Qatar’s Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani laid to rest in Doha
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of Qatar who transformed the nation into a global LNG powerhouse, has been laid to rest in Doha. The funeral was a simple, private Islamic ceremony attended by his son, the current Emir, and other family members.
Why it matters
Sheikh Hamad was a pivotal figure in modern Middle Eastern geopolitics and the economic development of Qatar.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013, is buried after a simple Islamic ceremony.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attends the funeral of his father, former Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, at the Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque, in Doha, Qatar [Handout via Reuters] By Al Jazeera Staff Published On 12 Jul 2026 12 Jul 2026 Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the architect of Qatar’s remarkable transformation into an ultra-wealthy modern nation with global influence, has been laid to rest in Doha following his death at the age of 74.
Sheikh Hamad’s death was announced on Sunday morning, and his simple funeral ceremony was held after the daily evening prayer at sunset at the Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque in the capital.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in