Qatar: Former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani dies

Key Points:

• Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013 and transformed it into a global powerhouse, has died at the age of 74, according to an announcement by Qatar's Amiri Diwan.
• Born in 1952, Sheikh Hamad came to power in a bloodless coup and leveraged Qatar's vast natural gas reserves to make it one of the wealthiest countries by GDP per capita, while also launching Al Jazeera and expanding Qatar Airways.
• Under his leadership, Doha became a major transport hub and Qatar increased its global influence through investments and diplomacy, including significant funding for projects in the Gaza Strip.
• Sheikh Hamad presided over Qatar’s successful bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, although the process faced allegations of corruption and criticism over the treatment of migrant workers.
• During his reign, Qatar experienced diplomatic isolation by neighboring Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who accused Doha of supporting terrorism through backing the Muslim Brotherhood.