Qatar Facts

Interesting Qatar Facts for Kids

Here are our easy to read Qatar Facts for Kids which were researched by kids and edited by us.

Qatar's Soccer Worldcup in 2022 is still set to take place in this Middle Eastern country. We enjoyed the WorldCup 2010 in winter in South Africa, 2014 in winter in Brazil, 2018 in Russian summer, but then there will be another World Cup in July in 2022 - under the hot desert sun and that will be really different!

So we checked our clever books again to find more fascinating facts about the country on the Arab peninsula for you. Enjoy!

Qatar Facts at a Glance

Here are some interesting Qatar Facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.

• Population: about 2.8 million people live in Qatar (2020)
• Capital City: Doha (Al Dawha in Arabic)
• Language: Arabic
• Literacy: About 97% can read and write.
• Religions: Islam is the official religion. There are mainly Muslims 68%, Christians (mainly Copts) 14%, Hindus 14%, Buddhists 3%
• Currency: 1 Qatari Riyal = 100 fils
• Government: Absolute Monarchy. The country is ruled by the Al Thani family. Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, rules the country since 2013. The Sharia law is followed in Qatar. This is a religious law which partly follows the Islam traditions.
• National Symbols: Qatari flag, Arabian Oryx (national animal). The name 'Qatar' was first used by the Roman writer Pliny the Elder and referred to the inhabitants of the region called Catharra. 
• History: Doha, the capital of Qatar, once was a fishing village, where pearl fishers were looking for their fortunes and also a famous centre for horse and camel breeding. Qatar was a popular stop with traders exploring and shipping goods from India and China. After World War I, Qatar became a British Protectorate in 1916. The country only gained independence from British rule in 1971.

Qatar Geography | Qatar Map

Where is Qatar? Qatar lies in the Middle East and the country is located on the Asian continent. 

Now here is the Map of Qatar in more detail:

The country only shares one short land border with Saudi Arabia that lays to the South of Qatar. The border length is 87 km/ 54 miles. 

Qatar can be reached via land from Saudi Arabia or otherwise via sea and air. 

The national airline is Qatar Airways and is one of the largest airlines in the world. The Qatar Airways logo includes the head of an oryx, the national animal of Qatar. A flight to Doha/Qatar takes roughly 7 hours from London/England, more than 12 hours from New York/USA.

Qatar Facts | Qatar Geography

The country lies on a peninsula in the Persian Gulf. In size Qatar is roughly as big as the US state of Connecticut. Qatar is an emirate, which means it is ruled by the Emir of Qatar.

Qatar is a desert country bordering Saudi Arabia on the Arab peninsula. The country is mostly flat and the landscape is barren and dry. 

There is only limited natural water supply and thus there is not much agriculture or crop farming possible, only 5% of the lands is used for agriculture such as for date palm plantations.

The highest point of Qatar is located in the south of the country. The peak is called Qurayn Abu Al Bawl, also referred to as Tuwayyir al Hamir, and reaches 103 metres/338 feet in hight.

Qatar has a dry desert climate and temperatures can easily reach more than 40°C/ 104°F in summer. Natural hazards include sand storms, dust storms and haze. 

Qatar Economy

Most food produce must be imported into the country and thus the citizens rely on good relationships with nearby countries. Qatar, however, is a very rich country due to its mineral resources such as oil and natural gas. 

Qatar has the third largest natural gas reserves in the world, after Russia and Iran

The main trading partners of Qatar are India, China, Japan, South Korea, the USA and the UAE.

The vast majority of Qatari live in urban areas. The biggest cities in Qatar are: Doha, Ar Rayyan, Umm Salal Muhammad and Al Wakrah.

Qatar Facts | Qatar Attractions

The emirate on the Persian gulf has many attractions for the whole family to visit. Among the most popular are:

• Soul Waif: Visit Doha's main and very picturesque market place

• Take a cruise on a dhow
  

• Take a stroll in Doha's Corniche Park, see below or visit the National Museum of Qatar which is situated in a very futuristic building. 

• The National Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) which is the largest of its kind in the world has been designed by I.M. Pei, the architect who also designed the Louvre Pyramid.

• Other interesting places for families are: Msheireb Enrichment Center with exhibits about the history of Qatar in a floating museum and the 'Kingdom of Aladdin' also called Entertainment City, an amusement park for families
• Go on a desert adventure with camels or join a desert safari. It is also popular to watch a camel race.

Qatar Facts
Qatari - Qatar People

Qatar is country where many foreigners live: Arabs, Pakistani, Indian, Iranian, Nepalis, Filipinos and other expats (workers living in the country only for some years) have made Qatar their home. Only 12% of all people living in Qatar are Qatari! As the expats are mainly men, only about one quarter of the total Qatar population are women!

Oil-rich Qatar is the richest country in the world before Luxemburg, although it is one of the smallest countries in the world. In fact, the people in Qatar are the richest in the world and rich Qatari own property around the world. Many famous buildings in London/England such as The Shard and Harrods are owned at least in part by Qatari citizens! About 14% of the Qatari are millionaires (in dollars).

The country has been dominated by the Al Thani family for more than 150 years. In 1999, women were allowed to stand for and vote for the first time in municipal elections.

The Qatari people are mainly Muslims and the Sharia law is written law in the constitution. This strict law allows for stoning and whipping as legal punishment for misbehaviour such as drinking alcohols and criminal activities such as robbery.

