INTRODUCTION
 Qatar
is a peninsula, just northward into the Arabian Gulf with sea borders
except its South where it shares a border with Saudi Arabia. Since
ancient times, Qatar’s strategic location has earned it a
reputation of being one of the foremost business centres in the
Middle East. Its area covers 11,437 square Kilometres. The country
has a number of islands, such as Halul, Shira'aw, Al-Ishat, Saflia
and Alia. Most of the country is covered with rocky flat surface
and some limestone outcrops in Dukhan area in the west and Fuwairit
area in the north. The surface is full with characteristic depressions
called Rawdat, particularly in the north and central plants
HISTORY
Qatari history can be traced as far back as 50,000
years, when people of the Stone Age built coastal encampments, settlements,
and sites for working flint. Archeaologists have found evidence
of pottery from the Al Ubaid culture of Mesopotamia and northern
Arabia (ca. 5000 B.C.), rock carvings, burial mounds, and a large
town that dates from about 500 B.C. at Wusail, some twenty kilometers
north of Doha. The Dilmun civilization (ca. 4000 to 2000 B.C.) also
had an influence on Qatari culture.
 In
the 5th century BC the Greek historian Herodotus referred to the
seafaring Canaanites as the original inhabitants of Qatar. Further,
the geographer Ptolemy showed in his map of the Arab World "Qatara"
as believed to refer to the Qatari town of "Zubara", which
has acquired the fame of being one of the most important trading
ports in the Gulf region at the time.
Under the Abbasid State during the 8th century
AH (the 14th century AD), Qatar experienced great economic prosperity
as can be gleaned from the inscriptions of (Murwab) Fort on the
western coast of the peninsula, which bears the marks of the Abbasid
architectural style.
For its distinguished strategic location in the
Arabian Gulf, Qatar attracted Arabian tribes especially from Najd
desert. It acquired the fame of being one of the most trading ports
in the Gulf region. This lead to trading prosperity and some of
its locations emerged as fishing centres such as Al-Beda’,
Khor, Wakrah, Al-Zubara which helped in the flourishing of pearl
industry.
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THE PRESENT
 Today
Qatar has developed into a modern oasis and has highly developed
communications, education, health and transportation systems, and
a diversifying economy.
The country boasts of world-class hotels and recreation
clubs, sophisticated shopping malls, large entertainment
 complexes,
and restaurants serving food from around the world. It has extensive
sporting facilities and the country's national teams compete in
international events worldwide. It is also rapidly developing as
a tourist destination as well as a conference center and incentives
destination for international corporations.
Qatar has blossomed into a vibrant and modern
State with a rapidly growing economy and one of the highest per
capita incomes in the world.
For more information about Qatar, please visit
these sites:
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