Former Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani dies aged 74

AI Summary

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of Qatar who led the country from 1996 and transformed it into a major gas power, died aged 74. His reign followed a bloodless coup and marked significant political and economic change for Qatar.

He took power in 1996 after staging a bloodless coup against his father, and went on to transform Qatar into the gas-rich power it is today.