Key facts
- World leaders from Europe, Africa, and Asia have gathered in Doha to honour Qatar's Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
- Sheikh Hamad, who ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013, died on Sunday at the age of 74.
- Leaders including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Swiss Vice President Ignazio Cassis, and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev offered condolences to Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
- Regional leaders from Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Morocco also paid their respects.
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino was among the international figures attending the mourning period.
World leaders from across Europe, Africa, and Asia have converged in Doha to offer their condolences following the passing of Qatar's Father Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. He died on Sunday at the age of 74, concluding a four-day national mourning period in the Gulf state.
Sheikh Hamad, who served as the emir from 1995 until 2013, is widely credited with transforming Qatar into a significant global player. His reign saw rapid economic, diplomatic, and cultural development, including the expansion of its liquefied natural gas industry and securing the rights to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Among the high-profile figures travelling to Lusail Palace to express their respects to the current Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, were Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Swiss Vice President Ignazio Cassis. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev lauded Sheikh Hamad as an "outstanding statesman" whose leadership reshaped Qatar. Regional leaders, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, also offered their condolences.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame described Sheikh Hamad as a "visionary leader" whose legacy of service and cooperation would endure. FIFA President Gianni Infantino also paid tribute, noting Sheikh Hamad's role in shaping Qatar and his embrace of change.