Qatar official name. Qatar is a country of the richest people. Standard of living and main attractions of the state. Flora and fauna
Qatar is located on the continent of Asia and the occupied territory of Qatar is 11,437. The population of Qatar is 1,697,000 people. The capital of Qatar is located in the city of Doha. The form of government in Qatar is an absolute monarchy. Arabic is spoken in Qatar. Who does Qatar border on: Saudi Arabia.Due to the natural and climatic conditions of the country, Qatar does not have many natural and historical monuments. The main attraction of the state is its rich and turbulent past, evidenced by numerous archaeological finds: they indicate a huge number of different civilizations that existed in these places in ancient times. In addition, Qatar has less strict Muslim traditions than in neighboring countries, as well as a distinctive culture formed under the influence of many peoples of the region.
The country's capital has the unenviable title of the most depressing city in the world, but in reality this is not entirely true. Doha faces harsh climatic conditions despite the fact that it is located in one of the most picturesque places in the Gulf. Most of the buildings in the city are made in the traditional Arabic architectural style, which is not a tribute to fashion, but the most optimal solution for adapting the settlement to such extreme living conditions. But, despite their functional necessity, such houses look very beautiful and create a unique style of metropolitan development. The old neighborhoods are gradually being surrounded by modern buildings with glass walls, which have grown over the years of active oil production and sale. The attractions of Doha are the Fort, Old City, Government House, Hyatt Plaza and Landmark shopping complexes, Aladdin's Kingdom amusement park, Aquarium, Corniche, Zoo, entertainment center and, of course, the famous oriental markets, which are an amazing addition to the appearance Arab settlement.
Particular attention should be paid to the capital's museums, since in recent years archaeological finds in these places have forced many researchers and scientists to come here in search of evidence of the presence of many ancient civilizations. Qatar is one of the centers of formation of humanity. The country's most important museum occupies a building that used to be the palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed. The main exhibition is a huge aquarium with representatives of the local underwater world. Materials telling about Arab expeditions by sea, the formation of Islam, and objects that allow you to see how the ancestors of today’s Qataris lived hundreds of years ago are also stored here. The Weapons Museum displays samples of the emir's own collection, which contains many weapons from all over the world and different eras.
In the ethnographic museum you can see the life of the country before the start of the “oil boom”; the exhibition even includes a “wind tower” - a unique dwelling that was traditional in such hot regions. There is also a museum on the territory of the Fort, much like the National Museum, only with a more modest, but no less interesting collection of exhibits.
Not far from the capital there is Umm Salal Mohammed - a snow-white building with two towers and a mosque with an ancient minaret. Despite the distance from the capital, this place is a must-visit for guests of the country, as it is an amazing sight that has no equal in Qatar. Umm Salal Ali is the country's most famous archaeological site, with burial mounds dating back to 3000 BC. There is a legend that these are the graves of the leaders of the Aryan tribes or Atlanteans.
The area called Al-Zubara was the main inhabited area in the country for many centuries. For almost 200 years, the area was under the control of the ruling house of Bahrain, but was disputed by the al-Thani dynasty of Qatari emirs. Now there are quite a lot of ruins of fortifications and walls that served as protection for settlements during armed conflicts of the past.
Qatar is a country that is completely dependent on fuel exports abroad and lives only on this. But the “oil boom” completely changed the culture and appearance of this state, making the standard of living in it incomparable to many European countries.
Like most Asian countries located in the Middle East, Qatar has rich natural resources and is a fairly successful and authoritative state in the world. In almost all directions its shores are washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf. Only in the south does the country border on another oil giant -.
Peculiarities
Qatar is somewhat different from other Arab countries in the region. This country has its own specific style of life, on the one hand, so similar to all other Arab countries, and on the other, has nothing in common with them. Qatar, according to the perception of the surrounding world, is closest to the countries of Southeast Asia, but Islamic laws do not allow the inhabitants of this Arab state to become so liberated that they begin to imitate a religion so contradictory to Islam. First of all, this difference with other Arab countries is felt in the degree of greater openness to the countries of the rest of the world and not as strict laws as in,. The tourism infrastructure is also developed in Qatar at a fairly high level. Special entertainment centers for children and adults have been built here, the beaches are equipped with everything necessary, and all hotels have a high level of service. Qatar has gained particular popularity in recent years and taken its place on the tourist map of the world, as evidenced by the sharp increase in sold tours to the Qatari coast.
general information
The Arab state of Qatar is located in Western Asia on the Qatar Peninsula, covering an area of 11 thousand square meters. km. The population is 1.7 million people. The official language is Arabic. The currency is Qatari rial (QAR). 100 QAR = $QAR:USD:100:2. Time zone UTC+3, local time coincides with Moscow. Mains voltage 240 V at a frequency of 50 Hz, D, G. Country telephone code +974. Internet domain.qa.
