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World leaders continued to arrive in Doha on Wednesday as Qatar observed the third day of national mourning for Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who ruled the country from 1995 to 2013 and is widely credited with transforming Qatar from a small Gulf emirate into a global power in energy, diplomacy and media.
Senior leaders from Europe and the Middle East travelled to the capital to offer condolences to Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Among those expected in Doha is Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, whose visit comes as tensions between Tehran and Washington remain high following renewed military exchanges in the Gulf.
Several prominent European figures also travelled to Qatar, including French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili and Britain’s Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward.
Earlier on Wednesday, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Doha, in a display of Sheikh Hamad’s longstanding relationships across the Middle East.
Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye also arrived in Doha on Wednesday, representing Qatar’s ties with African heads of state.
Tributes continue from around the world
The latest arrivals follow visits on Tuesday by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Swiss Vice President Ignazio Cassis, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, along with several other regional and international leaders.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also flew into Doha on Tuesday, as did Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.
Qatar declared four days of national mourning following Sheikh Hamad’s death on Sunday at the age of 74. Flags have flown at half-mast across the country, while government offices have remained closed throughout the mourning period.
Thursday marks the final day of Qatar’s official mourning period, although further visits by international dignitaries are expected as tributes to the former emir continue.
During his 18-year reign, Sheikh Hamad oversaw the transformation of Qatar’s economy through a vast expansion of liquefied natural gas production, turning the country into the world’s largest LNG exporter.
He secured Qatar’s successful bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, expanded Qatar Airways into a major international carrier, and used Qatar’s wealth to position the country as a regional mediator in conflicts.
He handed power to his son Sheikh Tamim in 2013, becoming one of the few Gulf leaders to oversee a peaceful transfer of power during his lifetime.