The Qatari dress modestly, and this is also asked from tourists. So women need to cover their skin and should not miniskirts, leggins or sleeveless tops and dresses and men should not wear shorts and sleeveless t-shirts.

Arabic is the predominant language in Qatar. English is the second most spoken language in the country.

The most popular sports in the country are soccer, handball and tennis.

Qatar Facts | Living in Qatar 

Qatar is a muslim country and thus has a different working week than we in the western countries know it. The work week in Qatar runs from Sundays to Thursdays, as the shops are usually closed on Fridays and Saturdays. Shops are usually open in the morning until noon and then close for a long lunch break and only open in the late afternoon again.

Below on the picture you can see the Corniche Walkway in Doha, where many families go for a stroll on the weekends. There is lots of entertainment for kids in Corniche Park too.

Did you know that the news agency Al-Jazeera has its headquarter in Doha?

Qatar Facts | Qatari Food

As the population of Qatar is multicultural, one can notice the influence of the Indian food traditions and of the Iranian, Mediterranean and Northen African cuisine in the Qatari dishes.

Popular Qatari food includes:

• Machboos: spiced rice with meat or seafood. This typical Arabian dish is also often referred to as Kabsa
• Ghuzi: roasted lamb with spiced rice
• Umm Ali: bread pudding made with custard and nuts
• Luquaimat: sweet syrupy fried dough balls - typically eaten during Ramadan

Qatar Facts | Soccer World Cup 2022

In 2010, Qatar won the bid to host the 2022 Soccer World Cup. Qatar will be the first Arab country to host FIFA's Soccer World Cup. The country intends to build nine new stadiums for this mega sports event. 

As corruption accusations are currently investigated and the gulf crisis is casting a huge shadow on the country, it still is not certain if the event will go ahead or might be cancelled should the accusations be proven to be correct. But for now all building projects are going ahead in the country. See what is planned for the big event:

Lusail City: A new city called Lusail City will be built in the sandy dunes close to the Northern suburbs of Doha. The name "lusail" comes from a desert flower. This city will be build for 200,000 people who will live and work there and there will be 8.5 km long shopping arcade, golf courses, housing, marinas, a new stadium and even a zoo with giraffes! There will be futuristic buildings which are cooled by solar power.

New roads and infrastructure: There will be a new causeway be build to link the neighboring Arab state of Bahrain with Qatar. And the German railway company (Deutsche Bahn) are already building a new railway system in the capital Doha which altogether stretches to 320km of railway lines.

New Airport and SeaPort: The new international airport in Doha will cost 11 billion US Dollars. A new deepsea port will be added to the Qatar infrastructure too.

New Hotels: Many new hotels need to be build to house the many visitors for the Worldcup. There are at least 5,000 more hotel rooms needed. Alcohol is only allowed to be consumed in some five-star hotels and it is planned to allow alcoholic drinks in special 'fan-zones' for the 2022 Worldcup.

Qatar Facts | Qatar Gulf Crisis

The Gulf Crisis involving Qatar has led to closed borders between Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

This causes many problems for the citizens as the closure brought food transports via lorries from Saudia Arabia to a standstill. Many Qatari also usually went for shopping trips into neighbouring Saudi Arabia, as the prices there are cheaper than in Qatar. This is not possible anymore for the poorer Qatar people.

Also materials for the building of Worldcup stadiums and infrastructure projects are imported to a major part from Saudi Arabia. Shortages and delays are forecasted.

Qatari citizens who lived in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, had to leave these countries and people from these countries as well as from Egypt, Yemen, the Maldives and Libya have been expected to leave Qatar. Travel and flight bans are in place since. Read more about the effects of the gulf crisis here.

Picture Credits for Qatar Facts: Shutterstock: Doha night skyline and Museum of Islamic Art by Hasan Zaidi and Lugsail City by Satheesh Madh - Clipboard: 1. Doha by Kaleff at sxc, 2.Falconry by Jan Smith, 3. Doha by Vobios 

Qatar Facts
Recommended Reading

• Central Intelligence Agency. "Qatar." CIA World Fact Book. Updated 17 March 2020. Last accessed 16 April 2020
• Qatar PSA. "Monthly Figures on Population." Planning and Statistics Authority. Last accessed 16 April 2020
• John Moen. "Map/Geography of Qatar". WorldAtlas. Last accessed 16 April 2020
• BBC News. "Qatar Country Profile." BBC. 3 Dezember 2018. Last accessed 16 April 2020
• Brandon Griggs. "2022 World Cup city rises in the desert." CNN Business. 19 August 2014. Last accessed 16 April 2020
• Lusail City. "Lusail City - A City with a Vision." Lusail Real Estate Development Company. Last accessed 16 April 2020.
• Al Jazeera News. "Qatar Blockade: Five Things to know about the Golf Crisis." Al Jazeera. 5 June 2019. Last accessed 16 April 2020
• Burton, James. "The Richest Countries In The World." WorldAtlas. 7 January 2020. Last accessed 16 April 2020
  
• Qatar National Tourism Council. "Qatar's Cuisine." Visit Qatar. Last accessed 16 April 2020
• Qatar Museums. "National Museum of Qatar". Qatar Museums. Last accessed 17 April 2020

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