A brief excursion into history
Since the 7th century, Qatar has been part of the Arab Caliphate, and in the 13th-14th centuries it was under the rule of the emirs of Bahrain. At the beginning of the 16th century, Karat was captured by the Portuguese, and the country was under their rule until it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire. Between 1916 and 1971, Qatar was a British protectorate and then declared its independence. In 2012, there was an attempted military coup, which was defeated.
Climate
Qatar has a tropical maritime climate. From April to October it is very sunny and hot. The air temperature, as a rule, exceeds +37 degrees, often reaching +50 degrees. On the Persian Gulf coast, due to the cool breeze blowing from the sea, it is not as stuffy as in urban areas or in desert regions, but the water in the gulf is very warm. During the period from November to March the air temperature is from +20 to +30 degrees. Gusty winds blow almost constantly. This time of year is considered the most convenient for traveling to Qatar, although prices are much lower in summer. However, the likelihood of sunstroke is also quite high.
Visa and customs regulations
To enter Qatar, citizens of Russia and Ukraine must have a visa; you can apply for it at the Qatari Embassy in Moscow or upon arrival in Doha, but for this you must have permission from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Qatar. Customs rules comply with generally accepted standards; the import of products that contradict the traditions of the country is prohibited.
How to get there
Regular flights to the destination are provided by the national air carrier Qatar Airways, the flight lasts 5 hours. You can also fly to Doha with connecting flights, for example Turkish Airlines via.
Transport
Urban public transport in Qatar is represented by buses and minibuses, which are used mainly by working immigrants. You can use the services of an inexpensive taxi to move around the city.
Cities and resorts
It is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the Arab world. Elite tennis tournaments with very impressive budgets regularly take place here.
Umm Salal Ali is located just 25 kilometers from Doha and is the remains of an ancient city, where mysterious mounds, stone mounds and the tower of an old fort are preserved, which is a strange addition to this mysterious place.
On the northwestern coast of Qatar, there is an ancient fortification Al-Zubara, built more than a thousand years ago, and still retaining its main fragments. Inside the city's battlements are bastions and dilapidated houses where the local population once lived.
The resort town is located 65 kilometers north of Doha Al Kor, where low mosques stand under the shadow of thick palm trees, and at some distance the reflections of the sky-blue waves of the Persian Gulf play.
A great place for recreation and entertainment in Qatar is the wonderful park " Aladdin's Kingdom" There are modern attractions for children, an artificial sea lagoon, as well as many cafes, souvenir shops and other attributes of an entertainment center. In addition, there is a picturesque zoo nearby, home to rare beautiful birds, exotic animals and dangerous reptiles. Nothing like this can be found in any country in southwest Asia. Only the United Arab Emirates can compete with Qatar in terms of development of the entertainment industry in the Middle East.
Accommodation
There is a wide choice of hotels in Qatar, depending on your preferences, there are very expensive luxury hotels. Middle-class hotels cost about $100 per night, very cheap hotels are difficult to find, and prices for accommodation in Doha are rising every year.
Details Category: Western Asian countries Published 02/03/2014 12:17 Views: 9392The desert occupies most of the country's territory.
In the north of the country the desert is flat, with rare oases and moving (eolian) sands. The middle part is rocky, with areas of salt marshes. And in the south - with high sandy hills.
The State of Qatar is located on the Qatar Peninsula. Borders with Saudi Arabia. But, since there is a disputed territory between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, some maps show that Qatar also borders the UAE.
State symbols
Flag– consists of a vertical white stripe on the left side and a brown stripe on the right. Both fields are separated by nine triangles forming a zigzag. The flag was approved on July 9, 1971.
Coat of arms– two crossed white swords-sabers in a yellow circle. Between the swords is a sailing ship (dhow), sailing on blue and white waves near an island with two palm trees. The circle is surrounded by a donut-shaped circular object that is split horizontally. In the white section, the state name "Qatar" is written in brown Kufi font, and in the brown section the English translation is written in white font. The coat of arms and middle circle are sometimes yellow, and the sabers are sometimes brown (instead of white). The coat of arms was adopted in 1976.
State structure
Form of government- absolute monarchy.
Head of State– Emir.
Head of the government- Prime Minister, appointed by the Emir.
Capital– Doha.
The largest city– Doha.
Territory– 11,586 km².
Population– 1,699,435 people. Arabs make up 40% of the population. The country is also home to immigrants from Pakistan (18%), India (18%), Iran (10%), and other countries (14%). The urban population is 96%. 70% of Qatar's population lives in Doha.
Official language- Arabic, English is widely spoken.
Currency– Qatari rial.
Economy– mainly based on oil and gas production. Before this, the people of Qatar were mainly engaged in pearl diving, cattle breeding and fishing. Oil and gas have made Qatar the first country in the world in terms of GDP per capita. The oil refining, petrochemical, chemical, and metallurgical industries are developed (a large steelmaking complex in Umm Said operates on imported raw materials). The giant North oil and gas condensate field is located in the northern part of Qatar.
