Former Qatar ruler Sheikh Hamad, a moderniser who seized power, has died

Qatar’s former emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al‑Thani has died at 74 — the moderniser who transformed tiny Qatar into an LNG powerhouse and drove the successful bid to host the 2022 World Cup.
He founded Al Jazeera, giving Qatar an outsized media and diplomatic profile across the Arab world.
He unexpectedly abdicated in 2013 to let a younger generation lead, was known for a surprisingly down‑to‑earth style (often seen chatting at a Doha café), and his wife Sheikha Moza played a prominent public role.