Qatar’s former ruler Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani dies at 74

Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani mastermind the Persian Gulf state’s transformation from a quiet backwater into an influential international crossroads in less than a generation

The state-run Qatar News Agency reported his death.

The Qatar that the current Emir Sheikh Tamim ‌bin Hamad Al-Thani inherited was already well on its way to being remade by his father.

The former Emir led Qatar's transformation from a small Gulf state into one of the world's wealthiest nations and oversaw the launch of Al Jazeera and the country's World Cup bid.