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

The Amiri Diwan said Sunday that Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar’s Father Emir, has died at 74.

“With hearts steadfast in faith in God’s decree and destiny, the Amiri Diwan 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, who passed away this morning,” the emir’s office said in a statement on Sunday.

Sheikh Hamad held power in Qatar between 1995 and 2013 and played a central role in transforming the oil-and-gas Gulf monarchy. Under his leadership, the country saw sweeping shifts in its economy, society and culture that raised its profile abroad.

He directed large-scale investment programmes and built broad overseas alliances while Qatar rose to become the top global supplier of liquefied natural gas.

He stepped aside in 2013 for his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, then aged 33 — an uncommon move among hereditary rulers in the Gulf Arab region.