Not long ago, Qatar was a forgotten country in the Persian Gulf. However, as it turned out, Katera has very large deposits of oil and gas, and therefore the country has been actively developing in recent decades, including in tourism terms. Tourists in Qatar can enjoy desert safaris, Bedouin villages, rich markets, ancient mosques with minarets, camel racing, and, of course, excellent long sandy beaches on the shores of the Persian Gulf.
Geography of Qatar
Qatar is located on the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. In the south, Qatar borders Saudi Arabia (this is its only land border). A strait in the Persian Gulf separates Qatar from the neighboring island nation of Bahrain. The total area of Qatar is 11,586 square meters. km., and the total length of the state land border is only 60 km.
Most of Qatar's territory is desert. In the south of Qatar there are high hills, and in the north there is a sandy plain with oases. The highest point in the country is Qurayn Abu al Bawl (103 meters).
Capital
The capital of Qatar is Doha, which is now home to more than 600 thousand people. Doha was built in 1825 (then called Al Bida).
Official language
The official language of the people of Qatar is Arabic, which belongs to the Semitic group of the Afroasiatic language family.
Religion
More than 77% of Qatar's population is Muslim (72% Sunni, 5% Shiite). Another 8.5% are Christians.
State structure
According to the current Constitution of 2003, Qatar is an absolute monarchy headed by the Emir from the al-Thani dynasty. By the way, the al-Thani dynasty has ruled Qatar since 1825, i.e. since the formation of this state.
The power of the Emir in Qatar is absolute, and he is guided by the principles of Sharia when governing the country. It is the Emir who appoints the Prime Minister, ministers and members of the Advisory Council (35 people), which has legislative power. All laws in Qatar are approved by the Emir.
Climate and weather
Winters in Qatar are mild and summers are very hot. In January the air temperature drops to +7C, and in August it rises to +45C. The average annual precipitation is 80 mm. The best time to visit Qatar is from October to May.
Sea in Qatar
Qatar is washed by the Persian Gulf on all sides except the south. The total coastline is 563 km. The coastline in Qatar is sandy with numerous small islands, sand bars and reefs.
Story
People lived on the territory of modern Qatar, according to archaeologists, 7.5 thousand years ago. Around 178 BC. the inhabitants of Qatar traded with the ancient Greeks and Romans (they were intermediaries in the trade of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome with India).
In the 7th century AD. Islam begins to spread on the territory of modern Qatar, and the country becomes part of the Arab Caliphate.
At the beginning of the 16th century, Portugal had great influence in the Persian Gulf, including Qatar. Portuguese traders buy gold, silver, silk, pearls and horses from the Gulf countries.
In 1783, Qatar fell under Bahrain's rule, and this continued until 1868. In 1871, Qatar became part of the Ottoman Empire. In 1916, Qatar seceded from the Ottoman Empire, but became a British protectorate.
It was not until 1971 that Qatar gained independence from Great Britain.
Culture of Qatar
The culture and traditions in Qatar were formed under the influence of Islam, and everyday life in this country complies with Sharia law. There are two main religious holidays in Qatar - Eid Al-Fitr, which lasts three days to celebrate the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha (we know it as Eid al-Fitr). Eid al-Adha is celebrated 70 days after Eid al-Fitr.
Kitchen
Qatar's traditional cuisine has been heavily influenced by immigrants from Iran and India, and more recently from North Africa.
Many traditional Qatari dishes are made from seafood (especially lobster, crab, shrimp, tuna and snapper). All meat in Katera is “halal”, i.e. complies with Muslim laws.
One of the most popular traditional dishes in Qatar is machbous, which is a stew of meat with rice or seafood. Also in Qatar, tourists are recommended to try “Hummus” (chickpea puree with sesame seeds), “Waraq enab” (grape leaves stuffed with rice), “Taboulleh” (shredded wheat, seasoned with parsley and mint), “Koussa mahshi” (stuffed zucchini), “Biriani” (rice with chicken or lamb), “Ghuzi” (lamb with rice and nuts).
As for desserts in Qatar, some of them include pistachio pudding, bread pudding with nuts and raisins, and cheesecake with cream.
Traditional soft drinks in Qatar include coffee, fruit waters and herbal infusions. Residents of this country prefer Arabic coffee, seasoned with cardamom or slightly sweetened, or thickly brewed Turkish coffee. Sometimes sweet coffee "qahwa helw" (with saffron, cardamom and sugar) is served.
