Qatar has announced the death of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the country’s former emir and father of the current ruler, at the age of 74. The announcement closes a defining chapter in modern Qatari politics, with his rule tied to some of the most important shifts in the country’s recent history.
The Amiri Diwan said in a statement that the “father of the nation” died on Sunday morning, 27 Muharram 1448, corresponding to 12 July 2026. The statement described him as “the great loss of the nation” and extended condolences to the Qatari people.
A ruler who changed Qatar’s direction
Sheikh Hamad came to power in 1995 after a bloodless coup against his father, Sheikh Khalifa, with support from the Qatari armed forces, the cabinet, and some neighboring states. That move marked the beginning of a period in which Qatar expanded its regional influence and built a far more visible global profile.
One of his earliest and most influential decisions came in 1996, when he founded the Al Jazeera news channel. According to www.bbc.com, the network was launched a year after he took power and became one of the most recognizable media brands in the Arab world.
Key moments from his rule
| Year | Moment | Why It Mattered |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Took power in a bloodless coup | Ended his father’s rule and began a new era in Qatar |
| 1996 | Founded Al Jazeera | Helped shape Qatar’s media influence across the region |
| 1999 | Addressed a 32-member committee on the first draft constitution | Set in motion one of the country’s earliest steps toward constitutional reform |
| 2003 | Approved the constitution after a vote | Advanced the framework for political development in Qatar |
| 2003 | Qatar played a major role in the U.S. war on Iraq | Base Al Udeid became a key center for U.S. air operations in the Middle East |
| 2006 | Helped mediate between Hezbollah and Israel during the Lebanon war | Showed Qatar’s active diplomatic role in regional conflicts |
| 2009 | Qatar cut commercial ties with Israel | Ended the Gulf state’s only commercial relationship with Israel at the time |
| 2011 | Joined the military campaign against Muammar Gaddafi | Placed Qatar alongside Arab partners in the intervention in Libya |
| June 2013 | Transferred power to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani | Marked the start of a new generation of leadership |
In 1999, Sheikh Hamad spoke before a committee of 32 members tasked with drafting the country’s first constitution. He gave the committee three years to submit proposals, and the draft was later approved in 2003 after a vote.
Foreign policy and succession
His era also saw Qatar take a more assertive role abroad, including involvement in the U.S.-led war in Iraq in 2003 and the mediation effort between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006. In 2009, Qatar ended commercial relations with Israel after the attack on Gaza, and in 2011 it joined the military campaign against Libya’s then-leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Sheikh Hamad stepped aside in June 2013 and handed power to his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who is now the emir of Qatar. In his transfer-of-power speech, he said the country was entering “a new era” led by a young leadership that would work to meet the ambitions of future generations.
The death of Sheikh Hamad comes at a moment when many of the institutions and foreign policy choices shaped under his rule continue to define Qatar’s role in the region. His legacy stretches from domestic reform to media power and high-stakes diplomacy.