Agriculture poorly developed. Agriculture is possible only in oases (date palm, vegetable growing and horticulture). Livestock farming is carried out by nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes who raise camels, sheep and goats.
Export– liquefied gas, petroleum products, fertilizers, steel. Import– machinery and equipment, vehicles, food, chemical products.
Administrative division– the country is divided into 7 municipalities.
Sport– Qatar is the organizer of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Since 1984, Qatar has consistently taken part in the Olympic Games (during this time, 4 bronze medals have been won).
Nasser Al-Attiyah (b. 1970)
Qatari racing driver (classic rally, rally-raid, SpeedCar) and shooter who competes in the hermitage. Participant of five consecutive Summer Olympics, made it to the final six three times. Winner of the 2008 World Cup in cross-country rallying. Winner of the Dakar Rally 2011 in the SUV category.
Education– the country has a three-level education system, which can be obtained in modern public and private schools. Education at all levels is free. 83% of the population over 15 years old can read and write. There are public and private primary and secondary schools. Education for boys and girls is separate. Many Qataris pursue higher education abroad, mainly in the United States. K-12 schools offer internationally comprehensive academic programs. The Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Social Development has created branches of eight international universities, a kind of Education City.
Qatar University
Armed forces- ground forces, air force, navy. The total number of armed forces is about 15 thousand people.
State religion– Islam. It is professed by 95% of the population. Most Qataris are followers of Sunni Islam.
Climate– subtropical.
Nature
The country has big problems with fresh water. Drinking water (and for irrigation) is taken from artesian wells or wells. But most fresh water is produced from sea water through desalination. In the northern regions, where groundwater comes close to the surface or reaches it, small areas of soil suitable for agriculture have formed.
Only during the period of winter rains does a cover of hard-leaved grasses appear, and leaves and flowers bloom on xerophilous shrubs. The deserts of Qatar are characterized by wormwood, camel thorn, kermek, astragalus, acacia, and tamarisk. In some places, in conditions of shallow groundwater, oases are common.
Astragalus
The animal world is poor. The predominant species are reptiles (monitor lizards, agamas, snakes, roundheads, geckos) and rodents (gerbils, jerboas). There are jackals, foxes, hyenas, and very rarely gazelles. Birds: large predators (eagles, kites), sparrows; sea gulls, flamingos, herons, geese are found on the coast.
Jerboa
Arachnids are found: scorpions, phalanges, spiders. Due to the heat, many animals are nocturnal or active only in the morning.
The waters of the Persian Gulf are home to more than 70 species of commercial fish, crustaceans (including shrimp), mollusks (including pearl mussels), and sponges. There are sea turtles.
Modern culture of Qatar
The country has modern means of communication. Our own satellite system allows us to receive radio and television programs from abroad, and there is an automatic international telex communication system. There are 12 radio stations and 1 television station (Qatar Television Service). The Internet service has about 70 thousand users.
Several daily and weekly newspapers are published, mostly in Arabic.
Qatar Culture Days in Minsk
Women in Qatar feel much freer compared to neighboring Arab countries - they are allowed to drive a car and engage in government public activities.
Tourism
The best time to travel to Qatar is September-January and March-May. Sandy beaches are equipped. On many beaches, the pools are interconnected and equipped with water slides. The Persian Gulf is considered an excellent diving site. One of the most popular activities offered to tourists in Qatar is a safari.
Safari in Qatar
The safari here is more extreme and resembles a roller coaster ride. After the races, tourists will enjoy a barbecue on the shore of the Persian Gulf under the canopy of a picturesque tent.
Doha- the largest commercial center, the capital of the country. Here is one of the most beautiful embankments in the region - the Corniche.
The architecture in the capital is of various styles: oriental, Arabic and modern.
Tourism in Qatar is actively developing. The most interesting is the Desart safari tour. There are excellent opportunities for water sports and scuba diving, parasailing, fishing, dhow cruise (traditional fishing boat converted for tourist purposes), as well as pearl hunting. For those interested in history, there is the opportunity to visit archaeological sites, forts and museums.
Parasailing
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Qatar
Al-Zubara
The fortified city of Al-Zubara is located on the shores of the Persian Gulf. It was founded around the 9th century. n. e. and reached its peak at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries. as a center for pearling and trade. The city was founded by merchants from Kuwait; it was connected by trade relations with the countries of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Peninsula and East Asia. In 1811 the city was destroyed and then completely abandoned. The desert covered the ancient city with sand deposits, but underneath there were ruins of palaces, mosques, streets, fishermen's huts, port and double defensive walls, a canal and cemeteries.
At the moment, excavations are being carried out only on a small part of the site’s territory, but the findings indicate the development of urban trade and the skill of pearl mining here.
Sights of Qatar
Museum of Islamic Art (Doha)
The museum has a unique design. It is the first museum of its kind in the Gulf Arab states and has a large collection of Islamic art, scientific research and a library.