Fruit waters and herbal infusions are sold directly on the streets in all cities of Qatar.
You can only drink alcohol in restaurants and hotels that have a special license.
Sights of Qatar
Despite the fact that Qatar has a very ancient history, there are not many attractions in this country. This is due to the geographical location of Qatar, which has many deserts. However, the Top 10 best attractions in Qatar, in our opinion, may include the following:
- Fort Umm Salal Mohammed
- Mounds of Umm Salal Ali
- Doha Weapons Museum
- Fort at Al Zubar
- Ancient fortifications at Al Zubar
- Al Waibah Fort
- Abdullah bin Mohammed Palace
- State Mosque in Doha
- Fort al-Raqiyat
- Al Rayyan Mosque
Cities and resorts
The largest cities in Qatar are Doha, Ar Rayyan, Al Wakrah, Al Khor and Umm Salal.
As we have already said, Qatar is washed by the Persian Gulf on all sides except the south. The total coastline is 563 km. The coastline in Qatar is sandy with numerous small islands, sand bars and reefs. You can swim in the sea wherever you want, the main thing is not to leave trash behind.
The best beaches (i.e. resorts) in Qatar, in our opinion, are the following:
Al Ghariya Beach (80 km north of Doha)
- Dukhan (80 km west of Doha)
- Fuwairit Beach (80 km north of Doha)
- Khor Al Adaid (80 km south of Doha)
- Maroona (80 km north of Doha) – also known as French Beach
- Ras Abrouq (Bir Zekreet) (70 km west of Doha)
Souvenirs/shopping
Tourists from Qatar usually bring handicrafts, Korans, gold jewelry, daggers, a Dal-la coffee pot, bronze figurines, wooden boxes, henna, Arabic lamps, hookahs, rugs, scrolls with Arabic script, and rosaries.
Office hours
The working week in Qatar lasts from Sunday to Thursday. Weekends are Friday and Saturday. The official working day begins at 07:00 and ends at 15:30.
Qatar's population is 67.7% Muslim, 13.8% Hindu, 13.8% Christian, 3.1% Buddhist, 0.7% other faiths and 0.9% non-religious.
Islam
In Qatar, the Muslim population is dominated by Sunnis over Shiites. The government of Qatar has a Ministry of Islamic Affairs. Islam in Qatar is the state religion. Teaching Islam is mandatory for Muslims in government-funded schools.
Christianity
Hinduism and Buddhism
Immigrants working in Qatar from India and Southeast Asia predominantly practice Hinduism and Buddhism.
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Notes
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Excerpt characterizing Religion in Qatar
Pierre and thirteen others were taken to Krymsky Brod, to the carriage house of a merchant's house. Walking through the streets, Pierre was choking from the smoke, which seemed to be standing over the entire city. Fires were visible from different directions. Pierre did not yet understand the significance of the burning of Moscow and looked at these fires with horror.Pierre stayed in the carriage house of a house near the Crimean Brod for four more days, and during these days he learned from the conversation of the French soldiers that everyone kept here expected the marshal's decision every day. Which marshal, Pierre could not find out from the soldiers. For the soldier, obviously, the marshal seemed to be the highest and somewhat mysterious link in power.
These first days, until September 8th, the day on which the prisoners were taken for secondary interrogation, were the most difficult for Pierre.
X
On September 8, a very important officer entered the barn to see the prisoners, judging by the respect with which the guards treated him. This officer, probably a staff officer, with a list in his hands, made a roll call of all the Russians, calling Pierre: celui qui n "avoue pas son nom [the one who does not say his name]. And, indifferently and lazily looking at all the prisoners, he ordered the guard it is proper for the officer to dress and tidy them up before leading them to the marshal. An hour later a company of soldiers arrived, and Pierre and thirteen others were led to the Maiden's Field. The day was clear, sunny after the rain, and the air was unusually clean. Smoke did not settle down as in that day when Pierre was taken out of the guardhouse of Zubovsky Val; smoke rose in columns in the clear air. The fires of the fires were nowhere to be seen, but columns of smoke rose from all sides, and all of Moscow, everything that Pierre could see, was one conflagration. On all sides one could see vacant lots with stoves and chimneys and occasionally the charred walls of stone houses. Pierre looked closely at the fires and did not recognize the familiar quarters of the city. In some places, surviving churches could be seen. The Kremlin, undestroyed, loomed white from afar with its towers and Ivan the Great. Nearby, the dome of the Novodevichy Convent glittered merrily, and the bell of the Gospel was especially loudly heard from there. This announcement reminded Pierre that it was Sunday and the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. But it seemed that there was no one to celebrate this holiday: everywhere there was devastation from the fire, and among the Russian people there were only occasionally ragged, frightened people who hid at the sight of the French.
