Qatar’s emir receives foreign leaders after death of Father Emir
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received mourners at Lusail Palace after Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani died at 74.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, received mourners for a second day at Lusail Palace in Doha after the death of his father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The gatherings brought senior regional and international figures to Qatar as the country observes public mourning for the former ruler, Al Jazeera reported.
Sheikh Hamad, known in Qatar as the Father Emir, died on Sunday at age 74, according to Al Jazeera. He was buried that evening at Lusail Cemetery after funeral prayers at Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque.
Al Jazeera reported that those paying respects at Lusail Palace included members of the ruling family, sheikhs and elders, ministers, ambassadors, foreign dignitaries and Qatari citizens. Leaders from the region and beyond also traveled to Doha for the funeral reception.
Among the leaders received by Sheikh Tamim were Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu and Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Al Jazeera reported. The emir also received Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, Iraqi President Nizar Amidi, Libya’s Government of National Unity Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and Nechirvan Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam led a delegation to offer condolences, according to Al Jazeera. Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, Oman’s deputy prime minister for defence affairs, also paid respects, as did Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Gulf leaders and officials were also among the mourners. Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa attended, while Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah arrived with Kuwaiti ministers and other figures, Al Jazeera reported.
A Saudi delegation included Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud Al Saud, Eastern Province Governor Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Riyadh Deputy Governor Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Saud and cabinet member Prince Turki bin Mohammed Al Saud, according to Al Jazeera.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in Doha on Monday to offer condolences, Al Jazeera reported. FIFA President Gianni Infantino also met Sheikh Tamim at Lusail Palace to express sympathy over Sheikh Hamad’s death.
The Amiri Diwan said Sheikh Tamim would receive heads of state, members of the ruling family, dignitaries and citizens over three days, from Monday, July 13, through Wednesday, July 15, 2026. It set morning condolence hours from 8:00 to 11:30 local time and evening hours from after Asr prayer until Isha prayer.
According to Al Jazeera, Sheikh Tamim also received condolence cables and phone calls from presidents, heads of state and government leaders. Messages from world leaders continued to appear on official accounts on X.
The Amiri Diwan announced four days of public mourning beginning Sunday, July 12, with flags lowered to half-mast. It also suspended work in ministries, government agencies, public bodies and institutions from Monday, with official working hours scheduled to resume on Sunday, July 19, 2026.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.