India-Qatar Relations

About one in four people in Qatar is of Indian origin. When Qatar’s Father Amir died in July 2026, India declared a national mourning. This page explains that gesture and the relationship behind it.

Think of four questions as you read. Who was the Father Amir? Why did India mourn a foreign leader? When did the formal ties begin? And what makes the partnership so strong?

1Who was the Father Amir?

“Father Amir” is a title, not a name. It is given to a ruler who has handed power to his son.

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013. He then gave the throne to his son, Sheikh Tamim, the present Amir. He died on 12 July 2026, aged 74. (Source: Al Jazeera)

His funeral was held in Doha the same day. Qatar announced four days of public mourning.

• Title: Father Amir, a former ruler.
• Ruled: 1995–2013.
• Died: 12 July 2026, aged 74.
• Current Amir: Sheikh Tamim.

2Why did India mourn a foreign leader?

India declared a one-day national mourning on 13 July 2026. The national flag flew at half-mast across the country, and there was no official entertainment. (Source: The Week)

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju travelled to Doha on 14 July to convey condolences. He called the Father Amir a visionary leader whose legacy would inspire. (Source: ANI)

PM Modi spoke by phone to Amir Sheikh Tamim on 16 July. Both leaders reaffirmed the Strategic Partnership. (Source: PIB)

Modi had also said he met the Father Amir during his last visit to Qatar, in February 2024. A flag at half-mast for a foreign leader is a sign of a close relationship.

• National mourning: 13 July 2026.
• Rijiju in Doha: 14 July 2026.
• Modi’s call: 16 July 2026.

3When did the formal ties begin?

India and Qatar are old trading partners. Pearls, dhows, spices and textiles moved between them for centuries.

Formal diplomatic relations began in 1973. The 50th anniversary was marked in 2023. (Source: ORF)

Then came the big step. Amir Sheikh Tamim made a State Visit to India on 17–18 February 2025. The two sides signed an agreement to establish a Bilateral Strategic Partnership. (Source: MEA briefing)

• Diplomatic relations: 1973.
• State Visit: 17–18 February 2025.
• Result: Strategic Partnership.

4What makes the partnership so strong?

Qatar is India’s largest supplier of LNG, or liquefied natural gas. In 2024 the two sides signed a long-term LNG deal, to run for 20 years from 2028. (Source: ORF)

India is Qatar’s second-largest trading partner. Both sides have set a goal of doubling trade by 2030. (Source: MEA briefing)

People link the two as well. Indians are about a quarter of Qatar’s population. They are the largest expatriate community there.

The workforce ranges from doctors and engineers to a large base of blue-collar workers.

• Qatar: India’s largest LNG supplier.
• India: Qatar’s second-largest trading partner.
• Indians: about 25% of Qatar’s people.

5What are the exam traps?

• Diplomatic relations: 1973.
• Strategic Partnership: February 2025, Amir Tamim’s visit.
• “Father Amir” is a title.
• Largest LNG supplier, but only second-largest trading partner.