World leaders continued to arrive in Doha on Wednesday, July 15th, 2026, as Qatar observed the third day of national mourning for Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Sheikh Hamad ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013 and is widely credited with transforming the country from a small Gulf emirate into a global power in energy, diplomacy, and media.

Senior leaders from Europe and the Middle East traveled to the Qatari capital to offer condolences to the current Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Among the dignitaries present was Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, whose visit comes amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington following renewed military exchanges in the Gulf.

Prominent European figures attending included French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili, and Britain's Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward. Earlier on Wednesday, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Jordan's King Abdullah II, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Doha, reflecting Sheikh Hamad's longstanding relationships across the Middle East.

Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye also arrived, representing Qatar's ties with African heads of state. These arrivals followed visits on Tuesday by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Swiss Vice President Ignazio Cassis, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and other regional and international leaders.

Qatar declared four days of national mourning following Sheikh Hamad's death on Sunday at the age of 74. During his 18-year reign, he oversaw a vast expansion of liquefied natural gas production, turning Qatar into the world's largest LNG exporter. In 2013, he peacefully handed power to his son Sheikh Tamim, becoming one of the few Gulf leaders to oversee a peaceful transfer of power during his lifetime.

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