Qatar is the country of the richest people. The standard of living and the main attractions of the state

Doha is the capital of Qatar

The landscapes of Qatar are not very bright. The north of the country is a low sandy plain covered with moving dunes; the middle part of the peninsula is a rocky desert covered with pebbles and salt marshes in some places; in the south - high sandy hills. The climate of Qatar is continental and tropical. In summer, the temperature often rises to 50 ° C, a relatively cool season lasts from December to early March. The rainy season starts in November and ends in May. The average annual rainfall in the south is 55 mm, in the north - 125 mm per year.

The peninsula is poor in water. Oases are very rare and small. Land suitable for agricultural use is approximately 10% and is located mainly in the north of the country, where there are underground sources of fresh water. The presence of water makes it possible to cultivate date and coconut palms, millet, corn, sorghum, and vegetables. Animal husbandry is occupied by nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes who breed camels, sheep and goats. The coastal waters of Qatar are rich in fish and shrimp, which play an essential role in the nutrition of the population and are used as feed for livestock and poultry. The basis of the economy of modern Qatar is determined by the oil industry, with the center of oil production in the city of Dukhan. 80% of the country's population lives in cities.

The capital, the main port of the country, an important industrial, cultural and commercial center is the city of Doha (956 thousand inhabitants). Other relatively large cities are the oil and trade port of Umm Said and Zikrit, a shallow water port on the west coast. From the 7th century Qatar was an integral part of the Arab Caliphate. In the XI-XIV centuries. under the rule of the emirs of Bahrain; at the beginning of the 16th century. - Portuguese, then - the Ottoman Empire. From 1916-1971, Qatar was under British protectorate.

Nature

Almost the entire territory of the country is a desert. In the north - a low sandy plain with rare oases, covered with moving (eolian) sands; in the middle part of the peninsula - a rocky desert with patches of solonchaks; in the south - high sandy hills. The climate is continental tropical, dry. In summer, the temperature often rises to 50 °C. The peninsula is poor in water. There are no permanent rivers most water has to be obtained by desalination of sea water. Underground sources of fresh water and oases are located mainly in the north of the country. The animal world is poor, reptiles and rodents predominate.

Economy

The basis of the economy of Qatar is the extraction and refining of oil (65 thousand tons per day in 1997). Oil revenues account for 75% of the value of exports. PPP per capita GDP is about $32,000 (2005). The structure of GDP is dominated by the service sector (50%) and industry (49%). The oil refining, petrochemical, chemical, and metallurgical industries are developed (a large steel-smelting complex in Umm Said works on imported raw materials). Agriculture underdeveloped and satisfies only 10% of the country's food needs. Agriculture is concentrated in oases ( date palm, vegetable growing and horticulture). Livestock is occupied by nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes who breed camels, sheep and goats.

Story

The peninsula, on which modern Qatar is located, was inhabited as early as the 3rd-2nd millennium BC. e. The results of numerous excavations carried out in the country indicate the spread of the Ubaid culture in ancient Qatar, which came from Mesopotamia. The first written mention of the country belongs to the Roman writer Pliny the Elder and it refers to the 1st century AD. Also, some information about Qatar is found in the manuscripts of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. In particular, Herodotus mentions the tribes inhabiting Qatar, who were skilled seafarers.

According to the results of archaeological excavations in the region, in the III millennium BC. Qatar was part of the state of Dilmun with its center on the island of Bahrain. Dilmun at that time was a rich and prosperous state due to its location on a busy trade route between India and Mesopotamia. The neighboring kingdom of Magan, presumably located in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bmodern Oman, also had a strong influence on Qatar. The inhabitants of the peninsular state were mainly engaged in the cultivation of crops and the smelting of copper, and also traded with the Sumerians, with the ancient city of Akkad, Babylonia and Assyria.

Then the Phoenicians entrenched themselves on the territory of Qatar, who were soon replaced by the Iranians. Then Qatar for several centuries was part of the empire of Alexander the Great and the state of the Seleucids. Repeatedly, Qatar was conquered by the Iranian Sassanid dynasty, which ruled in the 3rd-7th centuries in the Near and Middle East.

