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W6nnews.com ==== وطن === تاريخ النشر – 2026-07-12 22:02:00
The father Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, was not just a ruler who led his country for years, but rather the architect of a national project that changed the face of Qatar and redrew its position on the world map. With his passing, Doha recalls the biography of a leader whose name was associated with the largest transformation process in its modern history, after he laid the foundations of a state that created its influence through people, knowledge, economics and diplomacy. From launching “Al Jazeera” to consolidating the gas economy, and from building institutions to winning the organization of the World Cup, the father Emir left a political and developmental legacy that made Qatar a model of a state whose influence exceeded the limits of its area and population. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani was born in Doha in 1952, and graduated. At Sandhurst Military College in the United Kingdom in 1971, before rising in responsibilities until he was sold as Crown Prince in 1977, then he assumed power in 1995, and handed it over in 2013 to his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The biography of the Father Emir is more evident than the biography of a state project rather than the biography of a man, as his name was associated with the renaissance that redrew Qatar’s position on the political and economic map, until his presence became part of its presence in the Arab and global consciousness. The Father Emir’s project was linked to an attempt to overcome “the desolation of geography,” by building a small state with a presence that transcends its borders, relying on people, knowledge, economics, and diplomacy as tools for creating influence. The transformations that the country witnessed during the years of his rule almost sum up his leadership philosophy, as it started from Building people, extending to building institutions, and ending with consolidating Qatar’s position as a country that has an influence that exceeds the limits of its area and population, according to a report by the Al Jazeera media network. A rare model. The transfer of power in 2013 was not an ordinary political event, but rather a milestone that reflected a different vision for managing the state. In his historic speech, the Father Emir said that he did not want power as an end in itself, and that the interest of the nation required opening a new page in which a new generation would assume responsibility for leading the country. That decision came as an extension of a political path. It was characterized by long-term calculations, and made the continuity of the national project a priority over the survival of people in their positions, to provide a rare model in the region for handing over power with self-will and in complete stability. Tools of Influence Since the first years of its rule, Qatar has tended to invest in soft power tools. The launch of the Al Jazeera channel was one of the most prominent transformations that changed the Arab media landscape, expanded Qatar’s presence globally, and established its name in the space of political and cultural influence. And the media was only one of the paths of a more comprehensive project. Aim to build a knowledge society. In 1995, the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development was established, which later became an umbrella for international universities and research centers, and an embodiment of a policy that made education a pillar of development. In the same context, the issuance of the permanent constitution in 2004 came after a popular referendum, establishing a new phase in building state institutions, and establishing a constitutional framework that regulates the relationship between the authorities and enhances popular participation in public affairs. During that phase, the Qatari presence expanded beyond borders, and Doha turned into a platform. For international conferences and mediation efforts, while Qatari diplomacy gained an advanced position thanks to its roles in bringing viewpoints together and contributing to the settlement of disputes. From gas to the World Cup. On the economic level, liquefied natural gas exports inaugurated a new phase in the country’s history, after the first shipments began in 1996, and the pace of growth accelerated until Qatar became in 2006 the largest exporter of liquefied natural gas in the world. The value of that boom was not reduced to numbers, but rather to the way its revenues were managed. Wealth has turned into a lever for building infrastructure, developing education and health, expanding services, and strengthening the status of humanity at the heart of the development project. When Qatar’s production of liquefied natural gas reached 77 million tons in 2010, the Father Emir described this as an achievement that will be immortalized in the history of the global gas industry, after Qatar officially took the lead in countries producing this strategic resource. In the same year, Doha achieved another achievement by announcing that it had won the right to host the 2022 World Cup, in a step that went beyond sports boundaries and established the presence The first Arab country to have the honor of organizing the largest football event in the world. This victory was the culmination of a long path of building international confidence and investing in the country’s political and economic standing, making the World Cup one of the most prominent expressions of the project that bet on Qatar’s ability to accomplish what seemed outside traditional calculations. Creating the Future In parallel with these transformations, “Qatar National Vision 2030” was developed to be a road map for the country’s future, aiming to diversify the economy, enhance human development, and achieve a balance between modernity and preserving identity. The vision carried an integrated vision for a country capable of achieving sustainable development, through improving education, health care, housing, and environmental protection, and building a knowledge-based economy that guarantees the quality of life for successive generations. That is why the name of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani was associated in popular memory with the title of “poverty pusher,” a title that reflects the social and economic transformations that the country has witnessed, after the economic boom was coupled with policies aimed at improving the standard of living of citizens. The legacy of the Father Emir today appears extended in institutions. The state and its major projects, as reflected in the position that Qatar occupies on the international scene. The landmarks that constitute the country’s modern face