, the Bureau of the Emir mourns the great loss to the nation of the late — may God have mercy on him — His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani,” read a statement published by the emir’s office on social media.
Qatari officials said funeral prayers would be held on Sunday evening along with several days of public mourning across the country, which would see government offices and public institutions closed and flags flown at half mast.
The former leader was seen as one of the key architects of modern Qatar and led the country during a period of rapid economic growth.
Sheikh Hamad took power in June 1995, overthrowing his father in a bloodless coup while the latter was abroad.
He inherited a small, largely marginal emirate with nearly empty coffers and transformed it into a major player on the regional and international stage.
Within a few years, he laid the foundations for Qatar’s rapid development.
Although the country is only about one-third the size of Belgium, it possesses one of the world’s largest natural gas reserves.
Thanks to investments and international partnerships, the emirate became a leading producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas.
It also rose to become one of the wealthiest countries on the planet in terms of GDP per capita. Qatar’s population under Sheikh Hamad’s rule numbered barely two million, the majority of them foreign nationals.
During his time in office, Al Jazeera was launched in 1996, following a decree issued by the former emir, with the international broadcaster becoming one of the most influential media outlets in the region.
The Qatar Investment Authority was established with the aim of investing billions of dollars, particularly abroad, in companies including German automaker Volkswagen, London’s luxury department store Harrods, and French football club Paris Saint-Germain.
