The President’s tribute, delivered on behalf of the General Assembly at the meeting held in memory of His Highness the Father Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. It is reproduced in full below, as delivered, and is available as issued in PDF.
In His Words
Passages quoted verbatim from the tribute as delivered. The full text follows below.
Above all, His Highness will be remembered for consistently emphasizing mediation over confrontation, dialogue over division, and development rooted in human dignity.
H.E. Dr. Khalilur Rahman
Tribute to the Father Amir of the State of Qatar, 9 September 2026
“We gather here today to pay solemn tribute to the memory of His Highness the Father Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, who sadly passed away on 12 July 2026.”
“An ardent supporter of dialogue, he championed multilateralism and the role of the United Nations in addressing shared global challenges, as evidenced by the election of Qatari diplomat Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser as President of the sixty-sixth session of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly.”
“On behalf of the General Assembly, I extend our deepest condolences to the Government and people of the State of Qatar, and especially to the family of His Highness.”
The Tribute in Full
Your Excellency Ambassador Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar,
Your Excellency Mr. Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
We gather here today to pay solemn tribute to the memory of His Highness the Father Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, who sadly passed away on 12 July 2026.
One of the most consequential leaders in Qatar’s modern history, His Highness’ 18-year reign saw the country undergo a period of momentous economic, social and cultural transformation, with particular emphasis on education, science, knowledge and human development.
It was during this period that Qatar launched the Al Jazeera news network and laid out its long-term vision for sustainable development and prosperity for future generations.
For the people of Qatar, the late Father Amir will also be remembered for advancing women’s political participation, including through the expansion of their right to vote and stand for election.
Internationally, His Highness elevated Qatar’s voice on the global stage and helped lay the foundations for its emergence as a hub for international dialogue, mediation and diplomacy.
An ardent supporter of dialogue, he championed multilateralism and the role of the United Nations in addressing shared global challenges, as evidenced by the election of Qatari diplomat Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser as President of the sixty-sixth session of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly.
Excellencies,
Above all, His Highness will be remembered for consistently emphasizing mediation over confrontation, dialogue over division, and development rooted in human dignity.
The goals we all strive for in this house.
That legacy can be seen in Qatar’s contributions to diplomatic and peace efforts across the Middle East and beyond.
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
On behalf of the General Assembly, I extend our deepest condolences to the Government and people of the State of Qatar, and especially to the family of His Highness.
As we mourn the passing of the Father Amir, we also honour a legacy of transformation at home and dialogue and diplomacy abroad that will continue to shape Qatar for generations to come.
I thank you.