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

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of Qatar who transformed the small Gulf state into a major international player in diplomacy, media, and economy, passed away at the age of 74, Qatar's state media announced on Sunday. No cause of death was provided. Sheikh Hamad ruled Qatar for 18 years before voluntarily abdicating in June 2013, handing power to his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. His leadership turned Qatar into a global hub, owning assets such as London's Harrods department store and the influential Al Jazeera news network, which reshaped Arab media.

Under Sheikh Hamad, Qatar's influence extended from North Africa to Afghanistan, culminating in hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Despite his retirement, he remained a respected figure in Qatar, receiving enthusiastic applause at the World Cup opening ceremony. However, his independent foreign policy, including close ties with Iran, Hamas, and the Muslim Brotherhood, sparked regional tensions. In 2017, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and other Gulf states severed diplomatic ties with Qatar in an attempt to isolate it, though relations were eventually restored.

Sheikh Hamad's establishment of Al Jazeera was both praised for breaking state-controlled media norms and criticized for allegedly fomenting regional divisions and supporting the Arab Spring uprisings. Educated in the UK, he seized power in a bloodless palace coup in 1995, deposing his father while abroad. His voluntary abdication was rare in the Middle East, signaling a move toward younger leadership amid calls for reform inspired by the Arab Spring.

During his rule, Sheikh Hamad expanded Qatar Airways and invested heavily in global sports, including ownership stakes in FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. Qatar also played a key diplomatic role in conflicts such as Darfur, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories. In 2012, he became the first head of state to visit Gaza since Hamas took control, pledging $400 million in aid. Qatar maintained complex relations with Israel, hosting an Israeli economic interests office until its closure in 2008.

Sheikh Hamad's tenure saw Qatar support NATO-led operations in Libya and back Syrian opposition groups, though its support for Islamist factions caused regional rifts. His son Sheikh Tamim's rule has continued many of these policies, leading to a prolonged Gulf diplomatic crisis. One of Sheikh Hamad's last initiatives was opening a Qatari office for the Taliban, facilitating talks with the US that eventually led to the 2021 withdrawal of American and NATO forces from Afghanistan. Sheikh Hamad had faced health issues in recent years, including a 2015 leg fracture requiring surgery in Switzerland.