Sheikh Hamad, who made Qatar great, has died – Reuters
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former emir of Qatar, has passed away at the age of 74. The Amiri Diwan (the official residence of the head of state) announced his death on the morning of July 12.
Sheikh Hamad led Qatar from 1995 to 2013, having come to power following a bloodless coup. During his reign, the country became one of the world’s leading exporters of liquefied natural gas, a major global investment hub, and a key diplomatic player in the Middle East.
Other major achievements of his era include the founding of the Al Jazeera media network, securing the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and significantly strengthening the country’s international standing.
In June 2013, Sheikh Hamad voluntarily abdicated the throne in favor of his son, Sheikh Tamim, setting a precedent among the monarchies of the Persian Gulf for ensuring a peaceful transfer of power.
This was reported by the Reuters news agency.
