President Paul Kagame has arrived in Qatar to pay tribute and offer condolences following the death of former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, father of Qatar’s current leader, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
President Kagame and his delegation arrived in Qatar on Monday morning and were received by Qatar’s Minister of Transport, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Thani, and Rwanda’s Ambassador to Qatar, Igor Marara Kayinamura.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani’s death was announced by the Office of the Emir of Qatar on Sunday. He was 74 years old.
The former Emir ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013 before handing over leadership to his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in a voluntary transfer of power.
Sheikh Hamad is credited with laying the foundation for Qatar’s transformation into a global economic and diplomatic hub. During his leadership, the country expanded its liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry, becoming one of the world’s leading gas exporters and one of the richest nations by income per capita.
He also established the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), which grew into one of the world’s most influential sovereign wealth funds, with investments across major global markets.
His era also saw the creation of Al Jazeera, which became one of the most prominent media networks in the Arab world and beyond, as well as major investments in education and research through Qatar Foundation and Education City.
Beyond domestic development, Sheikh Hamad played a role in regional and international diplomacy, supporting mediation efforts in conflicts in the Middle East and Africa.
His decision to peacefully transfer power to his son in 2013 was viewed as an uncommon move among Gulf leaders and marked a significant moment in Qatar’s modern political history.
Sheikh Hamad is widely remembered as a key figure behind Qatar’s rise from a small Gulf state reliant on hydrocarbons into a country with growing global influence in energy, investment, diplomacy, education and media.
