Doha (Arabic:
الدوحة;, Another name is:Ad-Dawḥah or Ad-Dōḥah), population
400,051 (2005
census). The population in 1986 was 217,294.
Qatar is a peninsula running north into the Persian / Arabian Gulf. Qatar is
bounded in the south by the United Arab Emirates. The territory includes a
number of islands in the coastal waters of the peninsula, the most important of
which is Halul, the storage and export terminal for the offshore oilfields.
Qatar has an area of 11,427 sq km (4412 sq mi). Arabic is the national
official language. English is widely used. The population is almost entirely
Muslim. Most native Qataris belong to the Islamic Wahhabi sect. Qatar is a
member of the UN, Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council and Organization
of the Islamic Conference. Qatar Riyal (QR) = 100 Dirhams. Qatar Time
Difference: GMT + 3
The city, regarded by some as one of Qatar's most beautiful, was founded in
1850 as Al-bida.
The Al Wajbah fortress, in southwestern Doha, was built in 1882 by al Rayyan,
and, in the following year, witnessed the famous battle in which the people of
Qatar, led by Sheikh Qassim, beat the Ottomans.
The city was made capital of the British protectorate of Qatar in 1916, and
remained so when, in 1971, the nation won independence.
The Al Kout fortress, in the center of the city, was built in 1917 by Sheikh
Abdulla Bin Qassim Al-Thani.
Doha oil exportation began in 1949.
Now considered Qatar's most prominent landmark, the Government House opened in
1969.
Doha University opened in 1973.
The National Museum of Qatar opened in 1975, in what was originally, in 1912,
the ruler's palace.
The Al Jazeera Arabic satellite television news channel began broadcasting in
1996, with headquarters and broadcast center in Doha.
The 15th Asian games will take place in Doha in December 2006. Doha is now under
construction preparing for the event. For more information about the Asian Games
visit China-Sport.net, sport team and
information
From William Gilford Palgrave's Qatar, a land surrounded by the Sea - 1862:
“Every village in Qatar is carefully surrounded with a boundary wall, and towers
spread all over surrounding meadows. Castles with small windows are also spread
all over Qatar. These castles are so important, because Qatar is a very wealthy
country, and this wealth needs to be well protected. From where does this wealth
come and what is it comprised of? Actually, Qatar houses are something like
cottages on the doorsteps of a mining site. The mine itself is a resourceful
store…the sea. The sea is a very generous neighbour to all the inhabitants of
Qatar. In addition to the pearls, people of Qatar find their food and nutrition
in it. They spend six months of the year pearl diving, and the other six months
are spent trading and fishing.”
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