In the 7th century, Qatar became an Islamic state within the Arab Caliphate. After the collapse of the Caliphate in the 10th century, the history of Qatar is inextricably linked with Bahrain. At first, Qatar is part of the state of the Qarmatians ruled from Bahrain, who were adherents of one of the two branches of the Muslim Shiite Ismaili sect. The state of the Karmatians ceased to exist already in the 11th century, and Qatar receives all the conditions for the formation of a developed state. Gradually, the country is experiencing economic growth associated with the trade of pearls to neighboring countries. In addition to pearls, the inhabitants of the Qatari settlements were also engaged in catching shrimp. But the economic well-being of the country soon came to an end. The prosperous territories attracted the attention of neighboring countries, in connection with which the struggle between the Baghdad Caliphate and Oman flared up over the peninsula, which led to the ruin of the Qatari territories. In the 13th century In Qatar, internecine wars began between the Arab rulers, which made the country undefended. This was used by the sheikh of the Ormuz state, who captured Qatar in 1320. And already from the 13th to the 14th centuries, the population of Qatar lived under the rule of the emirs of the same Bahrain. In the 1470s, the country regained de facto independence, but at the same time, Qatar pledged to pay tribute to the Ottoman Empire. And in the 1510s, Qatar, along with Bahrain, was occupied by the Portuguese, who soon came under military attack from Turkey. After some time, the Ottoman Turks begin to dominate the country and Qatar, like many other countries in the region, is part of the Ottoman Empire. Despite the domination of the Ottomans, local sheikhs had fairly broad powers of authority.

Since the 17th century, the territory of Qatar has become the object of hostility from several sides at once. Iran, Turkey, the leaders of various Arab tribes, the rulers of Oman and the Saudis begin to claim it. For a long time, the Qatar Peninsula did not appear on European maps, so this territory was unknown to many powers of the old world. But soon England and Holland tried to intervene in the struggle for power in the region. The joint Anglo-Persian forces in 1623 forced the Portuguese to withdraw from Qatar and the Ormuz state, and then from the entire territory of the Persian Gulf. But the Persians were forced out of the country by the army of Oman, who ruled Qatar throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.

At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, Qatar was seized by tribes ruled who were later able to conquer Bahrain. Subsequently, the Al-Khalifa dynasty ceded Qatar to representatives of the Al-Thani dynasty from the At-Tanim tribe. Under the leadership of the Tani dynasty, the territory of Qatar acquired its modern shape by the end of the 19th century. An important moment in the history of the country is that the members of the Tani dynasty decided to adopt a new radical version of Islam - Wahhabism. The peninsular state was dominated by feudal relations, which at the same time were closely intertwined with the remnants of slavery and the remnants of the tribal economy.

The spread of Wahhabism in Arabia prompted Great Britain and the Ottoman Empire to again intervene in the political affairs of the Middle East and Qatar, as well. In 1818–1820, Great Britain was able to establish its permanent presence in the region. In the second half of the 19th century, a series of internecine wars arose between the rulers of Qatar and Bahrain, which Britain took advantage of in 1868, intervening in the conflict and imposing an unequal treaty on Qatar. In 1871, the Ottoman Empire again conquered Qatar and established a regime here under which the rule was carried out by the Turkish governor (Pasha).

Sheikh Qassem bin Mohammed Al Thani, who came to power in 1878, united the warring tribes, for which he was considered the founder of the principality of Qatar. Until the end of his reign (1913), he pursued a relatively independent policy towards Turkey. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Wahhabist state of Najd began to pose a threat to Qatar, the threat of invasion of which into Qatar was repelled only thanks to the help of Great Britain. In July 1913, Great Britain forced the Ottoman Empire to renounce its claims to Qatar. In 1914, Turkey officially ceased to claim the territory of Qatar and ceded this right to Great Britain, which imposed on Qatar an agreement of November 3, 1916, which proclaimed a British protectorate over this country. This treaty was renewed in 1934. Great Britain had not only military control over Qatar, but also conducted international negotiations on behalf of the country, established external Relations and benefited from the mining of sponges and pearls.

Large oil fields in the country were discovered in the late 30s. In general, oil production in Qatar began in 1940, but it was stopped due to the war. In 1935, the Anglo-French-American-Dutch company "Petroleum Development of Qatar" received a concession for the exploration, development and production of oil in Qatar for a period of 75 years, although the oil production itself by this company began only in 1947, i.e. after the end of World War II. Since 1952, oil production in the country has been carried out by its subsidiary Qatar Petroleum Company. In 1960, the development of offshore oil fields in Qatar began by the British company Shell-Kata, which had a long-term concession in the territorial waters of the country.

The population of Qatar did not want to put up with the power of the British colonialists and local ruling circles, who pursued a rather tough policy towards the inhabitants of the country, and in the 30s. this resulted in protest demonstrations in large population centers and uprisings of individual tribes in the interior of Qatar. The liberation movement began with renewed vigor after World War II. Particularly significant were the actions in 1956 in defense of Egypt, when the Anglo-French-Israeli troops launched an aggression against this country, which had the goal of establishing British and French domination over the Arab East.

The main force of the national liberation movements in a country with an extremely low level of social economic development at that time, were the poor. Mostly the poorest urban strata, small traders and artisans, the poorest part of the tribes, as well as immigrants who arrived at the oil fields took part in the national liberation actions. Until 1952, when slavery was officially abolished, slaves also took part in mass demonstrations.