Obviously, the Russian nest was ravaged and destroyed; but behind the destruction of this Russian order of life, Pierre unconsciously felt that over this ruined nest his own, completely different, but firm French order had been established. He felt this from the sight of those soldiers walking cheerfully and cheerfully, in regular rows, who escorted him with other criminals; he felt this from the sight of some important French official in a double carriage, driven by a soldier, driving towards him. He felt this from the cheerful sounds of regimental music coming from the left side of the field, and especially he felt and understood it from the list that the visiting French officer read this morning, calling out the prisoners. Pierre was taken by some soldiers, taken to one place or another with dozens of other people; it seemed that they could forget about him, mix him up with others. But no: his answers given during the interrogation came back to him in the form of his name: celui qui n "avoue pas son nom. And under this name, which Pierre was afraid of, he was now being led somewhere, with undoubted confidence written on them faces that all the other prisoners and he were the ones who were needed, and that they were being taken where they were needed. Pierre felt like an insignificant sliver caught in the wheels of an unknown to him, but correctly functioning machine.
Flag of the State of Qatar, perhaps the narrowest and longest of all the independent states in the world. It consists of two parts - white and red-brown (burgundy), separated by a zigzag line. The white color symbolizes peace, the burgundy color represents the Kharijites of Qatar and the bloodshed in the numerous armed clashes and wars in which the Qataris participated. The flag was adopted on July 9, 1971, just two months before independence from Great Britain.
See Qatar presentation.
Presentation of Qatar, accompanied by national music.
Geography
Qatar is located in South-West Asia, on the peninsula of the same name in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, washed on three sides by the waters of the Persian Gulf. In the south, Qatar borders on Saudi Arabia and, however, the borders are arbitrary and practically not demarcated. In the northwest it has a sea border with. If you look at the map of Qatar, you will notice that the country's topography is predominantly flat: the middle part is a rocky desert with rare hills; coastal - sandy lowland with swamps and salt marshes. There are no rivers, streams or lakes in Qatar. However, in oases, underground waters come to the surface in the form of springs and many wells.
Population
The Qataris are not alike in appearance: the stocky fishermen and pearl divers of the coastal villages differ from the tall, lean Bedouins of the interior regions of the peninsula. Qataris make up 2/3 of the country, and a third of the population are Iranians, Baluchis, people from Africa, etc. In the coastal regions, settled nationalities such as Bu Kawarra, Muhadana, Bu Ainain, Ben Ali, Sallata Madid, Khalifa and Khulya live (about 3 thousand people each). In the interior of the peninsula, the Naim, Khadzhir, Kiaban, Manasyr, Marijat, and Khabbab tribes roam. Discovery of large oil fields in the late 30s. XX century radically changed the entire structure of traditional Arabian society. This affected both Bedouins and settled residents in the “outback” - in oases and small settlements. By the end of the 20th century. Almost the entire population of Qatar became urban. The share of the urban population in 1990 was almost 90%. Thousands of foreigners came to work in Qatar. All this led to ethnic diversity. Currently, out of more than 800 thousand citizens of the country, 40% are Arabs, 18% are Pakistanis, 18% are Indians, 10% are Iranians and 14% are from other countries. As of 2004, the total population of Qatar was 744,029.
Language
Arabic, Urdu, when communicating with foreigners - English. Website where you can learn more about the dialects of Gulf Arab and even try to start learning online (English).
Religion
State religion of Qatar - Islam. The indigenous inhabitants of the country profess Wahhabism - a religious and political movement in Islam, the founder of which was Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (1703 - 1787). Standing up for the “purity” of Islam, Wahhabis preach simplicity of morals and the idea of uniting Arabs. Wahhabism is the official ideology in Saudi Arabia. The remaining Muslims in Qatar are supporters of Sunnism and Shiism.
