Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 13 July 2026, expressed deep condolences on the passing of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Emir of Qatar, describing him as a visionary leader and a true friend whom he had the honour of meeting during his official visit to Doha in February 2024.

Writing in Arabic on X, Prime Minister Modi said: 'نشعر بحزن عميق' ('We are deeply saddened') at the demise of the Father Emir. He described Sheikh Hamad as a leader 'who guided Qatar to great heights of development and prosperity' and remembered him as 'a true friend' he was honoured to meet during his last visit to Qatar. Modi extended his 'sincere condolences' to the reigning Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and to the Qatari people.

Context

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013, overseeing sweeping economic and institutional reforms that transformed the Gulf state into a global energy and diplomatic power. He abdicated in favour of his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in 2013, after which he held the title of Father Emir. His tenure saw Qatar emerge as one of the world's leading exporters of liquefied natural gas and a significant player in regional geopolitics.

Policy Backdrop

Prime Minister Modi visited Doha in February 2024 as part of a broader Gulf outreach that also encompassed the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The visit was notable for high-level bilateral discussions covering energy security, trade, and the welfare of the large Indian diaspora in Qatar. Qatar is a major supplier of liquefied natural gas to India and hosts over 7 lakh Indian expatriates, making the bilateral relationship strategically significant for New Delhi.

India's engagement with Gulf monarchies has deepened steadily over the past decade, with personal diplomacy — including prompt condolence messages at moments of state mourning — serving as a key instrument for sustaining goodwill and institutional ties.

Stakeholders and Impact

The passing of Sheikh Hamad is expected to be observed with a period of official mourning in Qatar, during which diplomatic protocols will govern bilateral interactions. For the Indian government, the swift condolence message signals continuity of the warm ties built during the February 2024 Doha visit. The more than 7 lakh Indian nationals working and residing in Qatar remain a central human dimension of this relationship.

Energy markets may also watch closely, as Qatar remains a critical long-term LNG supplier to India under multi-year contracts that underpin India's gas import strategy.

What's Next

Indian diplomatic observers will watch for any follow-up outreach — including a possible condolence call between Prime Minister Modi and Emir Sheikh Tamim — during the official mourning period. Bilateral energy and defence conversations already in the pipeline may be briefly deferred out of protocol, but are unlikely to be disrupted in the medium term. The episode reinforces New Delhi's practice of anchoring Gulf partnerships in personal, head-of-state-level engagement.