In 1960, massive popular demonstrations swept through the capital of Qatar, the result of which was the removal from the leading post of Emir Abdallah ibn Qasem Al Thani, who pursued a reactionary despotic policy. He was replaced by Sheikh Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani.

In an effort to change the situation, Great Britain in 1961 transferred a third of the concession area owned by the Qatar Petroleum Company to the ruler of the country, Sheikh Ahmed Al Thani (1960–1971). In mid-1963, another strike of workers and employees took place, demanding equality before the law of the entire population, removal of foreign representatives from government posts, agrarian reform, and democratization of the regime. Since 1964, an underground Organization of National Struggle began to operate in Qatar, and in the early 1970s, representatives of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman and the Arabian Gulf appeared in the country. In 1966, a trade union was created in Qatar for the first time, uniting the interests of oil workers. Taking into account the growing pace of the liberation democratic movement every year, the government of Qatar began to implement some reforms, among which were measures to create health care systems, education, etc.

Back in the 60s. began to emerge in the country political organizations who advocated strengthening ties with other countries of the Arab East. Soon, Qatar began to advocate Arab solidarity and strongly condemned the Israeli aggression of 1967 against the Arab countries, allocating material and financial resources to the fund to help the inhabitants of Palestine. And a year later, under the influence of Great Britain, Qatar, together with Bahrain and the principalities of Trucial Oman, tried to organize a Federation of Arab Principalities of the Persian Gulf. However, negotiations between the parties in 1968-1969 led to serious disagreements between Qatar and the territories of the modern UAE.

On April 2, 1970, Qatar receives an interim constitution, and on May 29, 1970, the country's first government was formed, consisting of ten ministers, seven of whom were members of the Tani dynasty. On September 1, 1971, Qatar became an independent state, in connection with which a new friendship agreement was concluded with Great Britain, which spoke of maintaining "traditional ties" between the two countries. At the same time, Qatar was officially recognized by most countries of the world, including the USSR (September 8, 1971). In the same year, Qatar was admitted to the UN and the League of Arab States. Sheikh Ahmed, who ruled from 1971 to 1972, became the first Emir of Qatar. A year later, in February 1972, as a result of a bloodless coup, power over the country passed to his cousin, Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, who ruled until 1995.

In 1974, oil refining began in the country. In the same year, the country's government created the state-owned General Oil Corporation, which carried out oil production and controlled the activities of foreign oil producing and oil refining companies operating in Qatar. In 1975, the entire capital of oil producing and oil refining firms in Qatar was bought out by the government of the country.

Since then, the entire internal policy of the state has been carried out by the emir and the ruling dynasty. In foreign policy, Qatar has predominantly been oriented and is oriented towards cooperation with neighboring states and the countries of the Persian region, mainly Saudi Arabia. During the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-1988, the country supported Iraq, but already during the Persian Gulf War in 1990-1991, when Iraq occupied the territories of Kuwait, Qatar took an active part in the actions of the coalition led by the United States. Thus, Canadian and French attack aircraft were located at the Doha airbase, and the Qatari Air Force was accompanied by allied attack aircraft during the shelling of Iraqi targets in Kuwait. After many conflicts in the Middle East, Qatar constantly organizes meetings within the framework of the Arab-Israeli peace process, thus playing an important role in expanding the Arab-Israeli economic and political ties. In this regard, Qatar has become one of the most "open" and liberal Arab states.

As a result of another bloodless coup in June 1995, Emir Khalifa was replaced by his son Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. The new ruler retained the old policy in the country, but some of its components were transformed by him. In particular, he increased the staff of the Advisory Council and organized a commission to create a permanent constitution. A year later, the post of prime minister was established in the country, and in March 1999 and April 2003, Qatar held popular elections to the Central Municipal Council with advisory functions, which should carry out activities to improve governance at the regional level.

In 2001, Qatar settled territorial disputes with Bahrain over the maritime boundary. In addition, Qatar, together with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, came to a unified decision on the ownership of the island of Hawar, which, by decision of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, went to Bahrain. On April 29, 2003, a referendum was held in Qatar to adopt a draft permanent constitution for the country, in which 96.6% of voters supported the draft new constitution. Under this constitution, Qatar became an absolute monarchy. According to the constitution, the head of state and government is the Emir, who appoints the members of the Council of Ministers and the Advisory Council. His power is limited only by the Shariah.

Qatar for last years has been repeatedly accused by various experts, media and politicians from different countries of sponsoring and supporting Islamist terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood, the Taliban, Hamas, the Islamic State and Jabhat Fatah al-Sham.

