Have you noticed more coverage of Arab states? We have. So we asked writer Omar Shahid to find out more about one of the Middle East’s powerhouse countries: Qatar.
If you’re not an Arabic speaker and you think you can pronounce Qatar, think again. The ‘q’ requires a tricky guttural sound at the back of the throat, sort of between the letters ‘k’ and ‘h’ – not Catarrh (the horrible phlegmy stuff).
Qatar is home to the richest residents in the world, with a GDP per person of $80,000. Interestingly, Qatari locals amount to only one fifth of the population, while the foreigners (many do menial jobs) account for the rest. But what is it that’s so noteworthy about this small state in the Middle East?
Well, first, Qatar’s monarchy have acquired a taste for western outfits: Sainsbury’s, Harrods, Volkswagen, Barclays, Credit Suisse, Santander, Hollywood company Miramax and Malaga football club all belong, or partly belong, to the Qataris.
It’s not just buying stuff that Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, and his royal family do well. They are also good at bidding: they won the bid for the 2022 football world cup (despite allegations of bribery). Many football fans around the world have expressed their dissatisfaction about the soaring temperatures in Qatar during the summer months: Some have said that at 50 degrees, it’ll be too hot to play football. Qatar’s solution: ice-cold air will be blown into the stadiums.
The Gulf state is unlike many of its neighbours. Although the state is run by autocrats, they are actually quite friendly, unlike other Arab autocracies. Furthermore, the family-run government have said they will dismantle the football stadiums after the World Cup and send them to poor countries.
Sheikh Hamad has promised democratic reforms for a decade and has recently announced the first ever parliamentary elections in 2013.
The government are also pluralistic in their views. While they are close allies with the Americans (Britain, Qatar’s former imperial power, are in second place) they also welcome the leaders of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group based in Gaza. The Qatari family have also had a good relationship with Iran and, until the Gaza war in late 2008, were on friendly terms with Israel, too.
News station Al Jazeera distributes throughout the world and is based in Qatar. Al Jazeera, known for its predominantly fair coverage, is arguably the most influential news channel in the world. It is also, perhaps, a bit too ‘fair’ for America. Wadah Khanfar, ex-Al Jazeera director general, has said how America once planned to blow up the HQ of the news channel.
Additionally, Qatar is the largest producer and exporter of natural liquefied gas in the world; it has become rich largely because of its oil resources. The oil money finances an all-encompassing welfare state with many services being either free or heavily subsidised. The Emir and his family have ambitions of becoming a global energy giant.
This country of 1.5 million, despite having the smallest army in the Gulf, has military muscle, as demonstrated in the war in Libya. Qatar provided NATO with cash, fuel, six fighter bombers, field advisers, airlift and diplomacy.
Since becoming independent of Britain in 1971, Qatar has come a long way, spreading its influence far and wide. Since Shaikh Hamad deposed his father, the former ruler, in 1995, the population has trebled and is now one of the richest countries in the region.
The Qatari royal family also “frown” on organised political Islam: the state does not demand the residents to adopt a strict obedience of Islam, according to The Economist. Qatar is modern, and is one of the rising countries in the Middle East. It might actually be worth taking a holiday there.
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