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121-413: It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country due to its lush mangrove forest and diverse landscape and ecology. Al Khor Island is located approximately 50 km (31 mi) north of the capital Doha . It is connected to land by a tapered dirt pathway which runs through a number of streams. Spanning an area of 1.67 km (0.64 sq mi) the island lies on the eastern side of

242-573: A carnelian bead were found in the fire pits, suggesting overseas connections. In an excavation done in Al Khor in 1977–78, several Ubaid-period graves were uncovered in what is considered the earliest recorded burial site in the country. One grave contained the cremated remains of a young woman with no grave goods. Eight other graves contained grave goods, including beads made of shell, carnelian, and obsidian. The obsidian most likely originated from Najran in southwest Arabia. The Qatari Peninsula

363-721: A 2010 survey of Doha's coastal waters conducted by the Qatar Statistics Authority , it was found that its maximum depth was 7.5 meters (25 ft) and minimum depth was 2 meters (6 ft 7 in). Furthermore, the waters had an average pH of 7.83, a salinity of 49.0 psu, an average temperature of 22.7 °C and 5.5 mg/L of dissolved oxygen. Doha has a hot desert climate ( Köppen climate classification BWh ) with long, extremely hot summers and short, mild to warm winters. The average high temperatures between May and September surpass 38 °C (100 °F) and often approach 45 °C (113 °F). Humidity

484-538: A Portuguese presence is the 16th-century fort built in Portuguese architectural style in the ruined town of Ruwayda . A map dating to 1563 created by Portuguese cartographer Lázaro Luís depicts Sidade de Catar , making it the earliest depiction of any specific settlement in Qatar. Some historians believe that it refers to Ruwayda, though there remains much ambiguity as to the location's true identity. Gasparo Balbi ,

605-697: A Venetian merchant and traveler, made the first mention of Qatar in a print book in the West. The book, titled Viaggio dell’Indie Orientali Balbi , detailed Balbi's travels travels to the Far East from 1579 to 1588. In it, he mentions a place called 'Barechator', thought to be a corruption of Bar Qatar , or mainland Qatar. The Portuguese focused on creating a commercial empire in Eastern Arabia, and exported gold, silver, silks, cloves, amber, horses and pearls. The population of Al-Hasa submitted voluntarily to

726-731: A coalition against Muhammad bin Khalifa , the ruler of Bahrain. In November, bin Khalifa landed in Al Khor with 500 troops and military support from the governors of Qatif and Al-Hasa. The opposition forces numbered 600 troops and were led by bin Tarif. On 17 November, a decisive battle, which came to be known as the Battle of Fuwayrit , took place between the coalition forces and the Bahraini forces. The coalition forces were defeated after bin Tarif and eighty of his men were killed. After he defeated

847-504: A combined population of 6,000 inhabitants, jointly referring to both towns by the name of 'Katar'. Doha was classified as the eastern section of Katar. The Ottomans held a passive role in Qatar's politics from the 1890s onward until fully relinquishing control during the beginning of the first World War . Pearling had come to play a pivotal commercial role in Doha by the 20th century. The population increased to around 12,000 inhabitants in

968-691: A government official named Abdullah bin Ahmad Al-Khalifa on the coast of Qatar as early as 1833. Turning against the Bahrainis, he instigated the people of Al Huwailah to revolt against the Al Khalifa and open up a correspondence with the Wahhabis in 1835. Shortly after the revolt, a peace agreement was signed by both parties under the mediation of the son of the Sultan of Muscat . As part of

1089-740: A harsh response from the British. A. H. Nott, a British naval commander, demanded that Salemin bin Nasir Al-Suwaidi, chief of the Sudan tribe (Suwaidi) in Al Bidda, take Ghuleta into custody and warned him of consequences in the case of non-compliance. Al-Suwaidi obliged the British request in February 1840 and also arrested the pirate Jasim bin Jabir and his associates. Despite the compliance,

1210-460: A land attack. A 1934 treaty granted more extensive protection. In 1935, a 75-year oil concession was granted to QatarEnergy and high-quality oil was discovered in 1940 in Dukhan . During the 1950s and 1960s, increasing oil revenues brought prosperity, rapid immigration , substantial social progress , and the beginnings of the country's modern history. After Britain announced a policy of ending

