| Qatar, on the west coast of the Arabian Gulf, is a peninsula of some five thousand square miles stretching from the border with Saudi Arabia in the south towards the island of Bahrain in the north. It is one of the fastest-growing members of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council. |
The capital city, Doha, lies on the east coast and is home to about 60% of the country’s inhabitants. The population, estimated at 600,000 including expatriate labor, is projected to rise to 1 million by 2017.
Landscape and climate:
The desert in Qatar is surprisingly varied. Magnificent sand dunes curve across the country in the south, while to the north, the desert is flat and rocky, with limestone outcrops. Oases and farms that draw on sources of sweet water are found in central and northern areas.
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 Doha Skyline |
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The climate is mild and pleasant in winter, hot and sometimes humid in summer. Rainfall is uncommon, but sudden downpours may occur in the cool season.
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 Dunes of Qatar |
Economy:
Qatar is surrounded on three sides by the sea. In the past, many Qataris lived by fishing, pearl-diving and trading across the Gulf. Others, the Bedouin of the desert, bred camels and moved across the land in search of pasture.
In the twentieth century, the discovery of oil and gas transformed the country‘s economy. The largest non-associated gas field yet discovered lies off the coast of Qatar, and the country is now a major exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and condensate. Efforts have also been made to diversify the economy and attract overseas investment. For More information please check out Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website.
Development:
The transformation of Qatar into a modern state began with the exploitation of oil from the 1940s, and gathered
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momentum once the gas from the North Field came on stream in the 1990s. Major projects now underway or planned for the near future include road systems, schools, hospitals, hotels, and sports facilities in preparation for the 15th Asian Games to be held in Doha in 2006.
Education:
The government of Qatar has made education a high priority for decades, constructing schools, supporting adult education programs, founding the University of Qatar (in 1973) and funding the education of both male and female students at universities overseas. Now, a major reform of school education is underway under the aegis of the Rand Corporation, with greater emphasis on English, science and information technology.
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With the establishment of the private, non-profit Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development in 1995, the Emir of Qatar gave added impetus to the development of education. The Foundation‘s Education City, a multi-institutional campus with the new Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar at its heart, is now taking shape on the edge of Doha.
Qatari society:
The life of the country’s citizens has changed dramatically in recent years given the rapid pace of economic and social development. This is particularly true for Qatari women. In the early 1990s, they did not drive, and no Qatari woman held a ministerial portfolio. Now, there is a woman Minister of Education, H.E. Sheikha Al-Mahmoud, and a second woman minister (without portfolio). 2003 also saw a woman elected for the first time to the country‘s Central Municipal Council. Others have been appointed to U.N. committees, and hold high office in regional and national organizations. As for driving, many Qatari women now do this as part of their daily routine. For more information about Qatar Society check out Supreme Council for Family Affairs.
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