"Pearl" of Qatar
It is an artificial island covering almost 4 million m². It is planned to create a residential complex of 31 towers with 4,700 apartments. The name is figurative - it is assumed that after completion, “Pearl” will resemble a string of pearls.
Villaggio Mall (Doha)
A huge shopping center where goods from many famous brands from the USA, Great Britain, Italy and other Western countries are presented. There is a cinema and even an ice skating rink inside the building.
Golf Club (Doha)
This is one of the first (18 hole) Golf Clubs in the Middle East. It features 8 man-made lakes, 65 giant cacti brought from the deserts of Arizona, over 10,000 green trees and shrubs, numerous limestone formations and a variety of lush and long fairways to provide a stunning contrast to the desert that surrounds this green golf course.
Khalifa International Tennis Complex (Doha)
Opened in 1992. Contains 27 hard courts. Capacity – 4106 spectators. The center is owned and operated by the Qatar Tennis Federation.
Story
Ancient history
The peninsula on which modern Qatar is located was inhabited back in the 3rd-2nd millennium BC. e. The Ubaid culture, which came from Mesopotamia, was widespread in ancient Qatar. The first written mention of the country belongs to the Roman writer Pliny the Elder and dates back to the 1st century. n. e. Information about Qatar is found in the manuscripts of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. He mentions the tribes that inhabited Qatar and were skilled sailors.
Rock paintings in Qatar dating back to the 4th century. BC e.
In the 3rd millennium BC. e. Qatar was part of the state of Dilmun with its center on the island of Bahrain. Dilmun at that time was a rich and prosperous state. The neighboring kingdom of Magan, presumably located in the area of modern Oman, also had a strong influence on Qatar.
The inhabitants were mainly engaged in growing grain crops and smelting copper, and also traded with the Sumerians, with the ancient city of Akkad, Babylonia and Assyria.
Later, the Phoenicians established a foothold in Qatar and were soon replaced by the Iranians. Then Qatar for several centuries was part of the empire of Alexander the Great and the Seleucid state. Qatar was repeatedly conquered by the Iranian Sassanid dynasty, which ruled in the 3rd-7th centuries. in the Near and Middle East.
In the 7th century Qatar becomes an Islamic state within the Arab Caliphate. After the collapse of the Caliphate in the 10th century. The history of Qatar is connected with Bahrain - at first Qatar was part of the Qarmatian state ruled from Bahrain, and in the 11th century. it ceased to exist, and Qatar receives the conditions for the formation of a developed state.
Gradually, the country has experienced economic growth associated with the trade of pearls to neighboring countries and shrimp fishing. But a struggle broke out between the Baghdad Caliphate and Oman for the prosperous peninsula, which led to the devastation of the Qatari territories. In 1320, Qatar was captured by the sheikh of the Hormuz state. From the XIII to the XIV centuries. the population of Qatar lived under the rule of the emirs of Bahrain. In the 1470s, the country again gained de facto independence, but at the same time Qatar was obliged to pay tribute to the Ottoman Empire.
In the 1510s, Qatar, along with Bahrain, was occupied by the Portuguese, then by the Turks. Qatar, like many other countries in the region, is part of the Ottoman Empire.
English protectorate
Since the 17th century Iran, Turkey, the leaders of various Arab tribes, the rulers of Oman and the Saudis begin to lay claim to the territory of Qatar. Then England and Holland tried to intervene in the struggle for power in the region. A joint Anglo-Persian force in 1623 removed the Portuguese from Qatar and Hormuz, and later from the entire Persian Gulf. But the Persians were ousted by the Omanis. Oman ruled Qatar throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.
In 1818-1820 Great Britain managed to establish a permanent presence in the country. But in the second half of the 19th century. Internecine wars began between the rulers of Qatar and Bahrain, Great Britain intervened in the conflict in 1868 and imposed an unequal treaty on Qatar.
In 1871, the Ottoman Empire reconquered Qatar and established a regime under which rule was carried out by a Turkish governor (pasha).
In 1878, Sheikh Kassem bin Mohammed Al Thani came to power. He united the warring tribes and for this he began to be considered the founder of the Principality of Qatar.
Pearls in a clam
He ruled until 1913, pursuing a relatively independent policy towards Turkey.
At the beginning of the 20th century. The Wahhabi state of Najd began to pose a threat to Qatar, whose threat of invasion of Qatar was repelled only thanks to the help of Great Britain.
In 1913, Great Britain secured the Ottoman Empire to renounce its claims to Qatar. On November 3, 1916, a British protectorate was proclaimed in Qatar. Britain not only had military control over Qatar, but also conducted international negotiations on behalf of the country, established foreign relations and benefited from sponge and pearl mining.
Sponges have long been used by humans as a household abrasive material.
