Qatar - Experience the Fusion of Modernity and Tradition

Qatar, officially known as the State of Qatar, is an Arab country located in Southwest Asia on the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. Its capital is Doha, and it covers an area of 11,521 square kilometers. According to the 2015 statistics, the population is approximately 2,404,000, with Qatari nationals making up only 14% of this number, while the rest are distributed among various other nationalities and ethnicities. It shares its land border with Saudi Arabia to the south and is surrounded by the waters of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

Qatar is considered the most advanced Arab country in terms of human development, according to the United Nations' classification. It is classified as a high-income country, with natural gas and oil being its third-largest global reserves. Additionally, Qatar is set to host the 2020 FIFA World Cup, making it the first Arab country to host this football tournament.

Naming and History:

The name "Qatar" likely dates back to the Roman geographer Ptolemy, who mentioned it with two similar names, "Catara" and "Cadara." These variations are the closest names to Qatar in his writings.

Human history in Qatar dates back over ten thousand years, with some stone tools discovered from the Stone Age. The Greek historian Herodotus mentioned Qatar in several instances in the 5th century BC. As mentioned earlier, the geographer Ptolemy also referred to Qatar, indicating that it has had its reputation since ancient times. After the emergence of Islam, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) sent a messenger to invite the ruler of the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula to Islam. Upon his acceptance, all tribes residing in the region embraced Islam, leading to significant settlements in the area around 628 AD. During the Umayyad period, Qatar was renowned for camel and horse breeding, while the Abbasid era witnessed the rise of pearl trade in Qatar, making it well-known in the region. Pearl trade extended to other countries in the Arabian Peninsula, with Qatar also depending heavily on this trade as its primary source of income. This continued until the 1980s when oil began to emerge in the country.

Climate:

Qatar has a desert climate characterized by extremely hot summers, with average temperatures ranging between 30 to 50 degrees Celsius. It experiences an extended summer and a relatively warm winter, with temperatures ranging from 8 to 22 degrees Celsius.

Popular Tourist Attractions in Qatar:

• Souq Waqif
• Museum of Modern Arab Art
• City Center Doha
• Al Zubarah Archaeological Site
• Museum of Islamic Art
• The Pearl-Qatar Island
• Cultural Village "Katara"
• Doha Corniche

Currency: Qatari Riyal

Official Language: Arabic

Founding Year: 1870

System of Government: Hereditary Emirate

International Dialing Code: +974