Three senior Qatari officials working for the Amiri Diwan — the administrative office of Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani — have died in a car accident near Egypt’s Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, the Qatari Embassy in Cairo confirmed on Sunday.
In a statement, the embassy described the crash as a “tragic traffic accident” that claimed the lives of the officials while they were on official assignment in Egypt. Two others were seriously injured and are currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh.
“The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Cairo extends its heartfelt condolences and sincere sympathies to the families of the deceased,” the statement read, adding prayers “that God envelops them in His mercy and grants the injured a speedy recovery.”
Although details of the crash were not immediately released, Egyptian authorities are said to have launched an investigation into the incident, which occurred along one of the highways leading into the coastal resort town.
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The victims’ identities have not yet been made public, pending notification of their families. However, officials described them as long-serving members of the Amiri Diwan who had been part of the Emir’s broader diplomatic and administrative mission in Egypt.
The deaths come at a sensitive diplomatic moment. Sharm el-Sheikh, a familiar backdrop for regional negotiations, hosted ceasefire talks between Israeli and Hamas representatives earlier this week. The same city is expected to welcome delegates on Monday for a global summit aimed at finalising the truce and advancing humanitarian relief for Gaza.
The Qatari delegation had been among those involved in ongoing discussions around the region’s fragile security situation, underscoring the significance of their presence in Egypt at the time of the crash.
As condolences poured in from diplomatic circles in Cairo and Doha, the Qatari flag at the embassy was lowered to half-mast in mourning. Officials described the loss as a blow to Qatar’s civil service community, known for its close-knit structure and high level of professional loyalty.
Egyptian and Qatari authorities are expected to coordinate the repatriation of the bodies to Doha in the coming days.