Kuwait’s Amiri Diwan issued a directive on July 12, 2026, establishing four days of official mourning for Qatar’s former ruler Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The measures include flying flags at half-mast at all government buildings and Kuwaiti diplomatic missions abroad throughout the period. Work in ministries, government agencies and public institutions will halt from July 13 and resume on July 19, according to the Amiri Diwan announcement.
Kuwait’s Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent a cable of condolences to Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, praising the late leader’s wisdom and his service to Qatar as well as his support for Arab and Islamic causes. The message highlighted close brotherly ties between the two countries, particularly Qatar’s backing of Kuwait during Iraq’s 1990 invasion and occupation. Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah conveyed similar messages of sympathy to Qatari officials, a statement from Kuwaiti authorities said.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, born in 1952, graduated from Britain’s Sandhurst Royal Military Academy in 1971 before rising to command Qatari armed forces as a major general. A Reuters report described him as a moderniser who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1995, then drove political, economic and social reforms that turned Qatar into a global player in energy, media and diplomacy. He oversaw development of the natural gas sector, eased press restrictions, granted women voting rights and secured hosting rights for the 2022 FIFA World Cup before transferring power to his son in 2013.
Qatar’s Amiri Diwan announced the death on July 12, 2026, and declared its own four-day public mourning period with identical work suspensions and flag protocols. The GCC Secretary General Jassim Al-Budaiwi expressed condolences, lauding the deceased emir’s role in advancing Qatar’s growth and fostering unity within the council, according to a GCC statement. Neighbouring states including the UAE announced parallel mourning observances, reflecting the regional respect for his legacy.
The Kuwaiti mourning declaration extends to both public and private adherence expectations during the suspension window to allow collective respects. Kuwait’s Ministry of Information confirmed the details of the Amiri Diwan directive in a public statement distributed on July 12. Such coordinated responses have marked previous occasions of shared Gulf loss, reinforcing longstanding diplomatic bonds between Kuwait and Qatar.
Sheikh Hamad’s military career included establishing key units in the Amiri Navy and Air Force before his ascent to crown prince, defence minister and supreme planning council chair in 1977. His foreign policy emphasised mediation in regional disputes and hosting of international conferences, earning him numerous decorations from countries across the Middle East, Europe and Asia. The period of mourning concludes with resumption of normal operations on July 19 across affected Kuwaiti entities.
