HH the Amir Receives Oman's Deputy Prime Minister Following Father Amir's Passing

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received Oman's Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik al Said, in Doha, where the senior Omani royal offered condolences on the passing of Qatar's Father Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who died Sunday at the age of 74.

Sayyid Shihab traveled to Qatar on behalf of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, according to the Oman Observer, leading a high-level delegation that included His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Oman's Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and the Sultan's son, along with a number of senior royals and officials. Sultan Haitham had separately sent a cable of condolences to Sheikh Tamim shortly after the Father Amir's death was announced.

Oman's Multi-Layered Tribute

The high-level delegation visit adds to a series of Omani gestures of solidarity with Qatar. The Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Doha issued its own formal condolence statement, extending sincere sympathies to Sheikh Tamim, the Al Thani family, and the Qatari people, and praying that God have mercy on the deceased and grant him a place in Paradise.

Part of a Procession of Gulf Leaders

The Omani delegation's arrival came as Lusail Palace received a steady stream of regional leaders on Monday. Kuwait's Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, arrived representing Kuwait's Amir at the head of a delegation that included the country's ministers of interior, defence, and foreign affairs. Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa also traveled to Doha, alongside Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, and the Maldivian President, among others.

The condolence meetings at Lusail Palace were attended by Qatar's Deputy Amir, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, and other members of the Al Thani family and senior officials.

A Partnership With Added Weight

The visit carries particular significance given Oman's current role alongside Qatar in regional diplomacy. The two countries have been working in parallel on de-escalation efforts amid the ongoing US-Iran crisis, with Oman leading technical negotiations with Tehran over the future management of the Strait of Hormuz and Qatar serving as a key channel between Washington and Iran. A Qatari delegation attended recent Iranian-Omani talks in Muscat on maritime security in the strait.

Sheikh Hamad's Legacy

Sheikh Hamad ruled Qatar from 1995 until his voluntary abdication in 2013, transforming the country into a major energy exporter and diplomatic power through the expansion of its liquefied natural gas industry, the 1996 launch of Al Jazeera, and Qatar's successful bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Qatar has declared four days of national mourning, with flags at half-mast nationwide and government work suspended until July 19. Thousands of mourners attended funeral prayers at Doha's Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab Mosque on Sunday evening before the Father Amir's burial at Lusail Cemetery.