He transformed Qatar from a small, marginal emirate with empty coffers into a major regional and international player. Under his leadership, Qatar leveraged its vast natural gas reserves to become a leading producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas, making it one of the wealthiest countries globally by GDP per capita. Key developments included founding Al Jazeera in 1996, which became a hugely influential media network, and establishing the Qatar Investment Authority, which invested billions globally in companies like Volkswagen, Harrods, and Paris Saint-Germain. He was still emir when Qatar won the bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup in 2010, though this was accompanied by corruption allegations and later criticism over treatment of foreign workers. Under his reign, Qatar also began funding major projects in the Gaza Strip. In 2013, Sheikh Hamad voluntarily abdicated in favor of his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani — a rare move in the modern Arab world. Qatar, a British protectorate until 1971, has been ruled by the Al Thani monarchy since the mid-19th century and today has a population of around 3 million, mostly foreign workers. (Bssnews)