Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, former emir and priest of Qatar, has died at the age of 74.The Emir Diwan announced the death of Sheikh Hamad on the morning of July 12. In a statement, it asked God to have mercy on him and praised his lasting contribution to Qatar and the wider Arab and Islamic world.Sheikh Hamad ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013, a period characterized by rapid economic growth, infrastructure expansion and a rising international profile of the energy-rich country. Under his leadership, sweeping social, cultural and political changes occurred, helping to reshape the country’s global standing.Major milestones during his tenure include the adoption of Qatar’s first permanent constitution in 2004 and the introduction of municipal elections, allowing women to vote and contest seats for the first time. His tenure also coincided with the 2006 Doha Asian Games, the 2012 United Nations Climate Change Conference, the Doha Agreement, and the Fatah-Hamas Doha Agreement.In 2013, Sheikh Hamad stepped down and handed leadership to his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who was 33 years old at the time. A voluntary handover of power is considered an unusual move among the Gulf region’s hereditary rulers.Emir Diwan described Sheikh Hamad as a leader whose services had a lasting impact on the country, respected the role he played in Qatar’s development and expressed condolences on his death.