National liberation movement
Oil production in Qatar began in 1940. After this, the rise of the national liberation movement began. The protests were attended by the poorest urban strata, small traders and artisans, the poorest part of the tribes, as well as immigrants who arrived at the oil fields. Until 1952, when slavery was officially abolished, slaves also took part in mass protests.
Since 1964, the underground Organization of National Struggle began operating in Qatar, and in the early 1970s, representatives of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman and the Arab Gulf appeared in the country. In 1966, a trade union was created for the first time in Qatar.
Qatar Independence
On April 2, 1970, Qatar received an interim constitution, and on May 29, 1970, the country's first government was formed. On September 1, 1971, Qatar became an independent state. A new friendship treaty was concluded with Great Britain, which stated the preservation of the “traditional ties” between the two countries.
In 1971, the giant North oil and gas condensate field was discovered. In 1974, oil refining began in the country. The government of the country created the state General Petroleum Corporation. In 1975, the entire capital of oil producing and oil refining firms in Qatar was purchased by the country's government.
Since then, the entire internal policy of the state has been carried out by the emir and the ruling dynasty.
In foreign policy, Qatar primarily focuses on cooperation with neighboring states and countries of the Persian region. Qatar has become one of the most “open” and liberal Arab states.
Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani at a meeting with George Bush
No matter how strange it may sound, a resident of Qatar, having a house, a car and being fully capable of providing for the well-being of his family, is considered a poor person. “What else are they missing?” - you might think, but by the standards of the population of the emirate, everyone has all these benefits.
Qatar is the richest country in the world in terms of income per person
Qatar is a state (emirate) located in the Middle East and bordering Saudi Arabia. Oil and gas have made Qatar one of the richest countries in the world. The country ranks 3rd in the world in natural gas reserves and 6th in exports of gas, oil and petroleum products.
Possessing such wealth, the state and government will not have much trouble hosting the World Cup, which will take place in 2022, and spending over 200 billion dollars on its organization.
Qatar is the richest country in the world in terms of GDP per capita - $102 thousand per person. According to research, about 14% of families in Qatar are considered dollar millionaires, and in 2013 the unemployment rate in the country was only 0.1%.
Less than a century ago, Qatar was considered a poor country, the population lived in extreme poverty, and today the country has become the richest in the world.
Previously, until the 40s of the 20th century, pearls were mined and exported in Qatar until the national energy potential was explored and fully exploited.
Many tourists who have visited here dream of connecting their lives with Qatar and moving here for permanent residence. For example, you don’t have to pay taxes, you can get education for free, as well as health insurance, jobs are guaranteed, housing can be provided for free, and you don’t have to pay for water and electricity. This is despite the fact that the peninsula is poor in water, there are no rivers on the territory and the country has to obtain water by desalinating sea water.
Of course, like everywhere else, there are some nuances and inconveniences for the local population. The city is one big construction site, where buildings are under construction, or demolished due to new construction. Due to traffic jams that occur during construction, citizens spend more and more time on the way from home to work, this atmosphere is tense and creates a stressful situation.
In the race for happiness and money, family values among locals are losing their importance. Today, 40% of marriages end in divorce. The majority of the local population tries to marry foreigners and go abroad, but this option is not always a happy one. Every second family has a nanny who is responsible for raising the child. These are mainly women who came from the Philippines, Nepal, and Indonesia. More than two thirds of citizens, adults and children, are overweight.
The head of state of Qatar has been Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani since 1995, but since 2013 he has handed over power to his son, Crown Prince Sheikh Tamin bin Hamad Al Thani. The youngest Arab leader, who, at over 30 years old, wants everything at once, but prohibits any criticism of himself, including in the media. The day of his accession to the throne, June 25, is declared a public holiday in Qatar.
Qatar is the first Arab country to receive a license to host the FIFA World Cup. As this championship approaches, local residents are worried about how guests will react to their values and way of life, and they are afraid that tourists will bring disagreements to their country. Since the championship is being held in the summer, there will be some difficulties associated with the heat, but the head of government promises to equip all stadiums with air conditioning. Nevertheless, there is a question about carrying it out in spring or winter, when the air temperature is quite moderate. The final decision on the date of the championship has not yet been made.
Only one thing is known: by 2022, Qatar will be turned into a “fairy tale country”, with air conditioning in football stadiums, an ice skating rink in the heat of 45 degrees, large swimming pools, huge shopping centers and “entertainment zones” where you can drink alcohol during matches.
Qatar is amazing, rich and luxurious. It’s worth visiting here to see with your own eyes a new level of attitude towards wealth.
If you decide to visit Qatar
If you are going to visit Qatar, it is best to go in the spring, preferably at the end of April. The weather at this time is warm and sunny, allowing you to enjoy coziness, tranquility, and comfort, especially when walking along the Persian Gulf embankment with the whole family.
Since almost the entire territory of the country is desert, summers here are very hot, and daytime temperatures are above 38 degrees Celsius, sometimes reaching 47 degrees! This hot period lasts from May to September.
