Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar’s former emir, died at age 74 after an 18‑year tenure. Assuming power in 1995, he had previously chaired the Supreme Council for Planning since 1989, shaping economic policy before becoming emir. The development of the North Field gas field, the world’s largest natural gas reserve, marked the beginning of Qatar’s economic transformation. LNG exports grew from the first shipment in 1996 to 77 million tons per year by 2010, making Qatar the largest global exporter of liquefied natural gas. Hydrocarbon sector value added rose from about $3 billion in 1995 to $110.4 billion in 2013, according to QatarEnergy and the International Energy Agency. Qatar’s gross domestic product expanded from roughly $8 billion in 1995 to $199 billion in 2013, with real growth reaching 26.2 percent in 2011, the highest among countries that year, per IMF data. In 2001 the government created the Supreme Council for Economic Affairs and Investment, and in 2005 the Qatar Investment Authority was established to manage energy surpluses and diversify investments, acquiring stakes in Barclays, Volkswagen and Harrods and accumulating assets exceeding $500 billion. Investment in education began with the founding of the Qatar Foundation in August 1995, and later attracted Georgetown, Texas A&M and Carnegie Mellon universities. The health sector expanded through the development of Hamad Medical Corporation and the construction of new hospitals and specialised centres. Infrastructure projects such as Hamad International Airport, Hamad Port, Lusail City, the Doha Metro and stadiums for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which cost more than $200 billion, helped turn Doha into a global urban hub. GDP per capita surpassed $90,000 in purchasing power parity, and unemployment rates declined to very low levels, according to World Bank and IMF reports. Qatar National Vision 2030, launched in 2008, continues to guide policy toward a knowledge‑based economy, building on the institutions and strategies introduced under Sheikh Hamad. The current emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, continues to pursue the economic blueprint established during his father’s rule.