Qatar’s former emir and father, Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, has died at the age of 74.The Amiri Diwan announced that Sheikh Hamad died on the morning of 12 July. In a statement, it prayed for Allah’s mercy upon him and praised his lasting contribution to Qatar and the wider Arab and Islamic world.Sheikh Hamad ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013, a period marked by rapid economic growth, infrastructure expansion and a rising international profile for the energy-rich nation. Under his leadership, sweeping social, cultural and political changes took place that helped reshape the country’s global standing.Major milestones during her tenure included the adoption of Qatar’s first permanent constitution in 2004 and the introduction of municipal elections, which allowed women to vote and contest seats for the first time. The years of his tenure also coincided with the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, the 2012 United Nations Climate Change Conference, the Doha Agreement, the Fatah-Hamas Doha Agreement.In 2013, Sheikh Hamad stepped down from power and handed over leadership to his son Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who was 33 at the time. The voluntary transfer of power between hereditary rulers was considered an unusual move in the Gulf region.The Amiri Diwan described Sheikh Hamad as a leader whose service left an indelible impact on the nation, honored his role in Qatar’s development, and expressed condolences following his death.