India has declared a one-day national mourning on 13 July 2026 as a mark of respect for Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, revered as the 'Father Amir of Qatar', following his death. A national mourning is a formal expression of the country's grief and solidarity, extended here to a foreign statesman with whom India shares close and long-standing ties.
Under the mourning arrangements, the National Flag will be flown at half-mast across India on all buildings where it is regularly flown for the day. In keeping with the solemnity of the occasion, there will be no official entertainment on the day of mourning.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes, describing the late leader as 'a visionary leader who guided Qatar to remarkable development and prosperity', and conveyed his condolences. His words acknowledged the transformation Qatar witnessed under the departed leader and the enduring warmth of India-Qatar relations.
To convey India's official condolences, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, who was visiting Qatar, personally represented the Government of India. His presence underscored the importance New Delhi attaches to its partnership with Doha, a relationship anchored in energy, trade and a large Indian community in the Gulf nation.
The gesture of national mourning reflects the diplomatic significance India places on Qatar and its leadership, and stands as a mark of respect for a figure widely credited with shaping modern Qatar.