Introduction

Qatar, an isolated emirate on the western coast of the Persian Gulf. Occupying a narrow desert peninsula extending northward from the broader Arabian Peninsula, it has been continuously but sparsely populated since prehistoric times. With the emergence of Islam, the region became the focus of the Islamic caliphate; it was later controlled by a number of local and foreign dynasties until it came under the control of the Thānī (Thānī) dynasty in the 19th century. The Aikl Thānī pursued British patronage against rival tribal groups and against the Ottoman Empire—which dominated the country in the late 19th and early 20th centuries—and, in response, the United Kingdom dominated Qatar’s foreign policy until independence in 1971. Subsequently, the kingdom continued to establish strong relations with Western powers as a core pillar of its national security. Qatar has one of the biggest oil and gas reserves in the world and hires a significant number of foreign employees in its development process. Thanks to its oil resources, the country’s citizens enjoy a high standard of life and a well-established social welfare infrastructure.
The capital is the eastern coastal town of Doha (Al-Daw), once a base for pearling and home to most of the country’s inhabitants. Radiating inland from its lovely Corniche or seaside boulevard, Doha combines pre-modern architecture with contemporary office towers, shopping centers and apartment complexes. Qatar’s customs are based on a nomadic history and centuries-old rituals, from hand-woven goods to falconry. However, the population of the nation is urban and maritime, its everyday life is thoroughly industrial, and its rulers have tried to improve civil liberties. The press is among the freest in the country, and while they are conservative and traditional, the Qataris are proud of their respect for the cultures and values of others. As regards the status of the country’s large expatriate population, the ruling emir noted that “in Qatar, security and a decent livelihood have been found.”
Slightly smaller in size than the U.S. state of Connecticut, the Qatar Peninsula is about 100 miles (160 km) from north to south, 50 miles (80 km) from east to west, and is typically rectangular in shape. It is bordered by eastern Saudi Arabia, where the peninsula joins to the mainland, north and west of the United Arab Emirates. Bahrain’s island nation sits about 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Qatar. A territorial dispute with Bahrain was settled in 2001, when the International Court of Justice awarded Bahrain (only off the coast of Qatar) to the Sarawār Islands and granted Qatar jurisdiction over the Janān Island and the destroyed Al-Zubārah fortress (on the Qatari mainland). Qatar also concluded a final boundary demarcation deal with Saudi Arabia that year.
Much of Qatar’s land is flat, low-lying desert, rising from the east to the central limestone plateau. Hills rise to about 130 feet (40 meters) along the western and northern coasts, and Abū al-Bawl Hill (335 feet (103 meters) is the highest point in the country. Sand dunes and salt flats, or sabkhahs, are the major topographical characteristics of the southern and south-eastern sectors. Qatar has more than 350 miles (560 km) of coastline; its boundary with Saudi Arabia is roughly 37 miles (60 km) long. There is no permanent body of fresh water. The soils in Qatar are characterized by a limited amount of organic material and are usually calcareous and agriculturally unproductive. Windblown sand dunes are normal, and the distribution of soil over the rock is light and irregular. Soil salinity is elevated in coastal regions and in agricultural regions where inadequate irrigation regulation has contributed to increased salinity.
The atmosphere is hot and humid from June to September, with temperatures as high as 122 °F (50 °C) during the day. Spring and fall months—April, May, October and November—are temperate, with an average temperature of around 63 °F (17 °C) and winters slightly colder. Precipitation is scarce, with less than three inches (75 mm) falling annually (generally in winter). Vegetation can only be seen in the north, where the irrigated agricultural areas of the country are situated and where desert plants blossom temporarily during the spring rains.