On June 5, 2017, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE announced a severance of relations with Qatar due to Qatar's ties with terrorist organizations, interference in the internal affairs of the states of the region and the spread of the ideology of Al-Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood and ISIS. The UAE, KSA demanded that Qatari citizens leave the territories of their states and, in turn, demanded that their citizens leave Qatar within 14 days. The UAE has closed air and sea links with Qatar. It also canceled Qatar's participation in the operation against the Houthis in civil war in Yemen.

Details Category: Western Asian countries Posted on 02/03/2014 12:17 Views: 9932

The desert occupies most of the country.

In the north of the country, the desert is flat, with rare oases and moving (eolian) sands. The middle part is rocky, with patches of solonchaks. And in the south - with high sandy hills.

The State of Qatar is located on the Qatari Peninsula. It borders on Saudi Arabia. But, since there is a disputed territory between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, some maps show that Qatar also borders the UAE.

State symbols

Flag- consists of a vertical white stripe on the left side and a brown stripe on the right. Both fields are separated by nine triangles forming a zigzag. The flag was approved on July 9, 1971.

Coat of arms- two crossed white sabers in a yellow circle. Between the swords is a sailing ship (dhow), sailing on blue and white waves near an island with two palm trees. The circle is surrounded by a donut-shaped round object that is split horizontally. In the white section, the name of the state "Qatar" is written in brown Kufi script, and in the brown section, the English translation is written in white script. The coat of arms and middle circle are sometimes yellow, and the saber swords are sometimes brown (instead of white). The coat of arms was adopted in 1976.

State structure

Form of government- absolute monarchy.
head of state- Emir.
Head of the government The prime minister is appointed by the emir.
Capital- Doha.
The largest city- Doha.
Territory- 11,586 km².
Population– 1,699,435 people Arabs make up 40% of the population. People from Pakistan (18%), India (18%), Iran (10%), and other countries (14%) also live in the country. The urban population is 96%. 70% of Qatar's population lives in Doha.

Official language- Arabic, English is widely spoken.

Currency- Qatari rial.
Economy- mainly based on oil and gas production. Prior to this, the inhabitants of Qatar were mainly engaged in pearl mining, cattle breeding and fishing. Oil and gas made Qatar the first country in the world in terms of GDP per capita. The oil refining, petrochemical, chemical, and metallurgical industries are developed (a large steel-smelting complex in Umm Said works on imported raw materials). In the northern part of Qatar, there is a giant North oil and gas condensate field.
Agriculture poorly developed. Farming is possible only in oases (date palm, vegetable growing and gardening). Animal husbandry is occupied by nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes who breed camels, sheep and goats.
Export– liquefied gas, oil products, fertilizers, steel. Import- cars and equipment, vehicles, food, chemical products.
Administrative division The country is divided into 7 municipalities.
Sport– Qatar is the organizer of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Since 1984, Qatar has consistently taken part in the Olympic Games (during this time, 4 bronze medals have been won).

Nasser Al-Attiyah (b. 1970)

Qatari racing driver (classic rally, rally-raids, SpeedCar) and shooter, performing in the skit. A participant in five consecutive Summer Olympics, he was in the final six three times. Winner of the 2008 World Cup in rally raids. Winner of the rally-marathon "Dakar-2011" in the off-road category.
Education- The country has a three-stage system of education, which can be obtained in modern public and private schools. Education at all levels is free. 83% of the population over the age of 15 can read and write. There are public and private primary and secondary schools. Education for boys and girls is separate. Many Qataris receive higher education abroad, mainly in the USA. 12-grade schools offer international comprehensive academic programs. The Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Social Development has created branches of eight international universities, a kind of Education City.

University of Qatar

Armed forces- Army, Air Force, Navy. The total number of armed forces is about 15 thousand people.
State religion- Islam. It is practiced by 95% of the population. Most Qataris are followers of the Sunni trend in Islam.
Climate- subtropical.

Nature

In the country big problems with fresh water. Drinking water (and for irrigation) is taken from artesian wells or wells. But most fresh water is produced from sea water by desalination. In the northern regions, where groundwater comes close to the surface or comes out on it, small areas of soils suitable for agriculture have formed.

Only during the period of winter rains does a cover of hard-leaved grasses appear, leaves and flowers bloom on xerophilous shrubs. The deserts of Qatar are characterized by wormwood, camel thorn, kermek, astragalus, acacia, comb (tamarix). In some places, oases are common in conditions of shallow groundwater.

Astragalus

The animal world is poor. Reptiles (lizards, agamas, snakes, roundheads, geckos) and rodents (gerbils, jerboas) predominate. There are jackals, foxes, hyenas, very rarely - gazelles. Birds: large predators (eagles, kites), sparrows, sea gulls, flamingos, herons, geese are found on the coast.

Jerboa

There are arachnids: scorpions, phalanges, spiders. Due to the heat, many animals are nocturnal or only active in the morning.
More than 70 species of commercial fish, crustaceans (including shrimp), mollusks (including pearl mussels), and sponges are found in the waters of the Persian Gulf. There are sea turtles.