Connection
Qatar provides direct international telephone communication with almost all countries of the world. A call from a local or international hotel room can be made for a small fee. You can also make calls using a pay phone card, which can be purchased from Qatar Telecom branches ( Qtel) or in newsstands and supermarkets. Many hotels in Qatar provide services Internet connections.
Chief mobile operator Vodafone.
Calls within Qatar are carried out by simply dialing the numbers of the subscriber number without additional codes. Most numbers are seven digits, landlines start with "4", mobiles with "5-6".
Calls from Qatar carried out through 00+ country code.
Calls to Qatar are made by dialing +974 or 8-10-974 + subscriber number.
Time
In summer it lags behind Moscow by 1 hour; from the last Sunday in September to the last Sunday in March it coincides with Moscow.
The official name is the State of Qatar (Daulyat Qatar, State of Qatar). Located in South-West Asia, in the north-eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, extended far into the Persian Gulf. The country's territory includes the Qatar Peninsula and a number of small adjacent islands with a total area of 11,437 thousand km2. Population of St. 800 thousand people (est. 2003).
The official language is Arabic.
The capital is Doha (313 thousand people, 1998).
Public holiday - Independence Day on September 3 (since 1971).
The currency is the Qatari rial (contains 100 dirhams).
Member of the UN (since 1971), LAS (since 1971), IMF, IBRD, OPEC, OIC, OAPEC, GCC (since 1981), etc.
Flag and coat of arms
Geography
Located between 50°45' and 51°35' east longitude and 24°45' and 26°10' north latitude. From the north, west and east it is washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf. The coastline is a rugged coastline with a length of 563 km. The large number of coral reefs (sometimes up to 4 km wide) makes it difficult to access. Qatar borders on the south with Saudi Arabia, on the sea - with Bahrain and the UAE (Emirate of Abu Dhabi).
The terrain of the territory is simple and located on a low desert plateau of the Arabian Peninsula sloping towards the sea.
Mineral deposits - oil and natural gas - are of global importance. The soils are mainly sandy and limestone. Nature is characterized by a hot and arid climate, the absence of constantly flowing rivers and natural reservoirs. During the rainy season (December - January), water accumulates in dry riverbeds (wadis), the largest of which Mashrib runs near the capital. In summer (May-October) the temperature at noon rises to 45°C with air humidity of 85-90%. Sandstorms are common at this time. Winter (December-March) is moderately warm, +15–25°C during the day, up to +10°C at night.
Due to difficult climatic conditions, Qatar's flora and fauna are extremely scarce. There are locust outbreaks in this area. There are more than 70 species of commercial fish in the waters of Qatar: tuna, horse mackerel, mackerel, and sardine. Pearls have been mined in the area of coral reefs for a long time.
Population
Before the discovery of oil fields, the number of inhabitants did not exceed 20 thousand people. Birth rate 15.6‰, mortality 4.43‰, infant mortality 20 people. per 1000 newborns, life expectancy is 73.14 years (women 75.76, men 70.65 years) (2003). Age structure of the population: 0-14 years - 24.7% of all residents of the country, 15-64 years - 72.4%, 65 years and older - 2.9%. The bulk of the population (more than 90%) is concentrated in the capital and other large cities. The demographic situation of Qatar is characterized by a small proportion of the indigenous population (1/6) in the total mass of people who arrived from other countries as hired labor and service personnel. This raises many problems related to ensuring national security and preserving Qatari identity.
The ethnic composition of the country is very heterogeneous: Arabs 40%, Pakistanis 18%, Indians 18%, Iranians 10%, others 14%. Languages: Arabic, English as a second language. The state religion of Qatar is Islam, adopted in 628. Its canons permeate the entire life of the local population. The indigenous people of Qatar profess the Sunnism of the Hanbali “madhab” - a religious and legal school considered the most rigid. Some of them are followers of the teachings of Sheikh Ibn Al-Wahhab (Hanbalism in its extreme expression). A small part of the population is Shia. Currently, due to the influx of foreign workers, about half of the country's population adheres to Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity.
Story
The lands of modern Qatar have been inhabited since ancient times. The earliest archaeological finds date back to the end of 4 thousand BC. e. and confirm the existence of a developed and prosperous civilization here. After adoption in the 7th century. Islam, together with the rest of the inhabitants of the Persian Gulf, the territory of Qatar became part of the Arab Caliphate - the Umayyads, later the Abassids.