1331-607: A native of Bahrain , prompting the Al Khalifa sheikh to imprison him. In response, the Al-Buainain tribe revolted, provoking the Al Khalifa to destroy the tribe's fort and evict them to Fuwayrit and Ar Ru'ays . This incident allowed the Al Khalifa additional jurisdiction over the town. With essentially no effective ruler, Al Bidda and Doha became a sanctuary for pirates and outlaws. In November 1839, an outlaw from Abu Dhabi named Ghuleta took refuge in Al Bidda, evoking

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1452-462: A natural harbor which is about 3 miles in extent and is protected on the north-east and south-east sides by natural reefs. The entrance, less than a mile wide, is from the east between the points of the reefs; it is shallow and somewhat difficult, and vessels of more than 15 feet draught cannot pass. The soundings within the basin vary from 3 to 5 fathoms and are regular: the bottom is white mud or clay. Townsite and quarters, — The south-eastern point of

1573-424: A sheltered bay which is overlooked by the city of Al Khor . The width of the bay ranges from 2.2 to 6.5 km (1.4 to 4.0 mi). It is linked to the open sea by a channel with a width of roughly 750 meters (2,460 ft) on its southern end. It is separated from the city of Al Khor by 420 meters (1,380 ft) of low water. Many mangroves ( Avicennia marina ) are found off its southeast and east coast. There

1694-544: A short period during the mid-to-late seventh century. They were instead subject to the Metropolitan of Fars . Muhammad sent Al-Ala'a Al-Hadrami , a Muslim envoy, to a Persian ruler in Eastern Arabia named Munzir ibn Sawa Al Tamimi in 628 and requested that he and his people accept Islam. Munzir obliged his request, and most Arab tribes in Qatar converted to Islam. It has been proposed by historian Habibur Rahman that Munzir ibn Sawa's seat of administration existed in

1815-404: A significant proportion of slaves brought from East Africa . As punishment for piracy committed by the inhabitants of Doha , an East India Company vessel bombarded the town in 1821. They razed the town, forcing between 300 and 400 natives to flee. A survey carried out by the British in 1825 notes that Qatar did not have a central authority and was governed by local sheikhs. Doha was ruled by

1936-700: A tax. After defeating the Bani Khalid in 1795, the Wahhabi were attacked on two fronts. The Ottomans and Egyptians assaulted the western front, while the Al Khalifa in Bahrain and the Omanis launched an attack against the eastern front. The Wahhabi allied themselves with the Al Jalahmah tribe in Qatar, who engaged the Al Khalifa and Omanis on the eastern frontier. Upon being made aware of advancements by

2057-402: A weed. Herbs such as rabl ( Plantago psyllium ), which is found primarily near roadsides, and shih ( Artemisia inculta ) also occur infrequently. Prosopis juliflora , a type of mesquite tree locally known as ghoweif , is notable for having been the only feature on Palm Tree Island in the past. It was a previously popular tree cultivated around Qatar's urban areas, but this practice

2178-433: Is around one million, with the population of the city more than doubling from 2000 to 2010. The population of Doha is overwhelmingly composed of expatriates , with Qatari nationals forming a minority. The largest portion of expatriates in Qatar are from South-East and South Asian countries, mainly India , Pakistan , Sri Lanka , Nepal , Philippines , and Bangladesh with large numbers of expatriates also coming from

2299-513: Is likely that some settled populations in Qatar did not immediately convert to Islam. Isaac of Nineveh , a 7th-century Syriac Christian bishop regarded as a saint in some churches, was born in Beth Qatraye. Other notable Christian scholars dating to this period who hailed from Beth Qatraye include Dadisho Qatraya , Gabriel of Qatar , Gabriel Arya and Ahob of Qatar. In 674, the bishops of Beth Qatraye stopped attending synods. Qatar

2420-399: Is no potable water on the island but known sources are nearby. The island has numerous limestone outcroppings, the tallest of which is roughly 8.5 meters (28 ft). On the coast there are crumbly and level-surfaced beachrock formations, upon which various sea snail shells were discovered. While the relatively high outcroppings contain traces of man-made structures such as burial mounds,

2541-442: Is now also found on the promontory in coastal and saline places. Common vegetation found in Doha include creeping sorrel ( Oxalis corniculata ) as a turf weed , winter cherry ( Physalis angulata ) as a weed, rye grass ( Lolium rigidum ) in cultivated areas, qurdi ( Ochradenus baccatus ) near roadsides, indigofera ( Indigofera oblongifolia ) near the central market area, curved hard grass ( Parapholis incurva ) near

