Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, architect of modern Qatar | Story

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Qatari diplomat who transformed the small Gulf state into one of the world’s richest and most influential countries through his vast natural gas wealth and a program of political, economic and social reform, has died. He was 74 years old.

A charismatic figure with a friendly personality, the Emir’s father took power in 1995. Known as the architect of modern Qatar, he began to develop plans for development and reform and educational programs.

During his reign, Qatar’s GDP grew more than twenty-four, while the production from the North Field turned the country into the world’s exporter of liquefied natural gas by 2006. Four years later, the capacity to produce small-scale LNG reached 77 million tons per year, according to government statistics.

His rule also saw the establishment of the Qatar Foundation, the establishment of the Al Jazeera News Channel in 1996, the promulgation of Qatar’s constitution in 2004 and the introduction of municipal elections in which women were given the right to vote and stand as candidates. Under his leadership, the Gulf nation also adopted Qatar’s National Vision 2030 and won the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Born in Doha in January 1952, Sheikh Hamad graduated from the British Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst before becoming head of the Qatari army. He became heir apparent and minister of defense in 1977, assumed power as emir on June 27, 1995, and handed over leadership to his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on June 25, 2013.

“The future is ahead of you, children of this country, as you usher in a new era where young leadership holds the flag,” said Sheikh Hamad as he announced his resignation and the successful succession of his son, the British-educated prince Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who was then 33 years old.

Peaceful, free transfers of power were common in a region where such changes often resulted in death or overthrow.