ع
The Saudi Press Agency reported that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed sincere condolences and sympathy to Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during the telephone conversation. The Crown Prince prayed that Allah would grant the deceased mercy forgiveness and admission to paradise while extending those wishes to his family and the Qatari people. Emir Sheikh Tamim thanked the Crown Prince for his condolences and brotherly sentiments according to the agency which distributed the details of the call. The agency noted that the discussion affirmed the strong bonds between the two countries and their leaderships.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani served as Emir of Qatar from 1995 until his abdication in 2013 in favor of his son a transition documented in official records from the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During his rule Qatar leveraged its natural gas resources to achieve rapid economic development and launched initiatives that elevated its international profile. A historical overview published by the Gulf Cooperation Council secretariat highlights how his leadership expanded the country’s diplomatic reach across the Middle East and beyond. The former Emir also oversaw the creation of major institutions that continue to shape Qatari society today.
Relations between Saudi Arabia and Qatar have undergone periods of tension and reconciliation in recent years. The two Gulf states restored full diplomatic ties at the 2021 Al-Ula summit following a 2017 rift Reuters reported in its contemporary coverage of GCC summits. Since that agreement Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Emir Sheikh Tamim have engaged in regular consultations on regional stability and economic cooperation according to statements from both foreign ministries. These interactions have included joint initiatives within the Gulf Cooperation Council framework.
Condolence calls of this nature form a standard element of protocol among GCC leaders when prominent figures pass away a pattern documented in records from the Saudi Royal Court over the past decade. The Saudi Press Agency has routinely carried similar announcements involving high-level exchanges with Qatar on matters of mutual concern. Such communications reinforce the fraternal ties that underpin cooperation in security energy and trade across the peninsula. The July 13 exchange fits within this established practice of mutual support during times of loss.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani’s legacy includes pioneering steps in media and education that gained international attention according to an assessment by the Arab League’s information department. His decision to host global sporting and cultural events helped position Qatar as a hub for dialogue a development tracked in annual reports from the United Nations Development Programme. The former leader maintained an active role in regional affairs even after the 2013 transition Qatari state media has noted in retrospective accounts. These contributions continue to influence Qatar’s foreign policy orientation.
