Qatar: A Land of Rich History and Remarkable Transformation

Qatar is a country that is small in geography but is becoming a major power and center of attention of the world. An independent sovereign state in West Asia, world's third largest oil and gas producer.

Leading the world in terms of wealth and per capita income. As the most advanced Arab country in terms of human progress, Qatar is one of the major powers in the Arab world. Also enjoys great influence among the nations of the world. Qatar is an Islamic country that follows Sharia law and customs ruled by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, youngest and one of the most powerful ruler in the world.

Situated on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Gulf, Qatar is about 200 km long and 100 km wide. The land area is 11,581 sq km. There are also several small islands. The country's only land border is southern Saudi Arabia. The maritime border is shared with Bahrain, the UAE and Iran.

Qatar has a mild climate with mild summers and mild winters. The highest point in the country is the Qurayn Abu al Bawl with an altitude of 338 feet above sea level. It is located at the south of the peninsula in Dukhan which is also the main oil deposit in the country. Dukhan is home to the North Field, which is one of the world's largest oil fields which covers an area of ​​6,000 square kilometers, about half of the country's land area.

The terrestrial forests are home to small mammals and a variety of reptiles. Migratory birds also flock to the coast of Qatar during the winter and spring. Plans are afoot to plant more trees and plants across the country to protect the environment.

Qatar pays a lot of attention to passing on its cultural heritage to the next generation. The Qatar Museum has gained worldwide attention for preserving the country's cultural, heritage and historical relics. Qatar ha salso shown strong commitment to UNESCO with active participation in UNESCO’s events and activities.

Doha is the capital city of the State of Qatar. About 82 percent of the population in Qatar are made up of expatriates. Islam is the official religion. Arabic is the official language and the currency is the Qatari Riyal. The color of the national flag is maroon and white. The flag has a broad vertical white stripe in maroon. Maroon and white are separated by 9-point stripes. The national emblem features the founder’s sword, palm trees, sea and the traditional boat in the maroon colour.

Qatar celebrates its National Day on the 18th of December each year to commemorate the country's unification in 1878. National Sports Day is celebrated on the second Tuesday in February every year. The national bird is the falcon. The national animal is the Arabian Oryx. Qataf is the national flower. The national tree is the Sidra, which is considered a symbol of heritage.

The national anthem of Qatar is As-Salam al-Amiri, which means ‘Peace to the Amir'. It was adopted on December 7, 1996, when His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani became the ruler of Qatar. The National Anthem of Qatar was written by Sheikh Mubarak bin Saïf al-Thani and composed by Abdul Aziz Nasser Obaidan.