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2662-548: Is situated two miles inland and has fresh water with it. This could contain two hundred men. There are remaining at Ul Budee about 250 men, but the original inhabitants, who may be expected to return from Bahrein, will augment them to 900 or 1,000 men, and if the Doasir tribe, who frequent the place as divers, again settle in it, from 600 to 800 men. The same year, an agreement known as the General Maritime Treaty

2783-452: Is usually the lowest in May and June. Dewpoints can surpass 30 °C (86 °F) in the summer. Throughout the summer, the city averages almost no precipitation, and less than 20 mm (0.79 in) during other months. Rainfall is scarce, at a total of 75 mm (2.95 in) per year, falling on isolated days mostly between October and March. The winter's days are relativity warm while

2904-542: The Al-Buainain tribe. In 1828, a member of the Al-Buainain murdered a native of Bahrain, prompting the Bahraini sheikh to imprison the offender. The Al-Buainain tribe revolted, provoking the Al Khalifa to destroy their fort and expel them from Doha. The expulsion of the Al-Buainain granted the Al Khalifa more jurisdiction over Doha. Desiring to keep surveillance over the proceedings of the Wahhabis , Bahrain stationed

3025-755: The Arabian Peninsula . Mesopotamia was the first civilization to have a presence in the area during the Neolithic period, evidenced by the discovery of potsherds originating from the Ubaid period near coastal encampments. The peninsula fell under the domain of several different empires during its early years of settlement, including the Seleucid , the Parthians and the Sasanians . In 628 AD,

3146-798: The Aspire Dome . The city was host to the first ministerial-level meeting of the Doha Development Round of World Trade Organization negotiations. It was also selected as host city of several sporting events, including the 2006 Asian Games , the 2011 Pan Arab Games , the 2019 World Beach Games , the FINA World Aquatics Championships , the FIVB Volleyball Club World Championship , the WTA Finals and most of

3267-466: The Battle of Al Wajbah in March 1893. Al Bidda Fort served as the final point of retreat for Ottoman troops. While they were garrisoned in the fort, their corvette fired indiscriminately at the townspeople, killing many civilians. The Ottomans eventually surrendered after Jassim Al Thani's troops cut off the town's water supply. An Ottoman report compiled the same year reported that Al Bidda and Doha had

3388-674: The Dilmun civilization suggests the island was linked with the Bahrain-based civilization from c.  2000 BC to 1750 BC. Ceramics dating to the early Dilmun period consist mainly of medium-sized jars and cooking pots. The settlements dating to the Dilmun period may have been established to expedite trade journeys between Bahrain to the closest significant settlement in the Persian Gulf, Tell Abraq . Another scenario entails that

3509-590: The Levant Arab countries, Djibouti, Somalia , North Africa, and East Asia . Doha is also home to many expatriates from Europe , North America , South Africa and Australia . Arabic is the official language of Qatar. English is commonly used as a second language, and a rising lingua franca , especially in commerce. As there is a large expatriate population in Doha, languages such as Malayalam , Tamil , Bengali , Tagalog , Spanish , Sinhala , French , Urdu and Hindi are widely spoken. In 2004,

3630-681: The Murwab or Umm al-Ma'a area of Qatar. This theory is supported by an archaeological find of approximately 100 small stone-built Islamic-period houses and fortified palaces of a tribal leader in Murwab, which are thought to have originated from the early Islamic period. After the adoption of Islam, the Arabs led the Muslim conquest of Persia which resulted in the fall of the Sasanian Empire. It

3751-725: The Ottomans established a presence in the country with 100 of their troops occupying the Musallam fort in Doha. This was accepted by Mohammad bin Thani's son, Jassim Al Thani , who wished to protect Doha from Saudi incursions. The Ottoman commander, Major Ömer Bey, compiled a report on Al Bidda in January 1872, stating that it was an "administrative centre" with around 1,000 houses and 4,000 inhabitants. Disagreement over tribute and interference in internal affairs arose, eventually leading to

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3872-656: The Persian Gulf . An agreement known as the General Maritime Treaty was signed between the East India Company and the sheikhs of the coastal area (later to be known as the Trucial Coast ) in 1820. It acknowledged British authority in the Persian Gulf and sought to end piracy and the slave trade. Bahrain became a party to the treaty, and it was assumed that Qatar, as a dependency, was also a party to it. A report compiled by Major Colebrook in 1820 gives