It is best to go to the capital of Qatar - Doha. Its beauty is mesmerizing. The entire space is built up with beautiful glass buildings, the paths are lined with paving slabs, and there are many parks, flower gardens and green lawns. And even though in the very recent past all this was covered with sand, now it is a wonderful oasis.
The landscapes of Qatar are not particularly vibrant. The north of the country is a low sandy plain covered with moving dunes; the middle part of the peninsula is a rocky desert, covered with pebbles and in places salt marshes; in the south there are high sandy hills. The climate of Qatar is continental and tropical. In summer, temperatures often rise to 50 °C; the relatively cool season lasts from December to early March. The rainy season begins in November and ends in May. The average annual precipitation in the south is 55 mm, in the north - 125 mm per year.
The peninsula is poor in water. Oases are very rare and small. The land suitable for agricultural use is approximately 10% and is located mainly in the north of the country, where there are underground sources of fresh water. The availability of water allows the cultivation of date and coconut palms, millet, corn, sorghum, and vegetables. Livestock farming is carried out by nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes who raise camels, sheep and goats. The coastal waters of Qatar are rich in fish and shrimp, which play a significant role in the nutrition of the population and are used as feed for livestock and poultry. The basis of the economy of modern Qatar is determined by the oil industry, with the center of oil production in the city of Dukhan. 80% of the country's population lives in cities.
The capital, the main port of the country, an important industrial, cultural and commercial center is the city of Doha (956 thousand inhabitants). Other relatively large cities are the oil and trading port of Umm Said and Zikrit, a shallow water port on the west coast. From the 7th century Qatar was an integral part of the Arab Caliphate. In the XI-XIV centuries. under the rule of the emirs of Bahrain; at the beginning of the 16th century - the Portuguese, then - the Ottoman Empire. From 1916 to 1971, Qatar was a British protectorate.
Nature
Almost the entire territory of the country is desert. In the north there is a low sandy plain with rare oases, covered with moving (eolian) sands; in the middle part of the peninsula there is a rocky desert with areas of salt marshes; in the south there are high sandy hills. The climate is continental tropical, dry. In summer, temperatures often rise to 50 °C. The peninsula is poor in water. There are no permanent rivers; most of the water has to be obtained through sea desalination. Underground fresh water sources and oases are located mainly in the north of the country. The fauna is poor, dominated by reptiles and rodents.
Economy
The basis of Qatar's economy is oil production and refining (65 thousand tons per day in 1997). Oil revenues account for 75% of the value of exports. PPP GDP per capita is about $32,000 (2005). The structure of GDP is dominated by the service sector (50%) and industry (49%). The oil refining, petrochemical, chemical, and metallurgical industries are developed (a large steelmaking complex in Umm Said operates on imported raw materials). Agriculture is poorly developed and meets only 10% of the country's food needs. Agriculture is concentrated in oases (date palm, vegetable growing and horticulture). Livestock farming is carried out by nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes who raise camels, sheep and goats.
Story
The peninsula on which modern Qatar is located was inhabited back in the 3rd-2nd millennium BC. e. The results of numerous excavations carried out in the country indicate the spread of the Ubaid culture, which came from Mesopotamia, to ancient Qatar. The first written mention of the country belongs to the Roman writer Pliny the Elder and dates back to the 1st century AD. Also, some information about Qatar is found in the manuscripts of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. In particular, Herodotus mentions the tribes that inhabited Qatar and were skilled navigators.
According to the results of archaeological excavations in the region, in the 3rd millennium BC. Qatar was part of the state of Dilmun with its center on the island of Bahrain. Dilmun at that time was a rich and prosperous state due to its location on a busy trade route between India and Mesopotamia. The neighboring kingdom of Magan, supposedly located in the area of modern Oman, also had a strong influence on Qatar. The inhabitants of the peninsular state were mainly engaged in growing grain crops and smelting copper, and also traded with the Sumerians, with the ancient city of Akkad, Babylonia and Assyria.
Then the Phoenicians established themselves on the territory of Qatar, who were soon replaced by the Iranians. Then Qatar for several centuries was part of the empire of Alexander the Great and the Seleucid state. Qatar was repeatedly conquered by the Iranian Sassanid dynasty, which ruled the Near and Middle East in the 3rd-7th centuries.
