Kuwait Declares Four Days of Official Mourning

Kuwait's Amiri Diwan has declared four days of official mourning following the death of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Amir of Qatar, who died Sunday at the age of 74. In a statement, the Amiri Diwan said HH the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, had ordered four days of official mourning, with flags to be flown at half-mast nationwide and at Kuwait's diplomatic missions abroad during the mourning period.

The Amiri Diwan prayed that Allah Almighty bestow His mercy and forgiveness upon the late Father Amir, and reward him abundantly for his enduring contributions to his nation.

Part of a Unified Gulf Response

Kuwait's declaration mirrors identical four-day mourning periods announced the same day by two of its Gulf neighbors. Bahrain's Royal Court said King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa had ordered four days of official mourning with flags lowered nationwide, while the UAE's Presidential Court announced its own four-day mourning period, with flags flown at half-mast at government institutions across the country and at its embassies and diplomatic missions abroad, running from July 12 through the end of July 15.

The near-simultaneous declarations from Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE reflect the close ties among Gulf Cooperation Council states and the significant regard in which Sheikh Hamad was held across the region following his nearly two decades in power.

Qatar's Own Mourning Period

Qatar's Amiri Diwan separately announced its own four-day period of national mourning beginning Sunday, suspending work at ministries, government agencies, and public institutions, with employees expected to resume their duties on July 19. Flags are being flown at half-mast throughout the country for the duration of the mourning period.

A Legacy That Shaped the Region

Sheikh Hamad ruled Qatar from 1995 until his voluntary abdication in 2013, when he handed power to his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in a rare peaceful transition among hereditary Gulf rulers. During his 18-year rule, Qatar's economy grew dramatically on the back of its natural gas wealth, while the country emerged as an influential diplomatic broker, mediating conflicts from Lebanon to Sudan's Darfur region, and expanded its global profile through the 1996 launch of Al Jazeera and its successful bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The wave of mourning declarations from Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, and Qatar itself — alongside condolences from leaders across the Middle East, South Asia, and beyond — underscores the breadth of Sheikh Hamad's influence and the depth of the relationships Qatar built with its neighbors during his tenure.