3993-687: The Syro-Malabar Church , Malankara Orthodox Church , Mar Thoma Church (affiliated with the Anglicans, but not part of the Communion), CSI Church , Syro-Malankara Church and a Pentecostal church. History of Qatar#British protectorate .281916.E2.80.931971.29 The history of Qatar spans from its first duration of human occupation to its formation as a modern state. Human occupation of Qatar dates back 50,000 years, and Stone Age encampments and tools have been unearthed in

4114-670: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2012. Doha has been named as the second safest city in the world in the Numbeo Crime Index by City 2021. The index tracks safety in 431 cities. According to the Ministry of Municipality and Environment of Qatar , the name "Doha" originated from the Arabic term dohat , meaning "roundness"—a reference to the rounded bays surrounding

4235-612: The Utub clans of Al Jalahma and Al Khalifa migrated from Kuwait to Zubarah in Qatar. By the time of their arrival in Zubarah, the Bani Khalid exercised weak power over Qatar, though the largest village was ruled by a distant kin of the Bani Khalid. After the Persian Occupation of Basra in 1777 many merchants and families moved from Basra and Kuwait to Zubarah. The town became a thriving center of trade and pearling in

4356-638: The 150,000 Christian population in Doha. Following decrees by the Emir for the allocation of land to churches , the first Catholic church, Our Lady of the Rosary , was opened in Doha in March 2008. The church structure is discreet and Christian symbols are not displayed on the outside of the building. Several other churches exist in Doha, including the St.Isaac and St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Qatar, Doha, Qatar St.Isaac and St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Qatar

4477-477: The 1820s. In January 1823, political resident John MacLeod visited Al Bidda to meet with the ruler and initial founder of Doha, Buhur bin Jubrun, who was also the chief of the Al-Buainain tribe. MacLeod noted that Al Bidda was the only substantial trading port in the peninsula during this time. Following the founding of Doha, written records often conflated Al Bidda and Doha due to the extremely close proximity of

4598-476: The 1970s to over 434,000 in 1997. Additionally, land policies resulted in the total land area increasing to over 7,100 hectares (about 17,000 acres) by 1995, an increase from 130 hectares in the middle of the 20th century. In 1983, a hotel and conference center was developed at the north end of the Corniche . The 15-story Sheraton hotel structure in this center would serve as the tallest structure in Doha until

4719-673: The 1990s. In 1993, the Qatar Open became the first major sports event to be hosted in the city. Two years later, Qatar stepped in to host the FIFA World Youth Championship , with all the matches being played in Doha-based stadiums. The Al Jazeera Arabic news channel began broadcasting from Doha in 1996. In the late 1990s, the government planned the construction of Education City , a 2,500 hectare Doha-based complex mainly for educational institutes. Since

4840-511: The Al Khalifa tribe in undisputed possession of Bahrain, who then transferred their power base from Zubarah to Manama . They continued to exert authority over the mainland and paid tribute to the Wahhabi to ward off challenges on Qatar. However, Qatar did not develop a centralized authority because the Al Khalifa sheikhs were primarily concerned with the affairs of Bahrain. As a result, Qatar went through many periods of 'transitory sheikhs', with

4961-471: The Al Khalifa, however, shortly after the swearing-in of a new ruler in Bahrain, bin Tarif grew increasingly suspicious of the ruling Al Khalifa and switched his allegiance to the deposed ruler of Bahrain, Abdullah bin Khalifa , whom he had previously assisted in deposing of. Bin Tarif died in the Battle of Fuwayrit against the ruling family of Bahrain in 1847. The Al Thani family migrated to Doha from Fuwayrit shortly after Bin Tarif's death in 1847 under

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5082-630: The Azariqa, a sub-sect of the Khawarij, into numerous battles. He held the title of Amir al-Mu'minin and ruled over the radical Azariqa movement for more than 10 years. Born in Al Khuwayr in Qatar, he also minted the first known Kharjite coins, the earliest of which dated to 688 or 689. The Umayyad Caliphate brought about much political and religious change in Western Asia starting from

