Qatar
History
There is evidence of human habitation in Qatar as early as the 5th or 6th centuries B.C. The Greek historian, Herodotus, refers to the seafaring Canaanites as the original inhabitants of Qatar. And the ancient geographer, Ptolemy, showed in his map of the Arab world a town believed to be the present Qatari town of Zubarah. Danish, French and British expeditions have discovered inscriptions, rock carvings and fine pottery in the peninsula.
Qatar embraced Islam in the middle of the 7th century A.D. and since that time, it has been noticed regularly in the accounts of Arab historians and writers. The country was famed for its fine striped woven cloaks, known as Qatari cloaks, and for the excellence of spears made in the country.
First signs of human habitation in the Qatar peninsula date from 4000BC. Archaeological expeditions in the sixties and seventies found rock carvings and sets of pottery that indicate human presence at that time. Qatar also appears on ancient maps, a clear sign that travelers and explorers alike knew of the presence of civilized settlements in this location. Some historical texts indicate that the first inhabitants of Qatar are the ancient Canaanites, who are known for their trade and navigation skills.
The strategic location of Qatar on the Arabian Gulf was the main reason for the seasonal migration of Arab tribes from the Arabian Peninsula and particularly from the Nejd desert. When the ancient Mediterranean flourished with many civilizations, the Arabian Gulf area, with its strategic location, found commercial prosperity. The several fishing centres and pearl trading such as Al Zubara, Al Bida Al Khor and Al Wakra. Due to the concentration of trade in the red sea area during the Roman era, the Gulf suffered from a commercial decline, but from the third century AD the area regained its important trading position.
Oil
Petroleum was discovered in commercial quantities in Qatar in 1939 and was first exported in 1949. Oil revenues have given Qatar a substantial income and a high standard of living. Exploratory drilling in Qatar began in 1938 and Oil was discovered in Dukhan on the west coast in 1939. By 1940 Qatar was producing about 4,000 barrels per day. The Second World War halted the development of oi production, which resumed between 1942 and 1947, but exports began in 1949. The Dukhan field extends south from Dukhan along the west coast and has three oil reservoirs layered progressively deeper between limestone formations and a natural gas field underlying them all
Location
The State of Qatar is situated half-way along the west coast of the Arabian Gulf, east of the Arabian peninsula. It is itself a peninsula that extends northward covering an area of 11,437 sq km.
Its territory includes a number of islands in the waters around it. The most well-known of these are the Hawar Islands, Halul which is the export terminal for the offshore oil fields and others.
Climate
The State of Qatar has a desert climate with a hot summer and a relatively mild winter.
In the summer the temperature ranges between 25°C and 45°C with high humidity. There is some rainfall in winter but on the average does not exceed 75.2mm annually.
Population
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.
Economy
Oil constitutes more than 30% of Qatar Gross Domestic Product (GDP), approximately 80% of export earnings, and 66% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.7 billion barrels should ensure continued output at the prevailing levels for 23 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to that of the leading West European industrial countries. Qatar's reserves of natural gas exceed 7 trillion cubic meters, which is more than 5% of the world total reserves, third largest in the world. Production and export of natural gas are becoming increasingly important. Long-term goals consider the development of offshore petroleum and the diversification of the economy. In 2000, Qatar posted its highest ever trade surplus of $6 billion, due basically to high oil prices and increased natural gas exports.
Banking
The Qatar Monetary Agency (QMA) was set up in 1973 with a mandate to carry out the functions of a central bank. It maintains supervision, coordination and control of the banking sector in addition to issuing directives necessary to guide and regulate the activities of the banks and the financial corporations operating in the country.
QMA also regulates insurance, circulation and withdrawal of currency, maintains stability of currency both inside and outside the country and guarantees that the Qatar riyal is freely convertible on the world market. It is also charged with planning a banking, financial, credit and monetary system that helps develop the national economy within the framework of a stable monetary system.
Business Hours
Offices and shops are usually open from 8:00am to noon and reopen again in the afternoon from 4:00 or 5:00 to 7:00 or later. The shopping malls stay open until 9:00 or 10:00pm.
Friday is the weekly holiday, with many business working only a half day on Thursday. Embassies and government offices are closed on Thursday.
The Muslim holidays of Eid Al-Fitr (at the end of Ramadan), Eid Al-Adha (during the month of the Haj), and the Islamic New Year are all observed in Qatar. The length of the two Eid holidays varies from year to year.
The National Day is on 3 September, when embassies and government offices are closed but most private business stays open
People
Only 25% of the population of Qatar is Qatari. The remainder are foreign,
Religion
The official religion of Qatar is Islam, and the vast majority of Qataris are Sunni Muslims. The country adopted Islam in the 7th century and has remained committedly devout to the faith since then.
Health
The health care provided in Qatar covers the entire country, giving free-of-charge inclusive services to citizens and other residents alike. This is carried out through a chain that starts with preliminary care services and ends with services extended at various specialised hospitals.
By law, the Ministry of Health is charged with providing health services in all fields of specialisation, establishing and organising hospitals, health centres and quarantines as well as issuing medical certificates.
Housing
The State of Qatar attempts to create the optimum living conditions for its citizens. This is done through raising health, economic and social standards and providing suitable housing that is appropriate to the size, needs and social customs and traditions of each family.
The Free Popular Housing Section of the Popular Housing Department provides housing for citizens with limited resources. It consists of the following facilities provided by the Government:
The beneficiary is granted a free strip of land. The size of the land depends upon the size of the beneficiary's family but it ranges from 6400 to 10,000 sq ft. The beneficiary is offered an interest-free loan of which only 60% is to be repaid in easy installments, based upon his income, over a period of 20-25 years.
Visas
Nationals of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries -- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman -- and British passport holders with right of abode in the UK do not need a visa to enter Qatar.
