Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Former Emir of Qatar, Dies at 74

Key facts

• Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of Qatar known as the Father Emir, passed away at the age of 74 on 12 July 2026.
• He served as the ruler of Qatar from 1995 to 2013 and was the father of the current Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
• Born in 1952 in Doha, he completed his education at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in the United Kingdom (UK).
• He served in the Qatar Armed Forces and held the position of Defence Minister before being named the heir apparent in the late 1970s.
• His reign was marked by significant economic, social, and cultural reforms that established Qatar as a global hub for diplomacy and investment.
• The Amiri Diwan, the official administrative office of Qatar, announced a four-day period of national mourning with flags flown at half-mast.