What Is Qatar Known For?

Qatar

Until the 2022 FIFA World Cup winning bid was announced back in December 2010, it would be fair to say that many people in the west didn’t know too much about Qatar. 

Now though, the tiny desert nation is very firmly on the world map, with much more to come.

Qatar borders Saudi Arabia, along with the Persian Gulf, and the Gulf of Bahrain. According to Worldometer, Qatar’s population currently stands at around 2,952,137. This shows a dramatic rise over the last couple of decades.

The population in 2001 stood at 615,012 but has grown largely due to a huge influx of foreigners to increase the workforce. This has allowed the infrastructure in Qatar to grow, and incredible developments in Doha and other cities to come about.

There are some amazing facts about Qatar and a lot to interest tourists or anyone interested in different cultures and environments. 

What is Qatar known for?

It is known for importing a huge workforce in recent years. Around 85% of the total workforce in Qatar is foreign and largely male. This is because Qatar has grown in many ways, and is a very urban country.

More people live in cities in Qatar than in any other country. In total, 99% of the country’s population lives in Doha, Dukhan, Lusail, and other cities.

Another thing that Qatar is famous for is its fossil fuel reserves. If you made a list of facts about Qatar, it would have to include it being the biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas.

Qatar exports huge amounts of gas and oil and is also home to the third-largest reserves of natural gas. The two biggest reserves are owned by Russia and Iran.

However, despite some concerns about greenhouse gas emissions, Qatar is also determined to develop renewable energy sources. The nation has pledged $30 billion to be invested in renewable energy by 2030. 

What else is Qatar known for?

If you are interested in understanding more about Qatar, where you can visit as a tourist, what is happening, and other details, then carry on reading below.

This small Arab nation has a lot to recommend it for tourism, and it may be that 2022 sees a big surge in that area. There were just over 2.1 million visitors to Qatar in 2019 before the pandemic struck.

2022 though not only brings back a sense of normality with travel restrictions lifted, but a major attraction to the nation. 

Qatar is hosting the World Cup

Not a secret at all, but in 2022, Qatar will host the biggest sporting event on the planet. As Qatar continues to expand its tourism programme, it will be given a huge boost after the damage that the pandemic has caused.

The football-loving nation of Qatar hopes to attract 1.2 million people just for the World Cup. When you remember that 2.1 million people visited the country in the whole of 2019, this could mean Qatar becoming much more well known for its hospitality, and many places to visit.

Qatar will benefit greatly from being televised across the world, and its newly built state-of-the-art stadiums will host the greatest football nations on the planet. 

There is a lot of sand in Qatar

No, really, there is a lot of sand in the country. Qatar is one of only a few places where the sea enters the desert. The Khor Al Adaid encroaches far into the desert creating a vast natural reserve full of marine life nearby desert sand dunes.

Qatar is also one of only a handful of places where you can witness one of the world’s rare singing sand dunes. There are believed to only be 30 singing sand dunes in the world, and this country has one. The strange sounds are made from air being compressed between millions of grains of sands during avalanches.

Camping trips and camel rides await any visitor to the desert, and this may be one of the best places to visit in Qatar as a tourist. 

Qatar is known for very tall, modern towers

The tallest tower in Qatar is the Dubai Towers situated in Doha. Or at least it will be when it is completed. Construction is scheduled to finish in 2023 when the tower will officially reach 400 meters.

This may be some way off the record-holding Burj Khalifa, but Qatar isn’t only home to one tower. A visit to this nation will quickly reveal a nation that loves these intricately designed modern structures.

Some other notable towers include the Torch, which is currently the tallest building in the country, as well as the Burj Doha Tower, The Palm 1 and 2 towers, and the impressive Al Fardan Residences.

For lovers of more traditional buildings, a trip to the Barzan Towers may prove fruitful. This is a favorite location for tourists to visit, and there is some interesting architecture involved.

It is recognised as a peaceful nation

The World Population Review placed Qatar at 29 of the happiest countries in the world. This puts the tiny country above Spain, Italy, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore.

Apart from interventions against ISIL, and necessary involvement in the Gulf War, Qatar has largely avoided conflict for a century or more.

There is also a very low crime rate in the country. Compared to western industrialized nations, Qatar is extremely safe, and although petty crime may occur, tourists are very safe. 

Random facts and details about Qatar 

The cuisine in Qatar is traditionally Arabic

Visitors will find that breakfast may consist of yoghurt, olives, and cheese, as well as strong coffee.

If you are blessed enough to be somewhere serving ghuzi then you are in for a treat. Rice, vegetables, and nuts are used to create a tasty bed for a whole roast lamb. This dish is not for every day and is something of an extravagance.

Lovers of desserts, and those with a sweet tooth, will find they are well catered for in Qatar too. Cheesecake with cream, bread pudding with raisins and nuts, and mahalabiya which features pistachios and rose water, are all popular desserts in Qatar. 

The country is very flat

Perhaps one of the reasons that Qataris seem to love building tall towers, is because the country is the second flattest in the world after the Maldives. The highest elevation in Qatar is just over 330 feet.  

It has a great national airline

Qatar Airways was voted the World’s Best Airline in 2021. This is the sixth time the airline has received this award, and it is just one of a host of accolades it has taken over the years.

If you are travelling to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup, or other tourism reasons, choosing the national airline may be the best choice. You could start your trip by enjoying Qatari hospitality straight away on this airline. 

Summary

There are a hundred more interesting facts about Qatar that won’t fit into this article. It is safe to say that millions of people will be discovering for themselves what makes this tiny Arab nation prosper in 2022.

Hosting the football World Cup in Qatar will allow many people to discover a totally different country from what they are used to.

This will put Qatar on the map for how peaceful and friendly the country is, and not just being famous for having oil and gas.