Contemporary culture of Qatar

The country has modern means of communication. Own satellite system allows receiving radio and TV programs from abroad, there is an automatic system of international telex communication. There are 12 radio stations and 1 television station (Qatar Television Service). The Internet service has about 70 thousand users.
Several daily and weekly newspapers are published, mostly in Arabic.

Days of Qatari Culture in Minsk

Women in Qatar feel much freer than their neighbors Arab countries– they are allowed to drive a car, to engage in state social activities.

Tourism

The best time to visit Qatar is September-January and March-May. Equipped with sandy beaches. On many beaches, the pools are interconnected, equipped with water slides. The Persian Gulf is considered an excellent place for diving. One of the most popular activities offered to tourists in Qatar is a safari.

Safari in Qatar

The safari here is more extreme and resembles a rollercoaster ride. After the race, tourists are waiting for a barbecue on the shores of the Persian Gulf under the canopy of a picturesque tent.
Doha- the largest commercial center, the capital of the country. Here is one of the most beautiful promenades in the region - the Corniche.

Architecture in the capital of various styles: oriental, Arabic and modern.
Tourism in Qatar is actively developing. The most interesting is the Desert Safari tour. There is a wonderful opportunity for water sports and scuba diving, parasailing, fishing, dhow cruise (a traditional fishing boat converted for tourism purposes), as well as pearl hunting. For those who are interested in the historical direction, there is the possibility of visiting archaeological sites, forts and museums.

Parasailing

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Qatar

Al Zubara

The walled city of Al-Zubara is located on the shores of the Persian Gulf. It was founded around the ninth century. n. e. and flourished in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. as a center for pearling and trade. The city was founded by merchants from Kuwait, it was connected with trade relations with the countries of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Peninsula and East Asia. In 1811 the city was destroyed and then completely abandoned. The desert covered the ancient city with sand drifts, but under them the ruins of palaces, mosques, streets, fishermen's huts, port and double defensive walls, a canal and cemeteries have been preserved.
At the moment, excavations are carried out only on a small part of the territory of the site, but the discovered finds testify to the development of urban trade and the skill of pearl mining here.

Sights of Qatar

Museum of Islamic Art (Doha)

The museum has a unique design. This is the first museum of its kind in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, having large collection Islamic art, research and library.

"Pearl" of Qatar

It is an artificial island covering almost 4 million m². It is planned to create a residential complex of 31 towers with 4,700 apartments here. The name is figurative - it is assumed that after the completion of the "Pearl" will resemble a string of pearls.

Villaggio Mall (Doha)

A huge shopping center, where the goods of many famous brands of the USA, Great Britain, Italy, etc. are presented. Western countries. Inside the building there is a cinema and even an ice rink.

Golf Club (Doha)

This is one of the first Golf Clubs (18 holes) in the Middle East. It has 8 artificial lakes, 65 giant cacti brought from the deserts of Arizona, over 10,000 green trees and shrubs, numerous limestone formations, and many lush and long fairways to provide a stunning contrast to the desert that surrounds this green golf club.

Khalifa International Tennis Complex (Doha)

Opened in 1992. Contains 27 hard courts. Capacity - 4106 spectators. The center is owned and operated by the Qatar Tennis Federation.

Story

Ancient history

The peninsula, on which modern Qatar is located, was inhabited as early as the III-II millennium BC. e. In ancient Qatar, the Ubaid culture, which came from Mesopotamia, was widespread. The first written mention of the country belongs to the Roman writer Pliny the Elder and refers to the 1st century BC. n. e. Information about Qatar is found in the manuscripts of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. He mentions the tribes inhabiting Qatar, skilled navigators.

Rock paintings in Qatar dated to the 4th century BC. BC e.

In the III millennium BC. e. Qatar was part of the state of Dilmun with its center on the island of Bahrain. Dilmun at that time was a rich and prosperous state. The neighboring kingdom of Magan, presumably located in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bmodern Oman, also had a strong influence on Qatar.
The inhabitants were mainly engaged in the cultivation of grain crops and the smelting of copper, and also traded with the Sumerians, with the ancient city of Akkad, Babylonia and Assyria.
Later, the Phoenicians entrenched themselves on the territory of Qatar, they were soon replaced by the Iranians. Then Qatar for several centuries was part of the empire of Alexander the Great and the state of the Seleucids. Repeatedly, Qatar was conquered by the Iranian Sassanid dynasty, which ruled in the III-VII centuries. in the Near and Middle East.
In the 7th century Qatar becomes an Islamic state within the Arab Caliphate. After the collapse of the Caliphate in the X century. The history of Qatar is connected with Bahrain - at first, Qatar was part of the Qarmatian state ruled from Bahrain, and in the 11th century. it ceased to exist, and Qatar receives the conditions for the formation of a developed state.
Gradually, the country has experienced economic growth associated with the pearl trade to neighboring countries and shrimp fishing. But for a prosperous peninsula, a struggle broke out between the Baghdad Caliphate and Oman, which led to the ruin of the Qatari territories. In 1320, Qatar was captured by the sheikh of the Hormuz state. From the 13th to the 14th centuries The population of Qatar lived under the rule of the emirs of Bahrain. In the 1470s, the country regained de facto independence, but at the same time, Qatar was obliged to pay tribute to the Ottoman Empire.
In the 1510s, Qatar, along with Bahrain, was occupied by the Portuguese, then by the Turks. Qatar, like many other countries in the region, is part of the Ottoman Empire.

