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• Laid to rest at Lusail cemetery after simple funeral ceremony
• Flags to be flown at half-mast; Pakistan declares a day of mourning
• Shehbaz likely to visit Doha
DOHA / ISLAMABAD: Qatar’s government on Sunday announced the death of former leader Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who led the country from 1995 to 2013. He was 74.
In a statement published on social media, the Qatar emir’s office said, “With hearts steadfast in faith in God’s decree and destiny, the Bureau of the Emir 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.”
His funeral was held after the evening prayer at sunset and he was laid to rest at the Lusail cemetery, north of Doha.
Officials announced several days of public mourning across the country, with government offices and public institutions closed and flags flown at half-mast.
The former leader was seen as one of the key architects of modern Qatar and led the country during a period of rapid economic growth.
Sheikh Hamad took power in June 1995, overthrowing his father in a bloodless coup while the latter was abroad.
He inherited a small, largely marginal emirate with nearly empty coffers and transformed it into a major player on the regional and international stage.
Within a few years, he laid the foundations for Qatar’s rapid development.
Although the country is only about one-third the size of Belgium, it possesses one of the world’s largest natural gas reserves. Thanks to investments and international partnerships, the emirate became a leading producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas.
It also rose to become one of the wealthiest countries on the planet in terms of GDP per capita. Qatar’s population under Sheikh Hamad’s rule numbered barely two million, the majority of them foreign nationals.
During his time in office, Al Jazeera was launched in 1996, following a decree issued by the former emir, with the international broadcaster becoming one of the most influential media outlets in the region.
The Qatar Investment Authority was established with the aim of investing billions of dollars, particularly abroad, in companies including German automaker Volkswagen, London’s luxury department store Harrods, and French football club Paris Saint-Germain.
Sheikh Hamad was still emir when Qatar was awarded the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup in 2010, amid allegations of corruption and, later, criticism over the treatment of foreign workers.
Also under his reign, Qatar began paying hundreds of millions of dollars to the Gaza Strip, notably funding road projects along the coast. A hospital in Gaza City bears his name.
In June 2013, Sheikh Hamad surprised many by voluntarily abdicating in favour of his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, a first in the recent history of the Arab world.
Condolences
Pakistan declared a day of national mourning on Monday the demise of “The Father Amir”. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared the national mourning as an expression of fraternal solidarity on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan with Qatar’s royal family, government and the people, an official notification said. The national flag shall fly at half-mast across the country.
President Asif Ali Zardari, PM Shehbaz and Deputy Prime Minister Dar extended condolences to the Al Thani family, the emir and the government and the people of Qatar.
PM Shehbaz is expected to travel to Qatar on a day-long official visit to offer condolences over the former emir’s death.
Sources in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said the premier will also meet Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
In his condolence message, President Zardari paid tribute to Sheikh Hamad’s “visionary leadership and his valuable contributions to the progress and development of Qatar, as well as to regional peace and cooperation”.
In his message on X, PM Shehbaz said he was “deeply saddened” by the passing away of Sheikh and remembered the former emir as “a great leader and statesman whose wisdom, foresight and dedication to public service, transformed Qatar into a modern, prosperous and globally respected nation”.
Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2026
