The State of Qatar:Qatar is an independent sovereign State. It is a peninsula located along the middle of the western coast of the Arabian Gulf and has borders with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Iran.
The peninsula has a length of approximately 200 km, with a total area of 11,850 sq km, including a number of islands.
The population of Qatar reached 1,870,000 in 2011, according to figures from the World Bank, accurate as of September 2012.
Arabic is the official language, but English is widely spoken as well given the high number of expatriates in the country.
The economic growth of Qatar has been almost exclusively based on its petrol and natural gas industry, which began in earnest in 1940. The country has experienced rapid economic growth in recent years due to high oil prices, and this year posted its thirteenth consecutive budget surplus, as the (2012 - 2013) budget achieved a huge surplus of $ 26 billion between July and September of last year.
Economic policy is focused on developing Qatar's non-associated natural gas reserves and increasing private and foreign investment in non-energy sectors, but oil and gas still account for more than 50% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues.
Qatar’s national income primarily derives from oil and natural gas exports. The country has oil reserves of 15 billion barrels, while gas reserves in the giant North Field (which straddles the border with Iran and is almost as large as the peninsula itself) are the world’s third largest
The primary means of transportation in Qatar is by road, due to the very cheap price of petroleum. As a result, the country has an advanced road system undergoing vast upgrades in response to the country's rapidly rising population, with several highways being upgraded and new expressways within Doha under construction.
A bus network connects Doha with other towns in the country, and is the primary means of public transportation in the city.
Rulers of the country (Modern Qatar):
Sheikh Mohamed bin Thani (1850-1878)
Sheikh Jasem bin Mohamed Al Thani (1878-1913)
Sheikh Abdullah bin Jasem Al Thani (1913-1949)
Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani (1949-1960)
Sheikh Ahmed bin Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani (1960-1972)
Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani (1972-1995)
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (1995-2013)
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (2013-to date)
Qatar’s History:
Old excavations and sculptures indicate that Qatar was inhabited as early as the fourth century BC.
In addition to that, the great historian Hirodose referred to Qatar in his writings, while the geographer Batlaimos notated Qatar on his map of the world.
The peninsula on which the modern State of Qatar sits has witnessed many civilizations and cultures throughout human history. Recent discoveries that have been made on one island in the west of Qatar have shown the existence of human settlements during prehistoric times.
The Qatar peninsula became one of the richest places in the Gulf commercially in the pre-modern phase, where the trade of Mesopotamia was transferring through it to India.
Islam entered Qatar in 628 AD when the Prophet (PBUH) sent El Alaa bin El Hadrami to Al Monther bin Sawi Al Tamimi. He responded to him, and announced his conversion to Islam, and all the inhabitants of Qatar followed suit.
Qatar remains famous for its textiles that are exported to various countries. It is said that the Prophet (PBUH) and his wife, Mother of Believers Aisha (God bless her), have worn Qatari garments.
Modern Qatar:
The modern history of Qatar started in the early 18th century AD, when the ruling Al Thani family reached the southern part of Qatar. In the middle of the same century, the family moved up to the northern part of the peninsula, including Zobara, Rois and Fowert.
The twenty-seventh of June 1995 is considered an important date in the Qatari calendar, as this marks the day on which Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani became the Emir of Qatar.
A new era had begun, with immediate progress being seen in all fields: politically, economically and in terms of international relationships. Qatar now enjoys particularly strong ties with the countries of the European Union.
A Consultative Council for Qatar was established for the first time in 1975.It consisted of 35 members, with a remit to oversee the affairs of the country politically, economically and administratively.
In 1999, a Higher Committee was formed in order to draft a new constitution for the country. Establishing an elected parliament was one of the most important parts of this constitution.
By the end of 1999, the Emir formed a ministerial council that committed to developing a plan for the future economic and industrial growth of the country so that it could keep pace with global advances.
Qatar’s Development:
Qatar has witnessed unprecedented development in many fields. Concerning education, the educational process has been expanded. In addition, the government is responsible for supporting the sector and community schools.
Regarding university education, Qatar University comprises eight faculties; the Qatar General Institution for Education, Science, Culture and Community Development aims to develop education, which has contributed to the Education City project in the field of healthcare.
The Hamad Medical Corporation is tasked with the management of public hospitals in Qatar, where treatment is free for Qataris and residents alike.
Qatar has a thriving culture, there are numerous museums such as Qatar National Museum, The Museum of Islamic Art and The Museum of Modern Art. The Doha Cultural Festival is held annually and in addition to this, the Doha Music Festival is a magnet for the most prestigious and famous Arab singers to perform live in Doha.
Tourism is a huge growth industry in Qatar and one of the ways in which the economy intends to diversify. The attractions on offer in Doha (Souq Waqif, the museums of Islamic and Modern Art, the stunning Corniche, the Katara Cultural Village and the exhibition/trade facilities to name but a few) and elsewhere in Qatar (Lusail Motor Circuit, the desert expanses of the north and south of the peninsula, and the islands of the west) are fuelling a steadily-growing interest in Qatar as a tourism/business destination. With regard to agriculture, Qatar has a rich agricultural history, expressed through fruits, animal products, livestock and camels.
In industry and mining the focus is on products such as petrol and natural gas, which form the basis of the Qatari economy. It is worth noting that Qatar’s economy was revolutionised following the discovery of the biggest marine oil field in the world specialised for producing natural gas, in the Al Shamal area.
Consequently, the most important mining resources in Qatar are oil, natural gas, iron ore and aluminum. It follows, then, that Qatar’s most important industries are oil and gas refinery, the petrochemical industry, cement, steel and handicrafts.
In terms of transportation, Qatar has an extensive road network with plans to introduce a country-wide railway system for passengers and freight, and a light rail ‘Metro’ system serving the capital Doha and its suburbs.
These projects are, as of 2012, now underway.
The Future of Qatar:
The Qatar National Vision for 2030 was instigated, a vision which has been welcomed by the public. This future vision demands comprehensive development of Qatar as the main goal in achieving progress and prosperity for the citizens and residents of the country.
Qatar National Vision 2030:
The National Vision of Qatar aims to complete the adaptation of Qatar into a fully-developed country by the year 2030. When the plan comes to fruition, Qatar will be able to achieve a permanent level of development and present high standards of living for generations to come.
The realisation of the Qatar National Vision 2030 depends on four related developments:
Environmental development: To manage the environment in a way that guarantees co-ordination and harmony between social and economic development, and protects the environment from unnecessary harm.
Economic development: This aims to build a diverse, competitive economy that will provide prosperity for all, in the present and future.
Social development: The country seeks to build a safe and fair community, founded on good morals, and able to play a role in making the world – not just Qatar – a better place for all.
Human development: Where we seek to develop Qatar and its constituent individuals into a prosperous and flexible society, at ease with the changing world around it.