{"id":64656,"date":"2026-07-12T11:08:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T15:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/former-qatari-emir-sheikh-hamad-bin-khalifa-al-thani-dies-at-74-uae-and-sudan-declare-mourning\/64656\/"},"modified":"2026-07-12T11:08:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T15:08:14","slug":"former-qatari-emir-sheikh-hamad-bin-khalifa-al-thani-dies-at-74-uae-and-sudan-declare-mourning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/former-qatari-emir-sheikh-hamad-bin-khalifa-al-thani-dies-at-74-uae-and-sudan-declare-mourning\/64656\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Dies at 74; UAE and Sudan Declare Mourning"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, has died at the age of 74<\/strong>, marking the end of an era for the architect of modern Qatar&#39;s energy-led economic explosion.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The UAE and Kuwait have declared four days of official mourning<\/strong>, with flags at half-mast, reflecting the significant regional impact of the &quot;Father Emir.&quot;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sudan\u2019s government expressed &quot;profound grief,&quot;<\/strong> citing the late leader&#39;s pivotal role in regional peace and stability, particularly in the Darfur region.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sheikh Hamad transformed Qatar into the world\u2019s largest LNG exporter<\/strong>, driving the nation to become one of the wealthiest per capita globally during his 18-year reign.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The <strong>Amiri Diwan<\/strong> of Qatar announced the passing of <strong>His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani<\/strong> on Sunday morning, July 12, 2026. Sheikh Hamad, who ruled from 1995 to 2013, is credited with transforming the Gulf nation from a quiet peninsula into a global powerhouse in energy, media, and diplomacy. No official cause of death was provided in the state announcement.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>Presidential Court of the United Arab Emirates<\/strong> declared a four-day mourning period beginning Sunday, with flags to be flown at half-mast at all official institutions and diplomatic missions. UAE President <strong>Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan<\/strong> extended his condolences to the current Emir, <strong>Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani<\/strong>, and the Al Thani family. Similar measures were taken in <strong>Kuwait<\/strong>, where <strong>Emir Sheikh Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah<\/strong> directed a four-day lowering of flags.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>Sudanese Government<\/strong> issued a statement mourning the &quot;great loss&quot; for the Arab and Islamic nations. Sudan&#39;s <strong>Transitional Sovereign Council<\/strong> highlighted Sheikh Hamad\u2019s historical contributions to establishing peace and stability in the region. The late Emir was a key mediator in the <strong>Darfur conflict<\/strong> and maintained extensive humanitarian and charitable roles across the African continent.<\/p>\n<p>Economically, Sheikh Hamad\u2019s legacy is defined by the rapid expansion of Qatar\u2019s <strong>Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)<\/strong> production. Under his leadership, Qatar moved from its first cargo shipment in 1996 to becoming the world&#39;s leading exporter, fueling a sovereign wealth fund that now holds massive stakes in global assets like <strong>Harrods<\/strong> and <strong>Sainsbury&#39;s<\/strong>. His tenure also saw the 1996 launch of <strong>Al Jazeera<\/strong>, which fundamentally altered the Middle Eastern media landscape.<\/p>\n<p>Market analysts note that while the &quot;Father Emir&quot; had been out of active power since his voluntary abdication in 2013, his death marks a symbolic milestone for the region&#39;s stability. During his reign, the <strong>Qatar Stock Exchange (QSI)<\/strong> and major entities like <strong>Qatar Airways<\/strong> and <strong>QatarEnergy<\/strong> became central pillars of a diversified economy. Funeral prayers are scheduled to be held at the <strong>Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque<\/strong> in Doha, followed by burial at <strong>Lusail Cemetery<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, has died at the age of 74, marking 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