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Doha, Qatar: Qatar mourns the loss of former leader, the Father Amir HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who led the country from 1995 to 2013 and passed away on July 12, 2026, aged 74.
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.
Born in Doha in January 1952, HH the Father Amir graduated from the British Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and assumed power in June 1995, transforming the country into a major player on the regional and international stage.
Politics and Economics
A charismatic figure who was loved equally by citizens and residents, HH the Father Amir was a visionary leader who embarked on leading development and reform plans and education programs.
Within a few years, he laid the foundations for Qatar's rapid development, growing it into the leading producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas.
During his reign, Qatar's GDP increased more than twenty-four-fold, while production from the North Field turned the country into the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas by 2006. In record time, the country's LNG production capacity reached 77 million tons per annum, according to government figures.
It rose to become one of the wealthiest countries on the planet in terms of GDP per capita.
HH the Father Amir launched Qatar National Vision 2030 in October 2008 as a strategic roadmap to transform Qatar into an advanced society capable of achieving sustainable development.
Educational and Cultural Renaissance
One of the first decisions taken by HH the Father Amir was the establishment of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development to support the scientific and cultural drive in the country.
During his time in office, Al Jazeera was launched in 1996, following a decree issued by the Amir, 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.
Health Sector
During the rule of HH the Father Amir, the health sector bolstered its performance and the number of hospitals in the country increased from only four in 1998 to 13 in 2012: Al Khor Hospital (opened 2005), Al Amal Hospital (2006), the Heart Hospital (2011), Cuban Qatari Hospital (2012) and Al Wakra Hospital (2012).
Considered the first hospital in the region specialized in orthopedic and sports medicine, Aspetar Hospital was set up which includes highly skilled international experts in the field of sports medicine and orthopedics. It was chosen as FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence in 2008.
Sports and Diplomacy
On December 2010, Qatar became the first Arab and Islamic nation to win the hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, by virtue of the ambitious and non-traditional investment ventures pursued by the country under the rule of His Highness.
One of the causes closest to HH the Father Amir was that of the Palestinian struggle for liberation. In honour of his support for the people there, roads and hospitals in Gaza are named after him.
Regional and international influence
The foreign policy of Qatar in the era of HH the Father Amir accomplished many feats, including:
- Establishing the Qatari Committee for the Rescue of Jerusalem in April 1996 to support the Palestinian cause and defend Islamic holy sites in Palestine.
- Sponsoring talks between the Taliban in Afghanistan and the US to find a solution to the conflict in Afghanistan.
- Mediating the Lebanese reconciliation in 2008 with the Doha Agreement.
- Sponsoring the Agreement signed between the Republic of Djibouti and the State of Eritrea on June 6, 2010.
- Signing of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur in 2011 after more than two years of Qatari mediation.
- Leading successful mediation efforts that resulted in the resolution of the dispute between Sudan and Eritrea, and the opening of the Kassala-Al Laffa road in 2011 to promote confidence-building between the two countries.
- Signing of the Palestinian reconciliation agreement between the Palestinian factions - "Doha Declaration"- on February 6, 2012.
HH the Father Amir handed over the leadership to his heir apparent, the current Amir, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on June 25, 2013 — a first in the recent history of the Arab world.
HH the Father Amir's influence stretched far beyond Qatar's borders; his passing, like his life, will be felt across the region and beyond.
(With inputs from Al Jazeera and AFP)