In the beginning. 16th century The first European colonialists appeared on the shores of the Persian Gulf, among whom Portugal and especially Great Britain were the most active. After long resistance, the Sheikh of Qatar was forced to conclude a “Treaty of Perpetual Peace” with Great Britain in 1868, which effectively consolidated its colonial rule. Since 1871, Qatar was again occupied by the Ottoman Empire, which appointed its own governor there. But in reality, the country was ruled by Sheikh Qasem bin Mohammed, who founded the dynasty of the Al Thani family now ruling in Qatar (since 1878). According to official data, the Al Thani family came from the Tamim tribe (modern Saudi Arabia) and emigrated to the peninsula in the beginning. 18th century
Taking advantage of the First World War, Great Britain forced Turkey to abandon its claims to Qatar, and in 1916, the new ruler of Qatar, Sheikh Abdullah ibn Kassem Al Thani, signed an agreement establishing an English protectorate. In 1935, the rulers of Qatar were forced to enter into a concession agreement with the British Petroleum Development of Qatar, which gave it, for 75 years, virtually unlimited and uncontrolled rights to explore, produce and sell oil and gas, build industrial facilities, and import foreign workers. The entire traditional structure of the country's economy, which had developed over centuries, was disrupted, which led to a sharp impoverishment of the local population.
K con. 1960s The crisis in Britain's colonial policy became obvious. Its attempt to maintain its influence in the region by creating a federation of nine emirates: Bahrain, Qatar and the seven emirates of Trucial Oman failed. The countries could not agree among themselves and, following Bahrain, on September 3, 1971, Qatar declared its independence.
The next step of the already independent Qatar was joining the Arab League and the UN in September 1971. On February 22, 1972, the country's Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa, with the consent of the Council of Elders, appointed himself Emir of Qatar, declaring the ruling Sheikh Ahmed, who was abroad, deposed. The new government continued the reforms it had begun, paying special attention to modernizing the economy. In 1995, the throne was inherited by the son of Emir Khalifa, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The young emir managed to resolve long-standing border disputes with neighboring Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The aggravation of relations with Bahrain occurred in March 1982 due to the territorial affiliation of the Hawar Islands and the Fasht ad-Dibal region. After hearings in the Hague court in March 2001, a verdict was adopted in which the Hawar Islands were transferred to Bahrain, and the Fasht al-Dibal shoals were transferred to Qatar. In 1992, due to events in the border area, a conflict arose between Qatar and Saudi Arabia. After a lengthy settlement, Qatar signed demarcation maps between the two countries in March 2001, where the demarcation of sea and land borders was finally approved.
Government and political system
Officially, Qatar is a sovereign Arab state with an absolute monarchy. The country has a temporary Constitution adopted on April 2, 1970. All power in the country belongs to the emirs from the Al Thani dynasty and can only be inherited by sheikhs from this family. According to the administrative division, the country consists of 10 municipalities (baladiyat): Al-Dawwa, Al-Juwariya, Al-Jumalia, Al-Khor, Al-Wakrah, Ar-Rayyan, Jarayan al-Batna, Al-Shamal, Umm Said, Umm Salal . All government institutions and departments are subordinate to the head of the municipality on its territory, and his functions also include the conduct of all administrative affairs. The ruler of Qatar is Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (since June 1995). The executive branch of the country is the Council of Ministers (17 people since September 1992), which is also headed by the emir. He appoints and dismisses ministers who are personally responsible to him for state policy and the work of ministries. In addition, the emir is the supreme commander of the country.
In 1972, Emir Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, in accordance with the adopted interim Constitution, created a special Advisory Council (Shura). Since 1988, this body has consisted of 35 people elected for a term of 4 years and appointed by the emir from among representatives chosen with limited suffrage. According to the Constitution, they have the right to discuss and make recommendations on the adoption of laws developed by the Council of Ministers, to request ministries on foreign and domestic political issues, including draft budgets. Their functions include reviewing state and civil affairs, after which they are submitted for approval by ministers and the emir. However, by law, the Advisory Council cannot have real or legislative power. In March 1999, Qatar held its first elections of 29 members to the Central Municipal Council, with the next elections taking place in April 2003.
