Former Qatar Ruler Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Passes Away at 74

DOHA, Jul 12: Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of Qatar, died on Sunday at the age of 74, the Amiri Diwan announced.

In a statement, the Amiri Diwan said Sheikh Hamad passed away on the morning of July 12, corresponding to 27 Muharram 1448 AH.

Sheikh Hamad ruled Qatar from 1995 until his abdication in 2013, when he voluntarily handed power to his fourth son, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, marking the first voluntary transfer of power in the country's modern history.

During his 18-year reign, Sheikh Hamad oversaw a period of rapid economic growth and modernization, transforming Qatar into a major regional and global player through the expansion of its liquefied natural gas industry, infrastructure development and international diplomacy.

In its statement, the Amiri Diwan paid tribute to the late leader, praying that Allah grant him mercy and Paradise, and praising his lasting contributions to Qatar as well as the Arab and Islamic worlds.