Doha, 12 July 2026

Thousands of mourners gathered at the Jamia Imam Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab in Doha on Sunday evening to offer funeral prayers for the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, whose passing has prompted an outpouring of grief and tributes from across Qatar and beyond.

The funeral prayer, led by the Amir of State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani after Maghrib prayers, was attended by senior members of the ruling family, government officials, diplomats, dignitaries, and a large number of citizens and residents.

The passing of the Father Amir also drew international expressions of solidarity. In Pakistan, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif declared Monday a national day of mourning, reflecting the deep fraternal ties between Pakistan and Qatar. National flags will fly at half-mast throughout the day in honor of the late leader.

Media leaders and editors-in-chief across Qatar described Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani as the architect of the country's modern renaissance. They highlighted his transformative leadership, which reshaped Qatar's political, economic, educational, media, and sporting landscape while elevating the nation's regional and global stature.

Commentators noted that his vision laid the foundations for major national institutions, the growth of the energy sector, world-class infrastructure, and landmark achievements such as Al Jazeera, Education City, and Qatar's successful bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2022. They emphasized that his enduring legacy will continue to inspire future generations and remain deeply embedded in Qatar's remarkable development journey.

Tributes continued to pour in from across the Arab, Islamic, and international communities following the passing of HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, with leaders, diplomats, and media figures honoring his extraordinary legacy as the architect of modern Qatar.

Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Arab Editor-in-Chief Faleh Al Hajri said Qatar witnessed a remarkable transformation during the Father Amir's reign. Under his leadership, the country modernized its infrastructure, emerged as a leading global exporter of liquefied natural gas, established Qatar Foundation and Education City, launched Al Jazeera, adopted the Permanent Constitution, and ultimately secured the right to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Al Hajri noted that these achievements have become an integral part of daily life in Qatar and continue to shape the nation's future. He emphasized that the late Father Amir believed a country's influence is defined not by its size, but by its vision, role, and contribution to the world. This philosophy guided Qatar's foreign policy of dialogue, mediation, and openness, transforming Doha into a respected global platform for diplomacy and conflict resolution.

He further highlighted that one of the most enduring lessons from Sheikh Hamad's leadership was his unwavering commitment to investing in people, education, and knowledge. According to Al Hajri, the late leader demonstrated how long-term vision, bold decision-making, and confidence in a nation's human potential can drive lasting progress and prosperity.

The announcement of Sheikh Hamad's passing at the age of 74 prompted an outpouring of condolences from world leaders, who praised his visionary leadership, humanitarian contributions, and role in advancing regional peace, stability, and development.

Messages of sympathy were conveyed by leaders from the Gulf region, the Arab world, Europe, Asia, Africa, and international organizations. Among them were UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres; Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari; Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan; Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, GCC Secretary-General Jassem Albudaiwi; UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi; and  Jordan's King Abdullah II.

Many leaders described the late Father Amir as a visionary statesman whose leadership transformed Qatar into a globally respected nation. They also acknowledged his contributions to diplomacy, mediation, humanitarian causes, and regional cooperation, emphasizing that his legacy will continue to inspire future generations across the world.