What is Qatar known for?
Arabian Oryx in the desert. The Oryx is the national animal of Qatar.
Image: Adobe Stock - SELIMBT
Al Jazeera and
Qatar Airways are presumably the most internationally recognized Qatari brands. What is not quite as well known is that Qatar is among the countries with the world's largest stocks of petroleum and natural gas. The country is home to the world's largest single natural gas field (offshore North Dome field).
Common to other Arab countries is the use of dhows (wooden sailing ships), dromedaries (camels), falconry, prayer rugs, the traditional (white) male garb (Dischdascha, Thawb) and the Arabic language and script.
Sand as far as the eye can see. Large mobile dunes surround the Inland Sea of Khor Al-Adaid. Khor Al-Adaid natural reserve is on UNESCO's World Heritage Sites
Tentative List for Qatar.
Qatar is famous for:
The Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar's second largest city, which is part of the Doha metropolitan area. The stadium will host the final game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Image: Shane Smith (Courtesy of Qatar Tourism)
Qatar is known for being one of the richest countries in the world (in terms of GDP per capita at constant prices).
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FIFA World Cup 2022
Qatar is host to the FIFA World Cup 2022.
It is the first World Cup football tournament held in the Arab world. It is the first football world championship to be held at the end of the year rather than in the summer. It will also be the first World Cup where beer sales are banned in the stadiums.
Liquified Natural Gas
Qatar is among the TOP 3 countries with proven natural gas reserves.
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Jeweled Falcon at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar.
Image: Osama Bhutta
Falcons
The falcon is the national bird of Qatar. Nomadic Bedouins introduced the ancient tradition of hunting with hawks and falcons to the people of Qatar, and the art is still passed down from one generation to the next. One can purchase falcons in downtown Doha at falcon souqs or through private dealers.
Camels
Camels, or more precisely dromedaries (lat.: Camelus dromedarius), are ubiquitous on the Arabian Peninsula. The "desert ships" are specially bred and used for camel races and serve as milk and meat supplier. The Qatari tradition of camel races is steeped in history - but today, there are robot riders in the saddle.
The most famous pigeon towers (temporarily closed) in Qatar can be seen at Katara Cultural Village.
Image: Oliver Romo Miranda
Pigeon Towers
The famous Pigeon Towers in Katara Cultural village are a popular photo motif.
Doha Corniche
The Doha Corniche is Qatar's most famous seafront promenade; it stretches for several kilometers along the bay in Doha. The main road connects the central business district with the south of the city and Doha's international airport.
No taxes
There are a small number of countries in the world with zero federal income tax, and Qatar is one of them. It is presumably because the government has a revenue surplus from oil and gas exports. You will need a
Qatar Work Residence Permit for a permanent stay in the country.
Small Country
The small Qatar Peninsula juts north into the Persian Gulf. Qatar, one of the richest countries in the world per capita, is one of the smaller nations in the world (it would fit almost three times into Belgium).
The Pearl
The Pearl is a 400-hectare artificial island about 330 meters off the east coast of the mainland. The artificial islet is located about 20 km north of Doha Airport and about 16 km northeast of the center of Doha's Central Business District.
Al Jassasiya Rock Carvings
Jebel Jassassiyeh is an area of low limestone hills in northeastern Qatar with early petroglyphs, settlements and shards of pottery (15th century).
The carvings in the fossil dunes include geometric shapes, animals, and boat shapes. It is Qatar's most extensive rock art site, with over 900 carvings scattered across more than 580 numbered sites. These rock carvings are similar to those found at the Karnak Temple in Luxor, Egypt.
East-West/West-East -- sculpture by Richard Serra in Qatar's Brouq nature reserve.
Image: Shane Smith - Courtesy of Qatar Tourism
East-West/West-East
The breathtaking sculpture in the Brouq nature reserve on the Zekreet Peninsula spans over a kilometer and comprises four steel plates, each over fourteen meters in height.
To guarantee perfect alignment, Serra examined the topography of the land and enhanced the vast, desolate space in the heart of the desert. The result is spectacular, contemporary and timeless.
The Villaggio Mall is a shopping center located in the Aspire Zone in the western part of Doha, the capital of Qatar. The interior was designed in Italian style, including a 150-meter canal with gondolas.
Image: Jaseem Hamza