In the 7th century, Qatar became an Islamic state within the Arab Caliphate. Since the collapse of the Caliphate in the 10th century, the history of Qatar has been inextricably linked with Bahrain. At first, Qatar was part of the Bahraini-ruled state of the Qarmatians, who were adherents of one of the two branches of the Ismaili Muslim Shiite sect. The Qarmatian state ceased to exist in the 11th century and Qatar received all the conditions for the formation of a developed state. Gradually, the country is experiencing economic growth associated with the trade of pearls to neighboring countries. In addition to pearls, residents of Qatari settlements also fished for shrimp. But the country's economic well-being soon came to an end. The prosperous territories attracted the attention of neighboring countries, and therefore a struggle broke out for the peninsula between the Baghdad Caliphate and Oman, which led to the devastation of the Qatari territories. In the 13th century Internecine wars between Arab rulers began in Qatar, which made the country unprotected. This was taken advantage of by the Sheikh of Hormuz, who captured Qatar in 1320. And already from the 13th to 14th centuries, the population of Qatar lived under the rule of the emirs of the same Bahrain. In the 1470s, the country again acquired de facto independence, but at the same time Qatar pledged to pay tribute to the Ottoman Empire. And in the 1510s, Qatar, along with Bahrain, was occupied by the Portuguese, who were soon subjected to military attacks from Turkey. After some time, the Ottoman Turks began to dominate the country and Qatar, like many other countries in the region, became part of the Ottoman Empire. Despite the dominance of the Ottomans, local sheikhs had fairly broad powers.
Since the 17th century, the territory of Qatar has become the object of hostility from several parties. Iran, Turkey, the leaders of various Arab tribes, the rulers of Oman and the Saudis are beginning to lay claim to it. For a long time, the Qatar Peninsula did not appear on European maps, so this territory was unknown to many powers of the old world. But soon England and Holland tried to intervene in the struggle for power in the region. Joint Anglo-Persian forces in 1623 forced the Portuguese to withdraw from Qatar and the Hormuz state, and then from the entire Persian Gulf. But the Persians were driven out of the country by the army of Oman, which ruled Qatar throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.
At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, power over Qatar was seized by controlled tribes that were later able to conquer Bahrain. Subsequently, the Al-Khalifa dynasty ceded Qatar to representatives of the Al-Thani dynasty from the at-Tanim tribe. Under the leadership of the Thani dynasty, the territory of Qatar acquired its modern shape by the end of the 19th century. An important moment in the history of the country is that members of the Tani dynasty decided to accept a new radical version of Islam - Wahhabism. The peninsular state was dominated by feudal relations, which at the same time were closely intertwined with the remnants of slavery and the remnants of the tribal economy.
The spread of Wahhabism in Arabia prompted Great Britain and the Ottoman Empire to once again intervene in the political affairs of the Middle East and Qatar, among others. In 1818–1820, Great Britain was able to establish a permanent presence in the region. In the second half of the 19th century, a series of internecine wars arose between the rulers of Qatar and Bahrain, which Great Britain took advantage of in 1868, intervening in the conflict and imposing an unequal treaty on Qatar. In 1871, the Ottoman Empire reconquered Qatar and established a regime under which rule was carried out by a Turkish governor (pasha).
Sheikh Kassem bin Mohammed Al Thani, who came to power in 1878, united the warring tribes, for which he began to be considered the founder of the Principality of Qatar. Until the end of his reign (1913), he pursued a relatively independent policy towards Turkey. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Wahhabi state of Najd began to pose a threat to Qatar, whose threat of invasion of Qatar was repelled only thanks to the help of Great Britain. In July 1913, Great Britain secured the Ottoman Empire to renounce its claims to Qatar. In 1914, Turkey officially ceased to claim the territory of Qatar and ceded this right to Great Britain, which imposed an agreement on Qatar on November 3, 1916, which declared a British protectorate over this country. This treaty was renewed in 1934. Britain not only had military control over Qatar, but also conducted international negotiations on behalf of the country, established foreign relations and benefited from sponge and pearl mining.
Large oil fields in the country were discovered in the late 30s. In general, oil production in Qatar began in 1940, but it was stopped due to the war. In 1935, the Anglo-French-American-Dutch company Petroleum Development of Qatar received a concession for exploration, development and production of oil in Qatar for a period of 75 years, although oil production by this company began only in 1947, i.e. after the end of the Second World War. Since 1952, oil production in the country has been carried out by its subsidiary Qatar Petroleum Company. In 1960, the development of offshore oil fields in Qatar began by the British company Shell-Kata, which had a long-term concession in the territorial waters of the country.
The population of Qatar did not want to put up with the power of the British colonialists and local ruling circles, who carried out a rather tough policy towards the inhabitants of the country, and in the 30s. this resulted in protest demonstrations in major population centers and uprisings of individual tribes in the interior of Qatar. The liberation movement began with renewed vigor after the Second World War. Particularly significant were the actions in 1956 in defense of Egypt, when Anglo-Franco-Israeli troops began aggression against this country, with the goal of establishing British and French domination over the Arab East.
The main force of national liberation movements in a country with an extremely low level of socio-economic development at that time was the poor. Mostly, the poorest urban strata, small traders and artisans, the poorest part of the tribes, as well as immigrants who arrived at the oil fields took part in national liberation actions. Until 1952, when slavery was officially abolished, slaves also took part in mass protests.
In 1960, massive popular demonstrations swept through the capital of Qatar, which resulted in the removal of Emir Abdullah ibn Qassem Al Thani, who pursued a reactionary despotic policy, from his leadership post. Sheikh Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani took his place.
