Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the emir who guided the transformation of Qatar into a major global player, has died at the age of 74.
"The Amiri Diwan announced the death of HH the Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani on Sunday morning," Qatar's top government body said.
Sheikh Hamad ruled Qatar from 1995 until 2013, when he became one of the first modern Arab leaders to voluntarily abdicate, handing power to his son, the current emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.Who was Qatar's former emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani?
Sheikh Hamad was born in 1952 into the Al Thani family, which has ruled Qatar since the mid-19th century.
He attended the United Kingdom's military academy, Sandhurst, and became commander of Qatar's armed forces and defense minister.