English protectorate

Since the 17th century Iran, Turkey, the leaders of various Arab tribes, the rulers of Oman and the Saudis begin to claim the territory of Qatar. Then England and Holland tried to intervene in the struggle for power in the region. The joint Anglo-Persian forces in 1623 removed the Portuguese from Qatar and the Hormuz state, and then from the entire territory of the Persian Gulf. But the Persians were driven out by the Omanis. Oman ruled Qatar during the 17th and 18th centuries.
In 1818-1820. Britain managed to approve a permanent presence in the country. But in the second half of the XIX century. internecine wars began between the rulers of Qatar and Bahrain, Great Britain intervened in the conflict in 1868 and imposed an unequal treaty on Qatar.
In 1871, the Ottoman Empire again conquered Qatar and established a regime here under which the rule was carried out by the Turkish governor (Pasha).
In 1878, Sheikh Kassem bin Mohammed Al Thani came to power. He united the warring tribes and for this he began to be considered the founder of the principality of Qatar.

Pearl in a clam

He ruled until 1913, pursuing a relatively independent policy towards Turkey.

At the beginning of the XX century. The Wahhabist state of Najd began to pose a threat to Qatar, the threat of an invasion of Qatar was only repelled thanks to the help of Great Britain.
In 1913, Great Britain forced the Ottoman Empire to renounce its claims to Qatar. On November 3, 1916, a British protectorate was proclaimed in Qatar. Great Britain not only had military control over Qatar, but also conducted international negotiations on behalf of the country, established external relations and benefited from the mining of sponges and pearls.
Sponges have long been used by humans as household abrasives.

National Liberation Movement

Oil production in Qatar began in 1940. After that, the rise of the national liberation movement began. The protests were attended by the poorest urban strata, small traders and artisans, the poorest part of the tribes, as well as immigrants who arrived in the oil fields. Until 1952, when slavery was officially abolished, slaves also took part in mass demonstrations.
Since 1964, an underground Organization of National Struggle began to operate in Qatar, and in the early 1970s, representatives of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman and the Arabian Gulf appeared in the country. In 1966, a trade union was created in Qatar for the first time.

Independence of Qatar

On April 2, 1970, Qatar receives an interim constitution, and on May 29, 1970, the country's first government was formed. September 1, 1971 Qatar became an independent state. A new friendship treaty was concluded with Great Britain, which spoke of the preservation of "traditional ties" between the two countries.
In 1971, the giant North oil and gas condensate field was discovered. In 1974, oil refining began in the country. The government of the country created the state General Oil Corporation. In 1975, the entire capital of oil producing and oil refining firms in Qatar was bought out by the government of the country.
Since then, the entire internal policy of the state has been carried out by the emir and the ruling dynasty.
In foreign policy, Qatar mainly focuses on cooperation with neighboring states and countries of the Persian region. Qatar has become one of the most "open" and liberal Arab states.

Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani meeting with George Bush

More recently, Qatar was a forgotten country in the Persian Gulf. However, as it turned out, there are very large deposits of oil and gas in Katera, and therefore the country has been actively developing in recent decades, including in terms of tourism. Tourists in Qatar are waiting for a desert safari, Bedouin villages, rich markets, ancient mosques with minarets, camel races, and, of course, excellent long sandy beaches on the Persian Gulf.

Geography of Qatar

Qatar is located on the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. In the south, Qatar borders on 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 is desert. In the south of Qatar there are high hills, and in the north - 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 population of Qatar is Arabic, belonging to the Semitic group of the Afroasian language family.

Religion

More than 77% of the population of Qatar are Muslims (72% are Sunnis, 5% are Shiites). Another 8.5% are Christians.

State structure

According to the current Constitution of 2003, Qatar is an absolute monarchy headed by the Emir of the al-Thani dynasty. By the way, the al-Thani dynasty has been ruling 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 Consultative 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 rainfall is 80 mm. The best time to visit Qatar is from October to May.

