Former Qatar Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has died at the age of 74, the nation’s top government body said on Sunday.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is credited for his contribution to the nation’s modern revival into a regional powerhouse. He transformed the tiny Persian Gulf nation into a global player in diplomacy, media and investment.
“The Amiri Diwan announced the death of HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani on Sunday morning. May Allah have mercy on his soul and grant him the best reward for what he achieved for his homeland and nation,” the Diwan said in a statement quoted by Reuters.
According to the Qatar’s government website, Al Thani’s rule saw massive economic, social and cultural development.
Though the state-run Qatar News Agency announced his death, there was no mention of the cause.
The Qatari leader, during his rule, also shattered tradition by voluntarily handing over power to his son, Sheikh Tamim, the current leader of the gas-rich country. He stepped down in June 2013 after 18 years as emir.
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Architect behind Qatar’s rise in West Asia
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is seen as the architect behind Qatar’s rise as a backwater into energy-rich nation at an international crossroads in less than a generation, according to Associated Press.
Qatar now holds the Harrod’s department store in London and founded the powerful Al Jazeera satellite news network. He is also lauded for his role in the rise of Al Jazeera, a major force in global media, and Qatar Airways, which grew into a major international carrier.
The US-allied nation, with a population of over 2.5 million people, is the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
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