King and Queen left 'deeply saddened' by death as four-day period of mourning announced

Their Majesties The King and Queen have extended their "most heartfelt condolences" after the death of former Qatari ruler Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Qatar's Father Emir, who transformed the small Gulf state into a global powerhouse, died aged 74, the Amiri Diwan confirmed this morning.

"With hearts steadfast in faith in God’s decree and destiny, the Amiri Diwan mourns the great loss to the nation of the late – may God have mercy on him – His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who passed away this morning," the Amiri Diwan said in a statement on Sunday.

No cause of death was disclosed.

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Qatar has declared four days of national mourning, during which government offices and public institutions will cease operations. Flags across the nation will fly at half-mast.

The King and Queen led the tributes from world leaders, taking to Instagram to express their sorrow over the news.

"Their Majesties The King and Queen were deeply saddened to learn of the death of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Father Amir of the State of Qatar," the statement read.

"His Highness dedicated many years of distinguished service to Qatar, guiding the nation through a transformative period in its history.

"His leadership, vision and commitment to the welfare of the Qatari people were widely admired, both within Qatar and around the world.

"Their Majesties extend their most heartfelt condolences to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, to the members of the Al Thani Family, and to the people of Qatar at this time of loss and mourning.

"The thoughts and prayers of the Royal Family are with all those who grieve his loss."

Sheikh Hamad governed Qatar from 1995 until 2013, overseeing a period of unprecedented development that elevated Qatar's standing on the world stage.

He masterminded the development of Qatar's liquefied natural gas infrastructure, enabling the country to exploit its enormous reserves and become one of the world's foremost exporters.

This transformation laid the foundations for the nation's extraordinary wealth.

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In 1996, he launched news outlet Al Jazeera. He also secured Qatar's successful bid to stage the 2022 Fifa World Cup, placing the emirate firmly on the international stage.

His reign also witnessed significant political reforms, including the promulgation of Qatar's first permanent constitution in 2004. Municipal elections were introduced, with women granted the right both to vote and to stand as candidates.

The former ruler visited Britain in 2010, where he met the late Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, along with the then-Prince and Princess of Wales, Charles and Camilla.

In 2013, Sheikh Hamad took the unusual step of voluntarily relinquishing power to his son and heir apparent, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who was 33 at the time. Such abdications remain exceedingly rare among hereditary Gulf Arab rulers.

In a speech marking his departure, he expressed his desire for a new generation "with their innovative ideas and active energies" to assume leadership.

Other world leaders were quick to join King Charles in swiftly offering their sympathies. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi extended his "deepest condolences and sympathies to the sisterly State of Qatar" via social media.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari expressed "deep grief" and paid tribute to Sheikh Hamad's "visionary leadership and his valuable contributions to the progress and development of Qatar, as well as to regional peace and cooperation".

Abdulla Banndar el Etaibi, Assistant Professor in International Affairs at Qatar University, told Al Jazeera Sheikh Hamad had turned Qatar into an "extraordinary country".

"We're talking about someone who left a legacy all over the world, not only on Qatar," he said. "He invested a lot in LNG. This helped Qatar develop even more."

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