Funeral prayers will be held on Sunday evening ahead of several days of public mourning across the country to mark his death.

Flags will fly at half-mast, while government offices and public institutions will remain closed as a sign of respect.

King Charles and Queen Camilla paid tribute, saying Sheikh Hamad had “dedicated many years of distinguished service to Qatar”.

“His leadership, vision and commitment to the well-being of the Qatari people were widely admired, both within Qatar and around the world,” they added.

India declared a day of national mourning and said all entertainment events would be canceled during that period.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said: “A visionary leader who took Qatar to great levels of development and prosperity.

“We also remember him as a true friend whom I had the honor of meeting during my last visit to Qatar in February 2024.”

When Sheikh Hamad came to power 31 years ago, Qatar was struggling for money and its oil reserves were dwindling.

His coup, carried out while his father Sheikh Khalifa was abroad, changed the country forever.

It became a major producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas, thanks to negotiated international partnerships and investments.

In 1996 Al Jazeera was founded there before becoming a big name in international broadcasting.

And Sheikh Hamad founded the Qatar Investment Authority, which invested money in companies abroad, including Harrods and the Paris Saint-Germain soccer team.