HH the Amir Meets Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in Doha on Wednesday, where the Kurdish premier attended the condolence ceremony for the late Father Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who died Sunday at the age of 74.

Representing the KRG, Prime Minister Barzani extended his condolences to Sheikh Tamim, the Al Thani family, and the people of Qatar following the passing of the former ruler, according to a statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government. Sheikh Tamim thanked the prime minister for attending the ceremony and for offering his condolences.

A Message of "Profound Sorrow"

The in-person visit followed Barzani's written tribute issued shortly after Sheikh Hamad's death was announced. "We received with profound sadness and sorrow the news of the passing of Father Amir HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani (may Allah have mercy on him)," the prime minister said in a statement posted on X, adding: "On this sorrowful occasion, we extend our deepest condolences and sincere sympathies to my brother, Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, to the esteemed Amiri Family, and to the brotherly people of Qatar."

Kurdistan Doubly Represented in Doha

Prime Minister Barzani's Wednesday visit means the Kurdistan Region was represented at the highest levels across the mourning period. Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani had earlier traveled to Doha on Monday, where he was received at Hamad International Airport before offering his condolences to Sheikh Tamim at Lusail Palace on Monday evening — one of the first foreign leaders to pay tribute in person. Iraq's federal President, Nizar Amidi, also offered condolences at the palace on Monday night, giving Iraq a strong multi-level presence among the mourners.

The Final Day of a Global Procession

The KRG premier's visit came on the third and final scheduled day of condolence receptions at Lusail Palace, which drew an extraordinary procession of world leaders. Wednesday's mourners also included UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Britain's Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, who arrived on behalf of the United Kingdom. Over the three days, Sheikh Tamim received Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, Bahrain's King Hamad, Kuwait's Crown Prince, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the leaders of Kazakhstan, Rwanda, the Maldives, Ethiopia, Morocco, Libya, Senegal, Mauritania, and the Comoros, among many others.

Qatar-Kurdistan Ties

The visit builds on an established relationship between Doha and Erbil. Prime Minister Barzani has previously met Sheikh Tamim to discuss developments in Iraq and the wider region and ways of developing bilateral ties between the Kurdistan Region and Qatar, which has grown its economic and diplomatic engagement with Erbil in recent years.

Sheikh Hamad's Legacy

Sheikh Hamad ruled Qatar from 1995 until 2013, overseeing a period of rapid economic growth and modernization that transformed the Gulf state into a major regional and international player, driven by the expansion of its liquefied natural gas industry, heavy investment in infrastructure, education, and healthcare, and an active diplomatic role. In 2013, he became the first Gulf ruler in modern history to voluntarily abdicate, transferring power to Sheikh Tamim in a smooth leadership transition whose legacy continues to shape Qatar's development and international standing.