Messages of condolences poured in from Arab and international leaders and officials, who expressed their sincere condolences and sympathy to Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the Qatari people following the passing of the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

On Sunday morning, the Qatari Amiri Diwan announced the death of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of Qatar and father of the current Emir, at the age of 74.

Egypt

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi extended “his deepest condolences and sympathy to the sister state of Qatar, its Emir, government, and people, on the passing of the late His Highness the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.”

Iraq

Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi sent a condolence cable to the Emir of Qatar following the passing of his father.

The Prime Minister’s Office said that “Al-Zaidi expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to the Emir of Qatar, as well as to the Qatari government and brotherly people, on this grievous loss.”

Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi (WAM)

Pakistan

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his condolences over the death of Sheikh Hamad, saying: “We recall his visionary leadership and valuable contributions to Qatar’s development.”

Lebanon

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed “his sorrow and grief over the passing of the former Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, whose demise is a great loss to the sister state of Qatar, Lebanon, and the Arab world.”

He said: “Lebanon, both the presidency and the people, gratefully remembers the sincere fraternal stances expressed by the late great towards it, especially during the Israeli aggression in July 2006, when Qatar, under his leadership, stood by Lebanon during one of its darkest periods and helped alleviate the suffering of its people.”

He added that Lebanon highly values the initiatives launched by Sheikh Hamad in reconstructing Lebanese villages and towns damaged by the war, describing them as a reflection of deep Arab solidarity and a spirit of responsibility that left a lasting impression on the Lebanese people.

The Lebanese president also noted that the late Emir was a lover of Lebanon and played an active role in bringing Lebanese viewpoints closer, launching initiatives that left a significant mark on the path of national reconciliation, most notably his sponsorship of the Doha Conference in 2008, which ended a delicate phase in modern Lebanese history, restored political life to constitutional institutions, and brought security back to Lebanese regions.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (Annahar)

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani was born in 1952 and assumed power in 1995. He is considered one of the architects of modern Qatar, having led the country through a period of rapid economic growth.