Former Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani died at the age of 74. He came to power in 1996 through a bloodless coup against his father and reigned until 2013, during which time he significantly developed Qatar into a prominent gas-rich nation.
His tenure also saw Qatar awarded the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup in 2010. The bid faced allegations of corruption, though Qatar was later cleared of these claims. The construction of stadiums for the event required the hiring of approximately 30,000 foreign laborers. Reports in 2021 indicated that around 6,500 migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka had died since Qatar won the World Cup bid. The Qatari government stated that not all recorded deaths were related to World Cup projects and that many of the deceased had been long-term residents.
Qatar, which was a British protectorate until 1971, has been ruled by the Al Thani family since 1851. During Sheikh Hamad's rule, the country also faced criticism regarding its human rights record and laws pertaining to same-sex relationships.