In July 1999, the emir created a special committee of 32 people to draft a permanent constitution for the country. In July 2002, the project was submitted to the emir for consideration, after which it was fully approved at a referendum in April 2003. The activities of any political parties and trade unions are prohibited in the country. Discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity or religion is also prohibited and punishable by law. The highest court of the country is the court of appeal, whose decisions are approved by the emir and are not subject to revision. Leading business organizations include the country's largest banks and industrial companies: Qatar Petroleum Company (QP), Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO), QATARGAS, Qatar Steel Company (QASCO), Qatar Industrial Company (QIMCO), etc. Currently, internal politics The country is aimed at diversifying the industrial base, using local natural resources, reducing dependence on imported goods, and increasing the types of export products. The nationalization of the oil industry in 1973, after which the country's income increased sharply, allowed the government to make a number of significant changes in the social sphere. Reforms were carried out in the field of healthcare, housing construction, public services, pensions and benefits. In the beginning. 1980s a new major program was implemented to improve the social life of the population, all medical services and education became free. In May 1989, at the direction of the Emir, a Planning Council was formed to improve the coordination of plans for the socio-economic development of Qatar. The goal was announced to reduce dependence on the oil sector, but even now the Qatari economy remains entirely focused on the export of oil and natural gas.
In the field of foreign policy, Qatar adheres to the principles of the non-aligned movement, of which it has been a member since 1971. Qatar advocates dialogue between countries based on the principles of mutual trust and non-interference in the affairs of sovereign states. Its relations with Arab countries are of great importance for Qatar's foreign policy. Qatar has the closest ties with neighboring Saudi Arabia. In 1992, Qatar entered into a defense pact with the United States. A similar agreement was concluded with the UK (1993) and France (1994). Qatar's increasingly strengthened ties with the United States and France show the authorities' desire to gain broad military support from the world's leading powers. During the 2nd Gulf War (March-April 2003), Qatar provided its military bases to the United States and took a pro-American position. Increasing political tension in the region has forced the Qatari government to pay close attention to creating an effective self-defense system.
The country's armed forces consist of the army, navy and air force. Their total number as of August 2001 was 12.33 thousand people. The country has compulsory military service for all men aged 18 to 35 years. The duration of military service is 12-24 months. In 2000/01, defense spending increased to US$723 million, representing 10% of GDP. The main supplier of weapons to Qatar is France (tanks, aircraft), Great Britain has a smaller share (warships).
Qatar has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR in 1988).
Economy
Oil discovered in Qatar (1939) and its industrial production (since 1949) radically changed the situation in the country, allowing it to achieve unprecedented rates of economic growth. Today, oil accounts for more than 55% of GDP, 85% of export earnings and 70% of all government revenues. Proven oil reserves 14.5 billion barrels. (2002). Thanks to oil production, Qatar's GDP per capita is comparable to leading Western industrial countries. In addition to oil, the production and export of natural gas is becoming increasingly important, the reserves of which, according to various estimates, exceed 21 trillion. m3 (2nd place in the world in terms of volume after the Russian Federation). The reserves discovered in the giant North Field field will allow the gas industry to develop at the same accelerated pace and provide the necessary amount of gas for its passage through the planned gas pipelines to Kuwait and the UAE. Gas production in Qatar increased from 19.6 billion in 1998 to 32.5 billion m3 in 2001. In 2000, Qatar's foreign trade surplus amounted to $7 billion. This was mainly due to high global oil prices and a gradual increase in gas exports. This surplus continued in 2001.
Qatar has maintained high GDP growth rates since declaring its independence. On average they amount to 8-10% per year. Qatar's GDP increased from $510 million (1972) to $7.17 billion (1995), i.e. more than 14 times. The dynamics of GDP growth completely depend on the state of the global energy market and oil prices. For Qatar, the period of a general decline in the world economy and, as a consequence, a noticeable reduction in oil consumption coincided with a drop in the volume of GDP within the country (4930 million US dollars in 1985 versus 5773 million US dollars in 1979). The growth of national income per capita fluctuated similarly to GDP: in 1982 it reached 19 thousand US dollars, which allowed the country to take one of the first places in the world in this indicator; in 1995, due to the decline in the fuel market, it was $12 thousand. According to data for 2002, GDP is 17.2 billion US dollars, the GDP growth rate is 3.4%; GDP per capita is 21.5 thousand US dollars. Inflation 1.9% (2002), unemployment 2.7% (2001).
