State of Qatar
City of Doha

Qatar (Arabic: قطر ), officially the State of Qatar (Arabic: دولة قطر transliterated as Dawlat Qatar), is an emirate in the Middle East and Western Asia, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the larger Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south; otherwise the Persian Gulf surrounds the state.

Qatar is divided into ten municipalities (Arabic: baladiyah), also occasionally translated as governorates or provinces: Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwariyah, Al Jumaliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jariyan al Batnah, Ash Shamal, Umm Salal, Mesaieed

The Qatari peninsula juts 100 miles (160 km) into the Persian Gulf from Saudi Arabia and is slightly smaller than Connecticut. Much of the country consists of a low, barren plain, covered with sand. To the southeast lies the spectacular Khor al Adaid ("Inland Sea"), an area of rolling sand dunes surrounding an inlet of the Gulf.

Nearly all Qataris profess Islam. Besides ethnic Arabs, much of the population migrated from various nations to work in the country's oil industry. Arabic serves as the official language. However English as well as many other languages are spoken in Qatar.

Expatriates form the majority of Qatar's residents. The petrochemical industry has attracted people from all around the world. Most of the expatriates come from South Asia and from non-oil-rich Arab nations. Because a large percentage of the expatriates are male, Qatar has the most heavily skewed sex ratio in the world, with 1.88 males per female

Before the discovery of oil the economy of the Qatari region focused on fishing and pearling. After the introduction of the Japanese cultured pearl onto the world market in the 1920s and 1930s, Qatar's pearling industry faltered. However, the discovery of oil reserves, beginning in the 1940s, completely transformed the nation's economy. Now the country has a high standard of living, with many social services offered to its citizens and all the amenities of any modern nation.

The cities and towns in Qatar include Doha, the capital, Al Wakrah, second city, Al Khor, Al Khuwayr, Ar Rayyan, Ar Ru'ays, Dukhan, Ras Laffan, Umm Bab, Umm Sa'id, Umm Salal 'Ali, Umm Salal Muhammad. Over 90 percent of Qatari citizens live in Doha, the capital.

The Dubai Expat Diaries

Latest Posts from: The Dubai Expat Diaries: The Dubai Expat Diaries is an online expatriate journal for expats moving to, living and working in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates

Atlantis Burning - The great fire of 2008, Palm Jumeirah

Some photos sent to us by a reader of the fire today. Dubai was abuzz with the news of a fire breaking out at the famed Atlantis Hotel, which is set to open this month. Sure enough, the smoke was visible from afar from very early in the morning and radio announcers frantic. A couple [...]

Tiger Woods at The Westin Dubai Hotel

Some exclusive photos of TIger Wood’s visit to The Westin Dubai Hotel today to launch his new project with Tatweer… The Tiger Woods Dubai, a member of Tatweer, is a private residential community and resort that will include the world’s first golf course designed by Tiger Woods - Al Ruwaya. More photos can be found here

Things to consider when moving to Dubai for a job

Some great tips from a Director of Human Resources for people considering moving to Dubai to take up a job. The video is from the hotel industry but the information is quite valid for most industries and countries here in the Middle East…watch the short of the long version below. Long version: Short version:

A video to inspire - the power of people in 42 countries with Matt

Watch Matt do this thing - he spent 14 months, visited 42 countries and involved thousands of people around the globe (including Bahrain!) in this effort. Truly inspirational and worth sharing with the world…have a fantastic day! Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Dubai Property Prices expected to plunge by 2010

Experts from Investment Bank Morgan Stanley claim that research indicates the new flood of apartments to hit Dubai may cause prices to plunge by upto 10% by as early as 2010. The National also included this in it’s news report: Dubai property prices have soared 79 per cent since January last year, fuelled by a growing population [...]

What News is making headlines in the State of Qatar and Doha City?
AME Info | Qatar | Latest News

NY-PH/WCMC World Congress gains local endorsement

Qatar: The Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA) recently announced its endorsement of the 1st World Congress on Interventional Therapies for Type 2 Diabetes, which will be hosted by New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center from September 15-16, 2008, at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square. [AMEInfo.com]

Costa Del Sol launches in Pearl Qatar

Qatar: United Development Company has launched the sale of luxury seaview apartments at the 'Costa Del Sol', the second beachfront tower at Viva Bahriya in The Pearl-Qatar. The property is a 19-storey tower with studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, all of which have been designed with a beach or open sea view. [AMEInfo.com]

Qatar sees start of uniform culture

Qatar: Tailoring shops for school uniforms and traditional Qatari garments have been struggling to meet the huge rush for new uniforms as schools open today in Qatar, The Peninsula has reported. Qatar's Ministry of Education last year introduced new uniforms for public schools, which come into effect this academic year. The new school uniforms are also meant to keep traditions intact as boys in the junior and secondary schools wear a thobe with a qatra, the headdress, and eqal, the black headgear, while girls will wear traditional dress that conforms to Islamic customs. [AMEInfo.com]

12,000 fasting muslims have Iftar in QIB's Ramadan tent

Qatar: The blessed holy Ramadan spreads a spiritual atmosphere that is flourished with benevolence, blessings, faith, forgiveness, mercy and kindness; it also encourages all muslims for charity. [AMEInfo.com]

United Development Company offers homeowners Costa Del Sol on Viva Bahriya

Qatar: United Development Company launches today the sale of luxury seaview apartments at the 'Costa Del Sol', the second beachfront tower at Viva Bahriya, one of the most desirable addresses on The Pearl-Qatar. [AMEInfo.com]