Qatar’s former ruler Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani dies

Dubai: Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former emir who transformed Qatar into a global diplomatic, media and investment power before voluntarily handing power to his son in 2013, has died. He was 74. State-run Qatar News Agency announ­c­ed his death but gave no cause.

Sheikh Hamad ruled Qatar for 18 years after ousting his father in a bloodless palace coup in 1995. During his reign, the energy-rich Gulf nation emerged as an international player, founded the Al Jazeera news network and expanded its global investments. His leadership also laid the groundwork for Qatar to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, cementing the country’s international profile.

His foreign policy, including ties with Iran, Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, often strained relations with regio­nal and Western allies. A graduate of Britain’s San­dh­urst military academy, She­ikh Ha­mad became the first Gulf ru­ler in modern times to voluntarily abdicate, handing power to his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in a rare pea­ceful transition.

—Agencies