President Dr Irfaan Ali has extended his deepest condolences to the Royal Family and people of the State of Qatar following the passing of former leader, His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Sheikh Hamad, who ruled Qatar from 1995 until his abdication in 2013, died at the age of 74, the Government announced on Sunday. He was responsible for transforming the small Gulf state into one of the world’s wealthiest and most influential nations. In a message of condolences to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, the members of the Al Thani family, and the people of Qatar, President Ali acknowledged the significance of this loss.

“The passing of a parent is one of life’s greatest sorrows. While the world remembers the late Father Amir for his visionary leadership, remarkable statesmanship, and his immense contribution to the development of modern Qatar, his family mourns the loss of a beloved father, cherished patriarch, and source of wisdom, love, and guidance,” the Guyanese leader said in the message that was shared on social media on Sunday.