In an effort to change the current situation, Great Britain in 1961 transferred a third of the concession area owned by the Qatar Petroleum Company to the ruler of the country, Sheikh Ahmed Al Thani (1960–1971). In mid-1963, another strike of workers and employees took place, demanding equality before the law for the entire population, the removal of foreign representatives from government posts, agrarian reform, and democratization of the regime. Since 1964, the underground Organization of National Struggle began operating in Qatar, and in the early 1970s, representatives of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman and the Arabian Gulf appeared in the country. In 1966, a trade union was created for the first time in Qatar, uniting the interests of oil workers. Taking into account the growing pace of the liberation democratic movement every year, the Qatari government began to implement some reforms, including measures to create healthcare, education, etc. systems.
Back in the 60s. Political organizations began to emerge in the country, advocating strengthening ties with other countries of the Arab East. Qatar soon began to advocate Arab solidarity and sharply condemned the 1967 Israeli aggression against Arab countries, allocating material and financial resources to a fund to help the people of Palestine. And a year later, under the influence of Great Britain, Qatar, together with Bahrain and the principalities of Treaty Oman, tried to organize the Federation of Arab principalities of the Persian Gulf. However, negotiations between the parties in 1968–1969 led to serious disagreements between Qatar and the territories of the modern UAE.
On April 2, 1970, Qatar received an interim constitution, and on May 29, 1970, the country's first government was formed, consisting of ten ministers, seven of whom were members of the Thani dynasty. On September 1, 1971, Qatar became an independent state, in connection with which a new treaty of friendship was concluded with Great Britain, which stated the preservation of “traditional ties” between the two countries. At the same time, Qatar was officially recognized by most countries of the world, including the USSR (September 8, 1971). That same year, Qatar was admitted to the UN and the Arab League. The first Emir of Qatar was Sheikh Ahmed, who ruled from 1971 to 1972. After only a year of rule in February 1972, as a result of a bloodless coup, power over the country passed to his cousin, Caliph bin Hamad Al Thani, who ruled until 1995.
In 1974, oil refining began in the country. In the same year, the country's government created the state-owned General Petroleum Corporation, which produced oil and controlled the activities of foreign oil production and oil refining companies operating in Qatar. In 1975, the entire capital of oil producing and oil refining firms in Qatar was purchased by the country's government.
Since then, the entire internal policy of the state has been carried out by the emir and the ruling dynasty. In its foreign policy, Qatar has primarily focused and is focused on cooperation with neighboring states and countries of the Persian region, mainly Saudi Arabia. During the Iran-Iraq War of 1980–1988, the country supported Iraq, but already during the Gulf War in 1990–1991, when Iraq occupied the territories of Kuwait, Qatar took an active part in the actions of the US-led coalition. Thus, Canadian and French attack aircraft were located at the air base in Doha, and the Qatari Air Force accompanied allied attack aircraft during the shelling of Iraqi targets in Kuwait. After many conflicts in the Middle East, Qatar regularly organizes meetings within the framework of the Arab-Israeli peace process, thereby playing an important role in expanding Arab-Israeli economic and political ties. In this regard, Qatar has become one of the most “open” and liberal Arab states.
As a result of another bloodless coup that occurred in June 1995, Emir Khalifa was removed by his son Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. The new ruler retained the previous policy in the country, but some of its components were transformed by him. In particular, he increased the staff of the Advisory Council and organized a commission to create a permanent constitution. A year later, the post of Prime Minister was established in the country, and in March 1999 and April 2003, popular elections were held in Qatar to the Central Municipal Council with advisory functions, which should carry out activities to improve governance at the regional level.
In 2001, Qatar settled territorial disputes with Bahrain over its maritime border. In addition, Qatar, together with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, came to a common decision on the ownership of the island of Hawar, which, by decision of the International Court in The Hague, went to Bahrain. On April 29, 2003, a referendum was held in Qatar to adopt a draft permanent constitution for the country, in which 96.6% of voters supported the draft new constitution. According to this constitution, Qatar became an absolute monarchy. According to the constitution, the head of state and government is the emir, who appoints the members of the Council of Ministers and the Advisory Council. His power is limited only by Sharia law.
In recent years, Qatar has been repeatedly accused by various experts, media and political figures from different countries of sponsoring and supporting Islamist terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood, the Taliban, Hamas, the Islamic State and Jabhat Fatah al-Sham.
On June 5, 2017, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE announced the severance of relations with Qatar due to Qatar's ties to terrorist organizations, interference in the internal affairs of regional states and the spread of the ideology of Al-Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood and the Islamic State. The UAE and KSA demanded that Qatari citizens leave the territories of their states and, in turn, demanded that their citizens leave Qatar within 14 days. The UAE has closed air and sea links with Qatar. Qatar's participation in the operation against the Houthis in the Yemeni Civil War was also annulled.