Sectoral structure of the economy: by contribution to GDP (%, 1996): agriculture 1, industry 49, service sector 50. GDP structure by employment (%, 2000): agriculture 0.4, industry 67.6, service sector 32. In addition to the oil and gas industry, which forms the basis of the country's economic well-being, the energy sector has received widespread development. The total capacity of power plants was estimated at 1863 MW (2000), electricity production amounted to 9.264 billion kWh (2001). Qatar provides electricity for the domestic needs of its citizens free of charge.
For Qatar, water desalination is an important task (more than 113 million gallons per day in 2000). The construction business, production of building materials and cement are developing successfully. There are three industrial zones in Qatar: Umm Saeed (oil refining and petrochemicals, and more recently also metallurgical and gas industries); Doha (small and medium-sized businesses, repair shops, consumer services, food production); new zone in Ras Laffan (gas processing and transportation).
Unfavorable climatic conditions and the presence in the country of only desert and semi-desert lands have led to a very limited use of the agro-industrial complex. The total area of cultivated land is approx. 7.6 thousand hectares, or 3% of the total area, the share of absolutely unsuitable land is 91.6% of the entire territory of the country. According to FAO, in 2000 Qatar produced 4,100 tons of barley, 1,800 tons of corn, 53,400 tons of vegetables and melons, 18,000 tons of fruits and dates; in livestock farming: 35900 tons of milk, 4100 tons of poultry meat, 7400 tons of lamb meat. The most traditional and successful branch of agriculture is fishing - 4207 tons (2000).
There are no railways in Qatar. The total length of highways is 1230 km, of which 1107 km are paved. The total length of pipelines is more than 892 km (1997), incl. St. 187 km - for pumping oil and more than 700 km - for supplying gas. Maritime transport plays a dominant role in the transportation of goods, accounting for more than 70% of imported cargo and 100% of oil and gas exports. Commercial shipping numbers only 25 large vessels with a total tonnage of 679,081, including 10 bulk carriers, 6 oil tankers, 7 container ships, 2 oil and ore carriers (2002). The main port of the country is Doha (in the mid-1990s, the total length of the berths was 1699 m) and the port of Umm Said, which has undergone complete reconstruction. There are 4 airports built in Qatar. The largest international airport is located near the capital (in 2000 it received 2.6 million passengers), the rest are used only for domestic transport. In 2001, Qatar Airways operated 15 aircraft. The Qatari authorities plan to increase the volume of cargo transportation and increase the number of aircraft to 22 (2006). In 1998, the country was visited by approx. 451 thousand tourists, but the industry itself is small due to underdeveloped infrastructure.
In Qatar, along with traditional communication systems, recently, in addition to regular telephone (167,400 users, 2001), mobile communications (178,800, 2001) and the Internet (40,000 users in 2001) have been successfully developing. Qatar Radio has existed since 1968, the number of radio receivers in 1997 was 256,000 - one of the first indicators in the Arab East. National television appeared in 1970, broadcasts its programs on 3 channels and has 520,000 viewers (2000). The country has its own satellite communications; the Al-Jazeera satellite TV channel is well known.
Features of the modern economy of Qatar are the presence of cheap energy, large investments and a shortage of local labor resources. This makes Qatar's economy energy- and capital-intensive but labor-efficient. The country is narrowly focused on petrochemicals, oil refining, development of the gas sector, and banking. Since Qatar is an absolute monarchy, the emir, together with advisers and the cabinet of ministers, is personally involved in the state regulation of the main proportions of economic development, stimulates the development of the private sector, and monitors the participation of the state in industrial and financial activities. In the field of social policy, Qatar provides citizens of its country with a number of privileges and material benefits, the right to free education, healthcare, vocational training, etc.
The national financial system was born in 1971 immediately after Qatar declared its independence. Before this, all financial activities were controlled by English banks. Currently, 16 banks and 8 insurance companies operate successfully in the country. The Qatar Central Bank controls all economic and financial activities in the country, regulates money circulation, and issues new banknotes. The bank has existed since 1966 (capital equal to 1.14 billion cat. rials). Other major banks include the Qatar National Bank (formed in 1965) with a capital of 1.038 billion kat. rials The exchange rate of the Qatari rial against the US dollar has been stable in recent years and is equal to 3.64.
