Qatar | History, Capital, Language, Flag, Facts & Geography of Qatar
History of Qatar:
For thousands of years, people have lived in the region that is now Qatar. The region was taken over by Arabs in the seventh century, and the Abbasid dynasty ruled for 500 years. The Portuguese built some villages nearby in the 16th century. The Bahraini Al Khalifa family thereafter ruled the region until 1868. The Ottoman Empire seized power in 1872 and governed until 1913.
Qatar and the United Kingdom agreed that the United Kingdom would defend Qatar at the outbreak of World War One. He appointed Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani as ruler.
Oil was found in Qatar in 1940. Owing to oil exports, Qatar amassed enormous wealth. Qatar attained full independence in September 1971. Qatar has advanced toward a more liberated society and a democratic government in recent years.
Information about Qatar:
| Capital | Doha |
| Population | 2,720,227 (Source: 2023 worldometer) |
| Major Cities | Doha (capital), Al Rayyan, Umm Şalāl Muḩammad, Al Wakrah, Al Khor, Ash Shīḩānīyah, Dukhān, Musay‘īd, Madīnat ash Shamāl |
| Borders | land border with Saudi Arabia and shares maritime borders with Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | $237,296,000,000 (2022 worldometer) |
| Currency | Qatari rial (QAR) |
Flag of Qatar:
Qatar Economy Key Industries:
Qatar Major Industries: crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair
Qatar Agricultural Products: fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish
Qatar Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish
Qatar Major Exports: liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel
Qatar Major Imports: machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals
The Geography of Qatar:
Total Size of Qatar: 11,571 km² (source: wikipedia)
Geographical Low Point of Qatar: Persian Gulf 0 m
Geographical High Point of Qatar: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m
Climate of Qatar: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
General Terrain of Qatar: mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
World Region or Continent of Qatar: Middle East
Geographical Coordinates: 25 30 N, 51 15 E
The People of Qatar & Culture
Qatar Government Type: traditional emirate
Qatar Nationality: Qatari(s)
Qatar National Holiday: Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Qatar Independence: 3 September 1971 (from UK)
Qatar National Symbol:
Qatar National Anthem or Song: Al-Salam Al-Amiri (The Peace for the Anthem)
Qatar Languages Spoken: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Qatar Religions: Muslim 95%
Interesting Facts about Qatar:
For three years straight, Qatar Airways, the country of Qatar’s official airline, has been named the best airline in the world. All seven continents are served both domestically and internationally.
One intriguing fact about Qatar is that it was once again ranked as the world’s safest country in 2020. Previously, in 2017 and again in 2019, Qatar was given this award.
The fact that Machboos, a delicious meal, is one of Qatar’s national dishes, is among the most fascinating facts about the country. Visitors and locals alike love this dinner very much.
Qatar’s main airport, Hamad International Airport, is ranked third in the world. It also boasts the largest airport in the Middle East.
One of the rare places on earth where the sea and the desert meet is Qatar, which makes it special. Khor Al-Adaid is a very different story, despite the country’s impressively large sand dunes.
One of the most exciting football-related events is the FIFA World Cup. In 2022, Qatar hosted the event for the first time as an Arab country.
The title “Qatar” derives from the word “Qatara,” which, according to mythology, alludes to the medieval city of Zubarah, which was once a prominent trade port in the region. The phrase was initially discovered on a map made by Ptolemy that depicted the precise location of the nation.
Islam, the country’s official religion, is practiced by close to 70% of the populace. But because of the huge number of foreign inhabitants in Qatar, there are also a sizable number of Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists.
Qatar’s National Day is celebrated annually on December 18.
A great place to learn about Qatari culture and traditions, including regional cuisine, is the Souq Waqif.
In a desert climate, Qatar experiences hot summers, mild winters, and constant sunshine. Between 17°C in January and 36°C in July, on average, summertime highs surpass 45°C. Rain is infrequent and often occurs in brief showers during the winter.
One of the natives’ favorite sports is camel racing. Up until 2004, children were used as camel jockeys, but it was judged that this was (clearly) too unsafe, thus robots took their place.
In the middle of Hamad International Airport, Urs Fischer’s Lamp Bear, a piece of art, is ready for you to take pictures with it. Apparently, the price is $6.8 million. Qatar is making purchases.
The Olympic Cycling Track in Qatar has the Guinness World Records title for the Longest Continuous Cycle Path with a length of 33 km and a width of 7 m.
During the winter, flamingos from Europe and Siberia migrate via Qatar on their journey to Africa.
