Destination : QATAR

Qatar is a small country in the Persian (Arabian) Gulf. It borders on Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates by land and Bahrain by Sea. Doha is the capital city of Qatar. Qatar gained independence from British rule on September 3, 1971. Qatar has been ruled by the Al-Thani family and is currently ruled by the Emir, HH Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani.  The traditional Qatar economy was built around pearling and the town of Zubara in the north was the main centre for pearl diving. With the advent of the cultured pearl, the pearl industry collapsed in the 1930s. Although oil was discovered in Qatar in the late 1930s, it was not until a decade later that production began in earnest.

Qatar is small, flat, dry and hot, with little or no arable land.. It is 160 Km long and 55 to 80 Km wide with a total area of 11,437 sq km. Summertime temperatures are usually in the high 30s to low 40s (Celsius), although temperatures into the high 40s are often recorded. Winter (if it can be called that) temperatures are mild and rarely go into the single digits.

The people of Qatar are primarily of Arab descent, reflecting the country's close proximity to the Arabian peninsula and its ties of history, language and religion with the other Gulf states. Arab tribes who migrated to the area in the 18th century form the basis of the population. Most of the present inhabitants of Qatar live in the capital, Doha, but there are a fair number living in the towns and villages of Wakrah, Dukhan, Umm Said, Al-Khor and Madinat Shamal. Only 25% of the population of Qatar is Qatari. The remainder is foreign, overwhelmingly Pakistani. Most Qataris are of Arab ancestry, though there are a number of families of Persian origin.

The capital of the country, Doha is situated half-way down the east coast of the peninsula. It is an important cultural and commercial centre and enjoys excellent communications with the outside world through its modern seaport, airport and telephone links.
Among the attractions in the city are the Qatar National Museum, the Handicrafts Centre and the traditional souks and bazaars. The Qatar National Library is a well-equipped institution housing a rich collection of books, rare volumes and manuscripts. The city is also well-known for its fine mosques.
The principal suburb of Doha is Al-Rayan, about 7km from the centre of the capital. It is an elegant area with palaces, fine buildings and a horse racing course.
Another suburb is Khalifa Town, which is about 6km from the city centre. The majority of houses here were built through government financial sponsorship as part of the housing programme and were given to Qatari citizens on very easy terms.

Today, while Qatar still has an oil-based economy, it is natural gas on which the future economy will be built. Qatar has some of the largest reserves of natural gas in the world and it is expected that this gas will carry the economy through the 21st century.

Though Islam is the religion of the majority of people in Qatar, it is slightly less strict than the Saudi Arabian variety. For example, alcohol which is prohibited in Saudi Arabia is available to non-Muslims resident in Qatar. It is also available to residents of some hotels in Doha.

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