World leaders and regional dignitaries gathered at Lusail Palace in Doha on Tuesday to offer their condolences following the death of the Father Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, according to Al Jazeera and the Amiri Diwan. Qatar`s current Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, has been receiving heads of state, foreign diplomats, and thousands of citizens during a three-day mourning period at the royal palace. Sheikh Hamad, who ruled the energy-rich Gulf nation from 1995 until his abdication in 2013, passed away at the age of 74. Qatari authorities announced four days of official national mourning, during which national flags will fly at half-mast across all government buildings and diplomatic missions worldwide. The late leader`s funeral prayers were held at the Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque in Doha, and he was subsequently laid to rest at the Lusail Cemetery.
According to official statements from the Amiri Diwan, Bahrain`s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa arrived at the palace on Monday to offer his deep sympathies to the ruling family. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi expressed his condolences on Tuesday morning, emphasizing the strong historical ties between the two nations during this difficult time. Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah also visited Doha on Monday morning to pay his respects. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam led a high-level delegation to the palace on Monday, while Lebanese President Joseph Aoun personally arrived on Tuesday to extend his condolences.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa traveled to Doha on Monday to meet with Sheikh Tamim and offer his deepest sympathies for the loss of the former leader. Iraqi President Nizar Amidi paid his respects at Lusail Palace on Monday evening, according to state media outlets. Other regional figures who arrived included the Crown Prince of Ajman, Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, and the Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs of Oman, Shihab bin Tariq Al Said. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also reached Doha to participate in the mourning ceremonies and show solidarity with the Qatari people.
What remains unclear is how this large gathering of international leaders will influence regional diplomatic alignments amid ongoing geopolitical shifts in the Middle East. High-ranking dignitaries from outside the region, including Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, and Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, also held private meetings with the Emir to express their solidarity. FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended the palace as well, recognizing the pivotal role the Father Emir played in modernizing the country`s sports infrastructure and successfully securing the historic 2022 World Cup tournament.
The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, praised the late ruler for his constant support of Arab and Islamic causes, noting his extensive contributions to humanitarian initiatives worldwide. Under his eighteen-year rule, Qatar transformed into a global economic powerhouse by significantly expanding its liquefied natural gas production and exports. Citizens and residents across the nation continue to pay tribute to a leader widely regarded as the chief architect of modern contemporary Qatar, whose vision reshaped the state`s economy and international diplomacy.
