Qatar’s Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, met with Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu today during the President’s visit to Doha.
The meeting took place at Lusail Palace, where President Muizzu conveyed his condolences on behalf of the Maldivian people and in his own name following the passing of Qatar’s former Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
During their meeting, the two leaders also discussed the close and longstanding friendship between the Maldives and Qatar, reaffirming their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation and deepening ties between the two countries.
According to the President’s Office, the visit also served as a tribute to the late Father Amir’s enduring support for the Maldives and the strong partnership he helped foster between the two nations.
Among Sheikh Hamad’s most notable contributions to the Maldives were the launch of Qatar Airways’ flights to the Maldives, the establishment of the Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani School in Laamu Atoll Gan, and the construction of Masjid Sheikh Qasim bin Al Thani in Hulhumalé.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013, died on 12 July 2026 at the age of 74. He is widely regarded as the architect of modern Qatar, transforming the country into one of the world’s wealthiest nations through the development of its natural gas industry. Under his leadership, Qatar significantly expanded its global influence by founding Al Jazeera, establishing the Qatar Investment Authority, securing the successful bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, investing heavily in education, healthcare and infrastructure, and positioning Qatar as a key diplomatic mediator in regional and international affairs. He also became one of the few Gulf rulers to voluntarily transfer power, abdicating in favour of his son, Sheikh Tamim, in 2013.