Sea in Qatar

Qatar is bordered by the Persian Gulf from all sides except the south. The total coastline is 563 km. The coast in Qatar is sandy with numerous small islands, sandbars and reefs.

Story

People on the territory of modern Qatar lived, according to archaeologists, even 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 began to spread on the territory of modern Qatar, and the country became part of the Arab Caliphate.

At the beginning of the 16th century, Portugal had a great influence in the Persian Gulf, including Qatar. Portuguese merchants buy gold, silver, silk, pearls and horses in the Persian Gulf countries.

In 1783, Qatar fell under the rule of Bahrain, and this continued until 1868. In 1871, Qatar became part of the Ottoman Empire. In 1916, Qatar left the Ottoman Empire, but fell under the protectorate of Great Britain.

Only in 1971 did Qatar gain independence from Great Britain.

Culture of Qatar

Culture and traditions in Qatar were formed under the influence of Islam, and everyday life in this country complies with Sharia norms. There are two main religious holidays in Qatar - Eid al-Fitr, which lasts three days in honor of the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha (we know it as Eid al-Adha). Eid al-Adha is celebrated 70 days after Eid al-Fitra.

Kitchen

The traditional cuisine of Qatar has been heavily influenced by immigrants from Iran and India, and more recently from North Africa.

Many traditional Qatari dishes are based on seafood (especially lobster, crab, shrimp, tuna, and snapper). All meat in Kater is “halal”, i.e. complies with Islamic law.

One of the most popular traditional dishes in Qatar, machbous is a stew 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 (chopped 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, pistachio pudding, bread pudding with nuts and raisins, and cheesecake with cream should be highlighted.

Traditional soft drinks in Qatar are coffee, fruit waters and herbal teas. Coffee inhabitants of this country prefer Arabic flavored 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 decoctions are sold right on the streets in all cities of Qatar.

You can drink alcohol only 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 very many sights in this country. This is due to the geographical position of Qatar, which has many deserts. However, the Top 10 best attractions in Qatar, in our opinion, may include the following:

1. Umm Salal Mohammed Fort
2. Mounds of Umm Salal Ali
3. Doha Weapons Museum
4. Fort at Al Zubar
5. Ancient fortifications in Al-Zubar
6. Fort Al-Waibah
7. Palace of Abdullah bin Mohammed
8. Government Mosque in Doha
9. Al Raqiyat Fort
10. Al Rayyan Mosque

Cities and resorts

The largest cities in Qatar are Doha, Ar Rayyan, Al Wakra, Al Khor and Umm Salal.

As we have already said, Qatar is washed by the Persian Gulf from all sides, except for the south. The total coastline is 563 km. The coast in Qatar is sandy with numerous small islands, sandbars and reefs. You can swim in the sea wherever you want, the main thing is not to leave garbage behind.

The best beaches (i.e. resorts) in Qatar, in our opinion, are as follows:

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, jewelry made of gold, daggers, Dal-la coffee pot, bronze figurines, wooden boxes, henna, Arabic lamps, hookahs, rugs, scrolls with Arabic script, rosaries.

Office Hours

The working week in Qatar runs from Sunday to Thursday. Days off are Friday and Saturday. The official working day starts at 07:00 and ends at 15:30.

(State of Qatar)

General information

Geographical position. Qatar is a state on the Qatar Peninsula, which juts out into the Persian Gulf from the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. The peninsula is about 160 km long and 55 to 80 km wide. In the south it borders on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, but the borders are not demarcated.

Square. The territory of Qatar occupies 11,437 sq. km.

Main cities, administrative divisions. The capital of Qatar is Doha (270 thousand people).

Political system

Qatar is an absolute monarchy. The head of state is the emir.

Relief. The surface of Qatar is a desert plain up to 56 m above sea level, salt marshes, swamps, sands.

Geological structure and minerals. The bowels of the country contain reserves of oil and natural gas.

Precipitation falls up to 125 mm per year. Summer (May to September)

Qatar is very hot, the temperature often exceeds +45°C, and sometimes even reaches +50°C. Humidity is also very high in summer. Inland waters. There are no permanent rivers.

Soils and vegetation. Salt marshes, marshes, areas of sands. Almost no natural vegetation.

Animal world. The poor fauna of Qatar is characterized by rodents, lizards and snakes.

Population and language

The population of the country is about 697 thousand people, it is the most sparsely populated country in the Arab world. Ethnic groups: Arabs - 40%, Pakistanis - 18%, Indians -18%, Iranians -10%. Languages: Arabic (state), English.

Religion Islam -95%.

Brief historical outline

From the middle of the XVIII century. Qatar was already known in the world for its pearl mining, but until the beginning of the 20th century. remained the poorest state in the Persian Gulf. In the middle of the XVIII century. the El-Tgani family rose up and began to rule the country about 100 years later. Until 1915, a Turkish garrison was based in Doha. On the one hand, the Turkish presence elevated the Qatari emirs and strengthened their influence in the region. On the other hand, all the Gulf countries except Qatar were controlled by Britain, and Turkey fought against Britain in the First World War. The expulsion of the Turkish garrison from Doha in 1915 was a timely and wise decision.