bear the imprints of a phase that redefined its role in its surroundings and the world. With the passing of the builder of Qatar’s modern renaissance, his biography remains present in the path of a country that chose to make the human being the focus of development, and the long-term vision the basis for creating the future, so that its experience became one of the most prominent transformation experiences in the region in recent decades. Mourning and disruption The Qatari Emiri Diwan mourned His Highness the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who passed away on Sunday morning at the age of 74. The Diwan’s statement said: “May God bless the deceased of the great nation with His mercy and forgiveness, and may he reside in His spacious gardens with the prophets, the truthful ones, the martyrs, the righteous, and the good companions of those. May God reward him on our behalf with the best reward for the great and immortal deeds he provided for his homeland and the Arab and Islamic nation, and he inspired us all with patience and solace. To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.” In another statement, the Qatari Emiri Diwan declared general mourning in all parts of the country for a period of four days, starting from Sunday. The Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported that work in ministries, other government agencies, public bodies and institutions will be suspended starting today, Monday, with employees starting their work on Sunday, July 19, 2026, and flags will be flown at half-mast throughout the country throughout the mourning period. The statement stated that the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will receive mourners from the leaders of countries, the ruling family, notables and citizens at (Lusail Palace) on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, corresponding to July 13, 14 and 15, 2026. A journey full of achievements. The sisterly State of Qatar lost its father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, may God Almighty have mercy on him, who passed away at the age of 74 years, after a career full of giving and achievements, which contributed to his country assuming a high status. Prestigious on the Arab, regional and international levels.• Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa was born in the city of Doha in 1952.• He received his primary, preparatory, and secondary education in Qatari schools, then joined the Royal Military College (Sandhurst) in the United Kingdom, from which he graduated in July 1971.• After his graduation, he joined the Qatari Armed Forces and was appointed commander of the first mobile battalion, which became known as the Hamad Mobile Battalion, and after a while he was promoted to the rank of Major General, then he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Qatari Armed Forces and thus he was the first Qatari to hold this position.• The deceased played a major role in the development of the Qatari Armed Forces.• On May 31, 1977, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa was pledged allegiance to the Crown Prince, and he was appointed Minister of Defense and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Planning, which was entrusted with the development and modernization of the country. He exercised the duties of executive government early.• Since the deceased took power on June 27, 1995 The State of Qatar launched a new phase of comprehensive renaissance and institutional modernization, during his reign witnessing qualitative and pivotal developments that included various sectors.• On the external level, Qatari policy played important roles in active diplomacy with all parties and countries, while being keen to build bridges of understanding and cooperation with all countries in the regional and international spheres.• The economic and energy sector witnessed great development that contributed to making the country the largest exporter of liquefied gas in the world, with the completion of a number of important projects in the field of energy, in addition to economic openness and attracting Global investments.• Qatar has become a destination for political, economic, cultural, health and scientific conferences, and has assumed a prominent position regionally and internationally in this field, in addition to attracting a number of major international universities.• The late deceased was keen to support the youth and sports sector out of his belief in the importance of the role that this vital sector contributes to building and developing society. His country hosted a number of the most important regional and international championships, the most important of which was the announcement in December 2010 that Qatar would be the first An Arab and Islamic country wins the hosting of the FIFA World Cup, which happened in 2022.• His reign witnessed a broad movement of change in a number of fields, as he gave women the right to vote, run in local elections, work, and drive cars, in addition to enhancing freedom of the press and increasing investment in gas fields to accelerate the process of comprehensive development.• The deceased sought to enhance the country’s transition to a knowledge-based economy, and transform Qatar into an advanced country capable of achieving sustainable development, and ensuring the continuation of a decent living for its people, generation after generation.• On June 25, 2013, he announced Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa, in a speech addressed to the Qatari people, handed over the reins of government to his Crown Prince, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, so that Qatar begins a new phase in the process of construction, development and development. Arab and foreign medals. The Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, may God Almighty have mercy on him, visited many Arab and foreign countries to strengthen bilateral relations and conclude agreements and memorandums of understanding with them, while he received many medals from Arab and foreign countries in appreciation for his efforts in strengthening Bilateral relations and the development of areas of cooperation with those countries. In 1995, he received the Hussein bin Ali Medal from Jordan, the Order of Oman, first class, from the Sultanate of Oman, while in 1997 he received the Order of the 7th of November from Tunisia, and in 1998 he received the Legion of Honor from France and the Lion’s Order from Senegal. In 1999, the deceased received the Medal of Pakistan, the German Sash of Merit from Germany, and the National Stowe Ordinary Medal from Romania, while in 2000 he received the National Cedar Medal of the Order of the Grand Cordon from Lebanon, the Cavaliere de Gran Croce Medal from Italy, and the Order of the Republic from Yemen.
