Former Qatar Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani Dies at 74

Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, who ruled Qatar as its Emir for nearly two decades before handing power to his son in a historic voluntary abdication, has died at the age of 74. His passing marks the end of an era for a man who fundamentally remade Qatar's role on the world stage.

During his rule from 1995 to 2013, Sheikh Hamad pursued an extraordinarily ambitious vision for Qatar. He launched the Al Jazeera news network, built one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds through Qatar Investment Authority, and secured the rights for Qatar to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup — a decision that proved transformative and deeply controversial in equal measure. He abdicated in favour of his son, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, in a rare and peaceful transfer of power.

His death comes at a moment of significant peril for Qatar. The country is currently under Iranian military pressure as part of the broader US-Iran confrontation triggered by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran launching strikes that have drawn Gulf states including Qatar into the line of fire.

For India, Qatar is a critical partner — it is one of the largest suppliers of liquefied natural gas to India and is home to a large Indian expatriate community. The geopolitical situation surrounding Qatar's stability is therefore watched closely in New Delhi.