Qatar, a small but affluent nation located on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, is known for its rapid modernization and substantial wealth derived from vast natural gas reserves. The capital city, Doha, is a bustling metropolis characterized by its striking skyline, including landmarks like the Burj Qatar and the Museum of Islamic Art. Despite its size, Qatar plays a significant role in regional and global affairs, thanks to its economic prowess and strategic investments. The country is also recognized for its cultural initiatives, such as the annual Qatar International Food Festival and its ambitious plans to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Balancing traditional Arab heritage with contemporary progress, Qatar is a dynamic and influential player on the world stage.
- The country shares land borders with Saudi Arabia to the south. While the northwest coast is only about 30 km away from the islands of Bahrain.
- The official name of the country is the state of Qatar or Dawlat Qaṭar in Arabic. During the latter part of the Christian era, Qatar was known by the Syriac name ‘Beth Qatraye.’
- Qatar is considered one of the safest countries in the world according to the global peace index.
- The country is one of the four countries to have no trees. The other three are san Marino, Greenland, and Oman.
- The Qataf is the country’s national flower and grows along the country’s coastal line.
- Qatar Airways is the largest passenger and cargo airline on the planet.
- The country has the world’s third-largest natural gas reserves and oil reserves.
- Being one of the biggest oil-producing countries globally, the country has a lot of CO2 emissions. It has an emission of 37.29 tons of carbon emissions per person, which is the highest among all nations.
- Qatar’s biggest exports include petroleum gas ($66.9 billion), crude petroleum ($20.8 billion), refined petroleum ($14.9 billion), nitrogenous fertilizers ($3.42 billion), and ethylene polymers ($2.54 billion), with the majority exported to China ($21.1 billion), India ($17.4 billion), Japan ($12 billion), South Korea ($10.6 billion), and the United Kingdom ($7.5 billion).
- Qatar’s top imports are gas turbines ($2.45 billion), jewellery ($2.37 billion), cars ($2.28 billion), planes, helicopters, and/or spacecraft ($1.04 billion), and broadcasting equipment ($1.04 billion), with the majority coming from the United Arab Emirates ($5.12 billion), China ($4.4 billion), the United States ($3.81 billion), the United Kingdom ($3.08 billion), and India ($2.1 billion).
- Arabian oryx is the national animal of the country. It is also the national animal of some other Arabian countries, which are Jordan, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar.
- The country has absolutely no forest land.
- Qatar is the second fattest country globally, with a percentage of 77.8% of people as obese or overweight.
- Football is considered to be the most popular sport in Qatar. However, they have a local sport as well, which is camel racing.
- Doha or Baladīyat ad Dawḩah is the most populous country in Qatar, with a population of 344,939. It is also considered to be the wealthiest city on the planet.
Quick Facts about Qatar
- CAPITAL CITY: Doha
- POPULATION: 27 lakhs (2022)
- POPULATION RANK: 143st
- LARGEST CITY: Doha
- OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: Arabic
- GDP NOMINAL: $183.807 billion
- GDP RANK: 56th
- CURRENCY: Qatari Riyal
- FOUNDED: 3 September 1971
- FATHER OF THE NATION: Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
- TOTAL AREA: 11,571 km2
- AREA RANK: 164th worldwide
- CONTINENT: Asia
- AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY: 79.98 years
- ARMY STRENGTH: 165,000
- ARMY RANK: 90th
- LITERACY RATE: 93.46%
- PER CAPITA INCOME: $87,661
References
- Wikipedia-Qatar
- Britannica-Qatar
- Arabianaerospace.aero(the largest passenger and cargo airlines)
- Indexmundi.com(highest co2 emission percapita)
- Infoplease.com(fattest country in the world)
- news.com.au(Reason to visit Doha the richest city in the world)