OVERVIEW

Qatar is a progressive and beautiful nation in the Arabian Gulf. There is a very large expatriate community in Qatar and the Qatari government and its people take every opportunity to make them feel at home. Qatar allows the different communities the right to open their own schools, cater to their communal taste in cuisine and fashion, and celebrate their national festivals, while also welcoming them to participate in Qatari culture. As a result, Qatar has a vibrant, peaceful and friendly multi-cultural community that provides the ideal setting for the whole family. Qatar offers everyone the chance to live, learn, work and socialize with people from cultures they might never have otherwise known.

The capital city of Doha is a modern metropolis and business centre, with all the amenities and conveniences one would expect to find in large North American cities, disguised as a seaside resort. In Doha you can explore museums, souqs (markets) and shopping malls, or stroll on the lovely Corniche; go outside on safaris into the desert and enjoy a sunset barbecue or swim in Qatar’s waters that, even in February, are as warm and inviting as its people.

GEOGRAPHY

The State of Qatar is a sovereign and independent state that has been ruled by the Al Thani family since the 19th century. A peninsula jutting out from the west coast of the Arabian Gulf, together with a number of islands and reefs, the country covers a land area of approximately 11,532 square kilometers with a coastline of 700 km. The country is centrally placed among the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which groups it with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Much of the peninsula is flat and lies at or below sea level. The time difference in Qatar is GMT + three hours. 

CLIMATE

Qatar has a moderate desert climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Rainfall is scarce (an average of 70mm annually), falling on isolated days mainly between October and March. Winter nights are cool and temperatures seldom drop below 20°C while in the summer they can soar above 45°C, with humidity in excess of 80 per cent.

POPULATION

According to the Qatar Information Exchange, the total population of Qatar as of April 30, 2010 was estimated at over 1.6 million, which includes a sizeable expatriate community (Qatar nationals make up approximately only 30 per cent of the population). Some 80 per cent of the population lives in the capital, Doha. There are approximately 1,500 Canadian residents in Qatar.

HISTORY

Evidence of early civilization in Qatar stretches back several thousand years, with pottery shards dating from around BC 2500 having been found at more than one location. In modern terms, Qatar gained independence in September 1971, having had a protection treaty with Britain since the early part of this century.

LANGUAGE AND RELIGION

Arabic is the official language of the country, and English is widely understood and spoken. All official documents (such as visa and residence permit applications, car registration, etc.) must be completed in Arabic. Islam is the official religion of the country, and Shari'a (Islamic Law) is the principal source of legislation. The majority of expatriates in the country are also Muslim. 

ECONOMY

Qatar has one of the fastest developing economies in the world with oil, gas, and petrochemicals forming the backbone of the State's economy. Oil was discovered in Qatar in the 1930’s and first exported in 1949. Qatar is fortunate in having both oil reserves and the world's third largest natural gas reserves a, which make it a major player in global petrochemical markets.

EDUCATION

Qatar places great emphasis on the importance of education, offering females and males equal opportunities. In recent years there have been an increasing number of facilities opened to offer adult education. There are a large number of schools following a wide range of curricula, catering to many different communities (Canadian, American, British, French, etc.) and covering all age ranges. The choice of privately run nurseries, pre-schools, and kindergartens for toddlers and young children is vast.

Post-secondary facilities are also developing rapidly. There are approximately 1,800 students enrolled for the 2010-2011 Academic Year at CNA-Q, reflecting an increase of six per cent over 2009 enrollment figures. All staff are Canadian hires.

BANKING AND CURRENCY

There are several banks in Qatar offering retail banking operations. The unit of currency is the Qatar Riyal (QR) which has an exchange rate against the Canadian dollar of approximately 3:1. The US dollar is widely accepted in the country, as are major credit and debit cards.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Qatar is an Islamic state and, as a courtesy, visitors should dress modestly. There are stiff fines for consuming alcohol other than on licensed premises, or at home. Drinking and driving is a serious offence, and the country applies a zero-tolerance attitude to drugs.

Visitors should be particularly conscious of their dress code when visiting any of the large shopping malls, souqs or other areas frequented by mixed nationalities. Women should avoid wearing sleeveless dresses, shorts or sheer fabrics. Men should avoid vest-type t-shirts and brief shorts. It is considered particularly important to dress modestly during the Holy Fasting Month of Ramadan. Public displays of affection between men and women are discouraged.

ELECTRICITY

The main electricity in Qatar is 220-240v. If you are visiting from a country that has 110v supply, you should check the suitability of your electrical appliances before plugging them in. Adapters may be purchased in North America or in Qatar.

SHOPPING

No visit to this country would be complete without a tour of the souqs. Directly translated into English as "market", the word souq actually means a collection of shops, indoors or outdoors. Doha is also home to several huge shopping complexes. The City Centre-Doha is the largest retail and entertainment development in the Middle East. It offers top international and regional brands covering a wide range of products in a five-floor complex of more than 350 shops.  

SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Many sports and recreational activities are available: golf, soccer, sailing, camping, car racing, tennis, marine sports, desert trekking, badminton, bowling, horse racing and equestrian events, ice skating and ice hockey, Karate/Tae Kwon Do, rugby, camel racing, arts and crafts, theatre, and much more.

Sport has always played a pivotal role in the social lives of Qatar's residents and, with an amazing number of prestigious international sports events hosted there in recent years, attracting the world's top athletes and much media attention. The country has gained a reputation as the sports capital of the region.

In fact, Qatar won the bid to host the 2006 Asian Olympic Games, which they held in the capital city of Doha. Qatar was the first Arab country, and the second country in West Asia, to hold the games. They have also bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games