Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former emir of Qatar, has died at the age of 74, the country's Amiri Diwan announced Sunday. The Amiri Diwan is the top government body in Qatar.
Sheikh Hamad ascended to power in 1995 and ruled the Gulf state until 2013, when he handed over power to his son, the current emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. During his tenure, Qatar experienced significant economic growth and increased its international standing, notably through investments and its role in regional diplomacy. He oversaw the development of the Al Jazeera media network and played a key role in Qatar securing the hosting rights for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.