Former Emir of Qatar Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani Dies at 84

Doha. The father of Qatar's former Emir and current King Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, has passed away at the age of 84. The Amiri Diwan confirmed his death in a statement on Sunday.

The Amiri Diwan remembered the late Sheikh Khalifa as a leader who made significant contributions to the nation and prayed for the eternal peace of his soul. The current King Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has declared three days of national mourning across the country following the death of the former king, during which the national flag will be flown at half-mast.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani ruled Qatar from 1972 to 1995. His tenure is considered to have laid important foundations for the development of modern Qatar.