Once a land of pearl divers, Qatar has grown rich from oil and gas.
Before oil was first found in Qatar in 1939, the country lived from the pearl trade.
However, the economy largely collapsed with the advent of Japanese cultured pearls in the 1930s. Qatar lived through difficult years that were etched in the country’s collective memory.
The development of the first oil fields provided a boost from the mid-20th century, and the huge natural gas fields ultimately contributed to the emirate’s current prosperity.
But the state in the Persian Gulf also owes its rapid growth to the millions of workers from South Asia who are present in all areas of daily life, whether in the construction industry, in taxis, in lobbies from hotels or restaurants.
Currently, only one in ten residents of the absolute monarchy has Qatari citizenship.
The emirate is repeatedly criticized for the systematic violation of human rights and the exploitation of migrants. The Government rejects the accusations and carries out reforms.
Even a few months before the start of the World Cup, construction continues everywhere. Visitors can watch Doha literally grow on a daily basis.
The numerous works in this city, which is designed to move around by car, often force taxi drivers to take detours to reach their destination.
Those who like to cover distances on foot can do so in the trendy neighborhoods, such as Mshereib Downtown, in the bazaar or on the promenades of the port along the bay.
Elsewhere, however, visitors often search in vain for trails. Therefore, the longest distances are covered by taxi or subway, whose futuristic design stops are reminiscent of science fiction movie sets.
It is worth seeing the neighborhoods of the artificial island of La Perla, in the north of the capital. In addition to the moorings for yachts of all sizes, nightlife areas, villas and luxurious skyscrapers have been built to attract high-income earners.
The architecture here breaks away from the traditional style, with many neighborhoods resembling various European cities. There is a Venetian-style neighborhood, for example. Numerous stores of well-known sports car brands are reminiscent of the affluent social sector that La Perla aims at.
The small emirate’s compact size is seen by some as an advantage, not just for the World Cup.
Culture, water sports or trips to the desert, “Qatar offers the best of the Middle East in a compact form,” says Berthold Trenkel, director of the tourism authority.
But whoever is looking for bars or pubs here will probably be disappointed. “We’re not known for our nightlife,” says Trenkel. “So if you’re looking for that, Qatar probably isn’t the best destination,” he warns.
Alcoholic drinks are only sold in licensed places in the country, there is nothing in the supermarket. The most likely place to find them is in four or five star hotels.
“We continue to have a very proud population that cares about history and heritage,” highlights the director of tourism.
Visitors sense the Qatari historical consciousness in almost every corner, whether in the National Museum, which is worth seeing, or in the Museum of Islamic Art, which was still undergoing renovations a few months before the start of the World Cup.
Travelers to the country should be aware that “it’s an Islamic culture, it’s a conservative country, and that comes with things like the dress code,” says Trenkel. “You don’t run around in inappropriate clothing,” he clarifies.
A “traffic sign” sign at a water sports provider demonstrates what this means in practice: no bikinis.
One must even be very discreet in public with displays of affection, which in the Islamic world belong to the private sphere.
There are some activities that can be done outside the metropolis, such as water sports, desert safaris or camel rides.
Those who prefer a more meditative approach can kayak through the northern mangroves and enjoy a pleasant tranquility along with the chirping of the biotope’s birds.
A trip to the south of the country promises a bit of adventure, where numerous tour operators offer tours of the desert dunes, either by ATV or ATV.
Tamim Al Kaabi appreciates trips to the desert. Men often camp there at night along with their game birds, like their Bedouin ancestors. “No mobile phones,” Al Kaabi says with a smile.
All travelers arriving in Qatar must download the Ehteraz application on their phones, which allows monitoring of the coronavirus situation.
The current currency in the emirate is the Qatari rial, which is equivalent to 0.28 euros or dollars.
World Cup: The tournament starts on November 20, the final is on December 18. Doha is the central point of the World Cup. The stadium in the city of Al Khor, about 50 kilometers north of Doha, is the furthest. The other seven World Cup stadiums are located in the capital or in directly neighboring cities.
