Historical and Cultural Facts about Qatar

Qatar! I would describe it as the ‘Land of Mystic Beauty’. And, may we not forget, ‘Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder’.

May it be the rumbling waves roaring on the shore, the cultural performances by entertaining artistes, the artistic work of artisans or just the view of high soaring buildings at the sea line.

Qatar has it all and many of such reasons are why every heart is proud to belong to this land.

We bring to you some facets which define the History and Culture of Qatar and shall make you much more proud of this noble land:

• Qatar was once controlled by the sheikhs of Bahrain, but in 1867, war broke out between the people and their absentee rulers. To keep the peace in the Persian Gulf, the British installed Muhammad ibn Thani al-Thani, head of a leading Qatari family, as the region’s ruler.
• Qatar permitted the international forces to use Qatar as a base during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
• Qatar introduced its first constitution on June 9, 2005. It guarantees freedom of expression, assembly, and religion and calls for a 45-seat parliament.
• The Qatar Flag has always been predominant and forms the identity of Qatar. Here's the description about the flag and the colours chosen to comprise it: The colour Maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side are a part of the Qatari flag. Maroon represents the blood shed in Qatari wars, white stands for peace. The nine-pointed serrated edge signifies Qatar as the ninth member of the "reconciled emirates" in the wake of the Qatari-British treaty of 1916. May the flag of Qatar always be held high!

• Oil was discovered in the 1940s, bringing wealth to the country in the 1950s and 1960s. About 85% of Qatar’s income from exports comes from oil.
• About 40% of the population are Arabs, 18% are Pakistanis, 18% are Indians, 10% Iranians, and 14% from other ethnic backgrounds. The indigenous population (about 100,000) descends from Bedouin tribes that migrated to Qatar during the 1700s.
• When in Doha, dress modestly as a sign of respect to local customs and culture. Both women and men should refrain from wearing clothes that go above their knees and women should preferably cover their arms. The style of dress in Qatar is more western than conservative. However, items that bear too much skin, such as short skirts, are looked down upon.
• Football/soccer is one of Qatar’s most popular sports. You can catch a game at most times during the year or visit the many stadiums, which are interesting to explore on their own as well.
• Karak tea is one of the most popular beverages among local and expatriate residents alike in Qatar. A number of eateries serve this delicious, milky tea, which is infused with cardamom and ginger in some places.

Do you any other facts and features of Qatar? Share your thoughts in the comments below.