For those
of you who are new to Qatar.
A tiny peninsula, with a land area of
only 11,437 square kilometers, that's
juts into the Arabian Gulf, Qatar is
known as the 'Thumb of Arabia'. Only
160 kilometers from its northern tip
to its southern border with Saudi Arabia,
it lies roughly halfway up the western
shores of the Gulf. Much of Qatar lies
at sea level, though some points in
the southwest rise to 50 meters above
sea level. Qatar, surrounded by Sea
on all three sides, has strong historical
and cultural ties to the sea. The pearl
fishery was, for ages, the mainstay
of the economy, with the skill of the
pearl divers creating a legend and earning
universal respect. Today, though pearling
is no longer pursued in such force,
it has left a rich legacy of skills,
stories, music, art and poetry, a source
of much pride and identity for Qatari's
even today.
The pearl fishers went to sea in Arabian
"dhows", the oldest sailing
ship still in use. The dhow is an integral
part of the region's culture, and history
on both the Arabian Gulf and the Indian
Ocean. It was in these magnificent vessels
that precious stones, gold, ivory, oil
and spices were traded with remote lands
and went as far as China. The dhows
retain dominance as the vessel of choice
even today in the fishing and transport
industry and they line the harbor, with
little changes in appearance, with only
the sails frequently changed for the
convenience of latest systems of propulsion.
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From a history and tradition
of tribes, fishermen, and pearl fishers,
Qatar has risen and adapted to a modernized
world. Nonetheless, Qatari's have not
relinquished nor forgotten their roots,
traditions and culture; indeed it is
exactly this rich and honored heritage
that feeds their modern success. They
maintain a unique presence and bring
a strong sense of identity and hospitality
to all their modern dealings
Later, with the discovery of oil and
gas in Qatar, both on and offshore,
Qatar began to develop rapidly and successfully.
Spurring tremendous development, the
Qatari's have taken tremendous steps
in adapting and contributing to modernization
and development of infrastructure needed
to support the Oil and Gas industry.
The pursuit and attainment of high standards
of education, unlimited government support,
and enterprise have driven the people,
and yielded them a prosperity lauded
and admired on a global scale.
Come in
and Explore Qatar with us!! |
