History of Qatar
Oryx in Qatar
The Arabian Oryx Is the national animal of Qatar. It is also the logo of Qatar Airways and was the official mascot of the 2006 Asian Games held in Qatar. The mascot was aptly named Orry.
The Arabian Oryx, or Oryx leucoryx is one of four species of antelope that thrives in the harsh desert environment, where temperatures can reach up to 50ºC in the summers.
It has a bright white coat that reflects the sun's rays, keeping it relatively cool and has broad hooves with a large surface area, allowing it to walk with relative ease on the sand.
Flag of Qatar
The meaning of Qatar’s flag is: the white color reflects the internationally recognized symbol of peace.
The maroon color symbolizes blood shed during the several wars Qatar had undergone, particularly in the second half of the 19th century.
The nine-point serrated line indicates that Qatar is the 9th member of the "reconciled Emirates" of the Persian Gulf in the wake of concluding the Qatari-British treaty in 1916. The flag was officially adopted on July 9, 1971.
The history
Qatar (pronounced KAH-ter) occupies a small peninsula that extends into the Persian Gulf from the east side of the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia is to the west and the United Arab Emirates to the south. The country is mainly barren.
Government
Constitutional monarch
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. In 1893, the Ottoman Turks made incursions into Qatar, but the emir successfully deflected them. In 1916, the emir agreed to allow Qatar to become a British protectorate.
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. Its people have one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. In 1971, Qatar was to join the other emirates of the Trucial Coast to become part of the United Arab Emirates. But both Qatar and Bahrain decided against the merger and instead formed independent nations.
Qatar permitted the international forces to use Qatar as a base during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. A border dispute erupted with Saudi Arabia that was settled in Dec. 1992. A territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands remains unresolved, however. In 1994, Qatar signed a defense pact with the U.S., becoming the third Gulf state to do so.
Qatar on the map
Qatar officially the State of Qatar, is a country located in Western Asia and the richest country in the World. It's lies on the Persian Gulf in eastern Arabia, north of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Curreny in Qatar
As for notes in Qatar, the Qatari riyal has bill denominations of one, five, 10, 50, 100, and 500 riyals. Coins, however, are hardly used in Qatar. No cash in hand, no worries. Almost every shop has a card machine available. In case you do need cash/ATM, look for the following brands:
QNB @qnbgroup -
Barwa Bank @barwabankqatar -
Qatar Islamic Bank @qibgroup