Pictures: Father of the Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani | In Pictures Stories

The father of Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has died at the age of 74, the Amiri Diwan announced.

“With hearts fixed in faith in God’s decree and his future, the Amiri Diwan mourns the great loss of the nation of the late – may God have mercy on him – His Highness Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who died this morning,” the embassy said on Sunday.

Sheikh Hamad, who ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013, was the main architect of the rapid development of the Gulf state.

During his rule, Qatar made significant economic, social and cultural changes that strengthened its reputation around the world.

Sheikh Hamad oversaw major financial investments and created international partnerships as Qatar became the world’s largest exporter of natural gas.

In 2013, he handed over power to his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who was 33 years old at the time, in a move well known to the Gulf Arab ruler.