In 1916, the Emir of Qatar (as well as the rulers of other countries of the Persian Gulf) signed a Special Agreement under which Britain guaranteed Qatar's security, and Qatar promised not to enter into any relations with other states without the permission of the British government. This agreement was expanded and extended in 1934. The life of the Qataris was hard even before the world pearl market collapsed in 1930. Poverty, hunger, and disease reigned in the country. Therefore, the emir warmly welcomed the oil explorers who appeared in Qatar in early 1930. In 1935, a concession was issued, and the first oil was found in 1939. Due to the outbreak of World War II, commercial oil production began only ten years later.

In 1949, Sheikh Abdullah abdicated in favor of his son Ali, who ruled until 1960. It was during his reign that oil revenues began to be directed to healthcare, education, and road construction. Emir Ali himself was not very interested in business, and the main person in the government of those years was his nephew, the now ruling Emir Khalifa bin Hamad El-Tgani. Ali abdicated in favor of his son Ahmed, who was also not involved in public affairs. Under Emir Ahmed, Khalifa was prime minister. When Britain announced that it would withdraw from the region by the end of 1971, Qatar entered into confederation talks with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Bahrain soon withdrew from the negotiation process, and on September 1, 1971, Qatar declared its independence. Six months later, Khalifa, who had practically ruled the country for 15 years, took the title of emir as a result of a palace coup. Almost the entire royal family approved Ahmed's deposition.

Brief economic essay

The basis of the economy is oil production. Extraction of natural gas. Manufacture of fertilizers, petrochemicals, cement, gas liquefaction. Handicraft industry. Nomadic cattle breeding. Oasis agriculture (date palm, wheat, corn, vegetables). Sea fishing (fish, shrimps, pearling). Exports are mainly oil, oil products.

Monetary unit - rial.

Brief essay culture

Art and architecture. Doha. Qatar National Museum (the buildings that the museum now occupies were part of the complex of the palace of Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed, who ruled from 1913 to 1949); Ethnographical museum.

State of Qatar, in the South West. Asia, on the peninsula of Qatar, is washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf. According to the Arab, historians, the state military and peninsula of Qatar were named after the village of Kadaru, which existed in ancient times on this peninsula. Geographical names of the world ... Geographic Encyclopedia

Disease, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose, throat, stomach, etc.; the affected area usually turns red and discharges pus or mucus. Complete dictionary foreign words that have come into use in Russian. Popov M., 1907. QATAR inflammation ... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

Star Observational data (Epoch J2000.0) Type Single star Right ascension ... Wikipedia

Full name Qatar Sports Club Nicknames Kings Founded 1959 Qatar SC Stadium Capacity ... Wikipedia

The State of Qatar, a state in Southwest Asia, on the Qatar Peninsula. 11 thousand km². population approx. 521 thousand people (1993). The urban population of St. 90% (1990), mostly Arabs. The official language is Arabic. The state religion is Islam. Capital… … Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

QATAR- QATAR, State of Qatar, in the South West. Asia, on the Qatar Peninsula, on the Eastern Arabian Peninsula. Pl. 11 tons km2. Us. 270 t. h. (1982). Capital Doha (c. 200 vol., 1982). Until independence was declared in 1971, British protectorate was the basis of the economy ... ... Demographic Encyclopedic Dictionary

Qatar- a, m. catarrhe m., pol. katar gr. katarrhoos runoff, flow. Inflammation of the mucous membrane of a l. organ, eg. throat, nose, lungs, stomach, etc. ALS 1. The most severe frosts have come here, and I, despite the fact that I have a catarrh, are forced ... ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language

Inflammation of the mucous membrane Dictionary of Russian synonyms. katar n., number of synonyms: 12 blenmetrite (1) ... Synonym dictionary

- (from the Greek katarrheo to drain, expire), an outdated name for inflammation of the mucous membranes, characterized by abundant exudate (serous, purulent, etc.) and its flow over the surface of the mucous membrane ... Modern Encyclopedia

QATAR, a, husband. Inflammation of the mucous membrane of a organ. K. upper respiratory tract. K. stomach (the former name of gastritis). | adj. catarrhal, oh, oh. Dictionary Ozhegov. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 ... Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov

Books

• Qatar in the XXI century: current trends and forecasts of economic development. Monograph, Kasaev Eldar Osmanovich. The monograph by E. O. Kasaev, a specialist in Middle Eastern problems, is the first work in Russian and foreign science that is completely devoted to modern economy Qatar. The author considers...