Former Qatar ruler Sheikh Hamad, a moderniser who seized power, has died
By Andrew Mills
DOHA, July 12 (Reuters) – Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the former emir of Qatar, a deep-rooted modernizer who seized power in 1995 and broke the tradition of handing over power to his son 18 years later, has died at the age of 74.
Qatar’s top government body, the Amiri Diwan, announced Sheikh Hamad’s death on Sunday morning. He did not mention the cause of his death.
Qatar, which the current Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani inherited from his father, was already on the path to rebuilding.
Sheikh Hamad presided over one of the most important periods in the country’s history, bringing about a rapid transformation of the small desert state that reshaped its economy, global profile and political ambition.
A forceful, independent-minded personality, he explained in a speech to mark his abdication in 2013 that he wanted a new generation “with their innovative ideas and active energies” to take over.
Sheikh Hamad was the architect of Qatar’s drive to develop the liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure that allowed it to deliver its vast gas reserves to global markets, making the state one of the world’s largest exporters and laying the foundations for its vast wealth.
He founded Al Jazeera, the media network that gave Qatar a huge voice in Arab politics and projected its influence far beyond the Gulf. He also oversaw the successful bid to host the 2022 World Cup, a move that put Qatar firmly on the global stage and accelerated a decade of infrastructure building that has reshaped the capital Doha.
GROUNDWORK IS BEING DONE FOR QATAR’S ROLE AS A PEACE INSTRUMENT
Its foreign policy has included a mediator role for Qatar, mediating conflicts from Lebanon to Yemen and Darfur; On the other hand, it maintained its ties with the USA, which hosts the US Central Command, as well as with Iran and its affiliated groups. This balancing act formed the basis of Qatar’s current role in negotiations between the United States and Iran and its years-long efforts to stop the war in Gaza.
Qatar, under Sheikh Hamad, played a significant and controversial role during the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, using its resources and outsized influence to support revolutionary movements and Islamist groups in the region. While Doha has portrayed his policy as support for people’s demands for political change, critics have accused him and Sheikh Hamad of selectively supporting groups that suit their interests, especially groups affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood.
This has put Sheikh Hamad at odds with Gulf rulers in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who see many of these moves as threats to regional stability and monarchical rule. While the activism raised Qatar’s regional profile, it also deepened tensions with its neighbors and left a legacy that continues to shape Gulf politics.
COUP AND COUNTER COUP ATTEMPT
The purpose of Sheikh Hamad’s abdication was to minimize discord within the ruling family, which had a long history of palace intrigues, and to ensure a smooth succession.
He took power from his father in a bloodless coup in 1995. A year later, he survived a counter-coup attempt that analysts attribute to his father, who had similarly come to power by overthrowing his cousin in 1972.
One of Sheikh Hamad’s most important partners in Qatar’s modernization drive was Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, one of his wives who fostered a rare public profile for the wife of a Gulf ruler. Sheikha Moza’s influence grew along with her efforts to reposition the state at home and abroad.
While Sheikh Hamad implemented political and economic reforms that reshaped the country’s course, he developed a parallel agenda in education, research and social development.
When the emir came to power, he was the youngest leader in the region at the age of 44. He was seen as less aloof than other Gulf Arab leaders and could often be found talking to patrons at his favorite cafe in Doha’s souk.
(Writing by Michael Georgy and Andrew Mills; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
