ROME — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is expected to travel to Qatar to personally offer her condolences following the death of former emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, according to Italian sources.
Why it matters: Meloni’s expected presence comes amid an intensification of ties between Rome and Doha — and fits into Italy’s broader push to deepen its strategic, economic and energy relationships across the Gulf.
What happened: Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani died Sunday at 74, the Qatari government announced.
- The former emir ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013, overseeing a period of major transformation for the country and the development of its energy sector as a pillar of the Qatari economy.
- The all-news global media Qatari-based Al Jazeera was launched during his rule in 1996; Qatar’s first permanent constitution was promulgated in 2004, while municipal elections allowed women to vote and stand as candidates.
- In 2013, Sheikh Hamad abdicated and transferred power to his son, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, then 33 and Qatar’s current emir.
- Qatar has declared four days of national mourning, with flags lowered to half-staff and government offices suspending work.
What she said: Meloni described the former emir as “one of those rare leaders who changed the course of his nation’s history.”
- “With extraordinary vision, courage and determination, he laid the foundations of modern Qatar, strengthened its institutions and gave it a voice and prestige well beyond its borders,” Meloni said in a statement.
Zoom in: Meloni’s expected trip would add another high-level contact to an increasingly dense relationship between Italy and Qatar.
- The Italian prime minister met Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Milan in February for talks focused on the Middle East crisis and industrial cooperation. She traveled to Doha again in April during a wider Gulf tour, thanking the emir for Qatar’s support in evacuating Italian citizens from the crisis area.
- In May, Meloni opened the Europe Gulf Forum in Greece alongside Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
- Another bilateral meeting with Emir Tamim followed on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Évian in June.
Energy first: Qatar is one of Italy’s main suppliers of liquefied natural gas, placing the relationship with Doha within Rome’s wider energy diplomacy in the Gulf. The region accounts for 10% of Italy’s gas and 15% of its oil.
But Rome’s Gulf strategy extends beyond energy. The government has also focused on attracting investment, expanding industrial and defense cooperation and supporting regional stability and freedom of navigation amid tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
- Zoom out: Meloni’s government has built a dense network of contacts across the region. In April, the prime minister met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah for talks that included energy routes, national supplies and defense cooperation.
- During the same regional mission, she met UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. The two leaders met again on the sidelines of the G7 in June, committing to the security of trade through the Strait of Hormuz.
- In December 2025, Meloni also attended the Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Manama, where she met Bahrain’s king and highlighted Oman’s regional mediation role.
The bottom line: Meloni’s expected presence in Qatar to pay condolences would be a gesture of political closeness at a moment of national mourning. It would also underscore a broader trajectory: Rome increasingly sees relations with Doha and the Gulf Region as central to its energy, economic and regional strategy.
(Photo: Palazzo Chigi)