Qatar's budget is closely linked to oil prices and production levels. Soaring oil revenues in the 1970s caused a large budget surplus, which allowed Qatar to begin significant industrial programs and new infrastructure projects. In 2001/02 the budget provided an income of 18.057 billion cat. rials, expenditure of 17.560 billion, surplus of 497 million kat. rials (with an average oil price of $16.5 per barrel). Qatar's external debt stems from borrowing to cover government budget deficits. K con. In 2001, external debt increased to $13.223 billion, of which $7.305 billion was directly government debt. According to Western estimates, debt payments should rise to US$1.435 billion in 2002 (double the 1998 level), but are planned to gradually decrease to US$380 million by 2005.
The standard of living of the Qatari population has increased immeasurably in recent years, thanks to increased growth in oil and gas exports. Total industrial wages in 2000 were $240 million. The average wage of an industrial worker was accordingly $7,571 per year. Qatar's economy is almost entirely dependent on the state of its foreign trade. Qatar is forced to import almost the entire range of goods - from food, consumer goods to machinery and equipment. Despite the uneven growth of exports and imports, for 1972-1995. Qatar's foreign trade turnover increased 8.1 times (exports increased 6 times, imports 17 times). Imports increased from 2.9 billion (2000) to 3.9 billion US dollars (2002). Main import partners: France (18%), Italy (9%), USA (9%), Japan (8%), UK (7%) (2001). Exports: $11.594 billion, including $6.859 billion from crude oil and $3.300 billion from natural gas (2000), as of 2002, exports: $10.9 billion. Qatar also exports chemical products, fertilizers, with the commissioning of metallurgical enterprises - metal and metal structures. Main export partners: Japan (42%), South Korea (18%), Singapore (5%), UAE (4%) (2001).
Science and culture
Currently, the authorities, concerned about the huge influx of foreign labor, are paying a lot of attention to education and the creation of their own national personnel. In 1995/96, there were 174 primary schools in the country, with 53.6 thousand students. The only university in Qatar was founded in 1977 in the capital Doha on the basis of a former teacher training college and has 7 faculties. Educational and research work at the university is carried out under the patronage of the Emir of Qatar, who in 1980 issued a decree on the formation of a special Center for Scientific and Applied Research. In 1998, the university had 8.5 thousand students, 85% of whom were native Qataris, and the number of Qatari teachers accounted for 38% of all teaching staff. The state regularly sends young people to study at foreign universities. The total number of students in Qatar in the 1999/2000 academic year was 75 thousand people, the total number of teachers in the 1998/99 academic year was 13.1 thousand people. In the 2002/03 budget, the government budgeted 418 million kat. rials for education and social benefits for youth.
In the pre-oil period, the population was engaged in traditional trades for the entire region: cattle breeding, pearl fishing, handicraft production, maritime trade, and, to a lesser extent, agriculture. Today, despite competition from cheap industrial goods, the products of local jewelers, wood carvers, and manufacturers of national clothing are still popular among the people. Some of the most interesting cultural attractions in Qatar include the archaeological excavations of mounds and mounds at Umm Salal Ali, which testify to the most ancient period in the history of civilizations. The coastal town of Al Khor is also of interest. The main part of the museums is concentrated in the capital of the country: the National Museum (founded in 1901) with a huge two-level aquarium, the Ethnographic Museum. The Weapons Museum contains rare specimens of ancient small arms, a collection of gold and silver swords and daggers, some of which date back to the 16th century. The country is home to a famous nature reserve where a rare antelope, the oryx, the national animal of Qatar, lives in natural conditions.
Qatar, a monarchical state (emirate) in South-West Asia, the capital is Doha. Area - 11.437 thousand square meters. km., Population – 840.3 thousand people (2004), about 90% of the population is concentrated in the capital and its suburbs. The official language is Arabic. The state religion is Islam.
Religion
This year, the media announced the start of construction next year, 2006, in the Qatari capital Doha (for the first time in 14 centuries) of the Christian (Anglican) Church of the Epiphany. However, there was no further information about this construction.
On March 14 of this year, on the outskirts of Doha, the first Christian church in Qatar was consecrated - the Catholic Church of the Holy Virgin Mary, built, as the Qatari authorities demanded, without a bell tower and a cross. The site on the outskirts of Doha, the country's capital, was donated by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, who established diplomatic relations with the Vatican in 2002. On the same plot of land with an area of 21 thousand square meters. m. it is planned to build five more churches, including