5203-438: The British demanded a fine of 300 German krones in compensation for the damages incurred by pirates off the coast of Al Bidda; namely for the piracies committed by bin Jabir. In February 1841, British naval squadrons arrived in Al Bidda and ordered Al-Suwaidi to meet the British demand, threatening consequences if he declined. Al-Suwaidi ultimately declined on the basis that he was uninvolved in bin Jabir's actions. On 26 February,

5324-524: The British fired on Al Bidda, striking a fort and several houses. Al-Suwaidi then paid the fine in full following threats of further action by the British. Isa bin Tarif , a powerful tribal chief from the Al Bin Ali tribe, moved to Doha in May 1843. He subsequently evicted the ruling Sudan tribe and installed the Al-Maadeed and Al-Kuwari tribes in positions of power. Bin Tarif had been loyal to

5445-410: The British political agent, Colonel Lewis Pelly , to impose a settlement in 1868. Pelly's mission to Bahrain and Qatar and the peace treaty that resulted were milestones in Qatar's history. It implicitly recognized Qatar as a distinct entity independent from Bahrain and explicitly acknowledged the position of Mohammed bin Thani as an important representative of the peninsula's tribes. In December 1871,

5566-560: The Egyptians on the western frontier, in 1811, the Wahhabi amir reduced his garrisons in Bahrain and Zubarah to re-position his troops. Said bin Sultan of Muscat capitalized on this opportunity and attacked the Wahhabi garrisons in Bahrain and Zubarah. The fort in Zubarah was set ablaze, and the Al Khalifa were effectively restored to power. Britain's desire for secure passage for East India Company ships led it to impose its own order in

5687-525: The Emir, Phillip L. Plant, initiated several municipal projects. Starting with remodeling the old complex of the Old Amiri Palace , Plant then initiated the construction of a seaside road about a half-mile in length which opened up and made accessible the half dozen jetties along Doha's most built-up section. The first formal boys' school was established in Doha in 1952, followed three years later by

5808-744: The Foreign Ownership of Real Estate Law was passed, permitting non-Qatari citizens to buy land in designated areas of Doha, including the West Bay Lagoon , the Qatar Pearl , and the new Lusail City . Prior to this, expatriates were prohibited from owning land in Qatar. Ownership by foreigners in Qatar entitles them to a renewable residency permit, which allows them to live and work in Qatar. The majority of residents in Doha are Muslim . A majority of mosques are either Salafi or Sunni -oriented. Catholics account for over 90% of

5929-535: The Parthians were dependent on trade routes through the Persian Gulf, they established garrisons along the coast. Pottery recovered from expeditions in Qatar has demonstrated links to the Parthian Empire. Ras Abrouq , a coastal city north of Dukhan , housed a fishing station which foreign vessels used to dry fish in 140 BC. Several stone structures and large quantities of fish bones were recovered from

6050-439: The Persian Gulf region after this movement. The Al Khalifa claimed Qatar and Bahrain by 1783, whereas Bani Khalid control of neighboring Al-Hasa officially came to an end in 1795. Following Persian aggression towards Zubarah, the Utub, and other Arab tribes drove out the Persians from Bahrain in 1783. Al Jalahma seceded from the Utub alliance sometime before the Utub annexed Bahrain in 1783 and returned to Zubarah. This left

6171-413: The Qatari Peninsula and the occupation of Qatar to capitalize on its coastal resources. From this time onward, Qatar was regularly used as rangeland for nomadic tribes from the Najd and al-Hasa regions in Saudi Arabia , and a number of seasonal encampments were constructed around sources of water. Al Da'asa , a settlement located on the western coast of Qatar, is the most extensive Ubaid site in

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6292-429: The Qatari Peninsula, were sites of revolt against the Abbasid Caliphate around 868. Mohammed ibn Ali, a revolutionary, roused the people of Bahrain and Qatar into a rebellion, but the rebellion was unsuccessful, and he relocated to Basra. He was later successful in instigating the Zanj Rebellion . A radical Isma'ili group called the Qarmatians established a utopian republic in Eastern Arabia in 899. They considered

6413-413: The Trade Facilitation Agreement are expected to be distributed among all countries and regions, with developing landlocked countries benefiting the most. The Trade Facilitation Agreement will enter into force upon its ratification by 2/3 of WTO Members. The EU ratified the agreement in October 2015. In Bali, WTO members also agreed on a series of Doha agriculture and development issues. Now modernizing

6534-406: The Turkish military garrison of 350 men, to about 12,000 souls". He qualified this statement with a tabulated overview of the various tribes and ethnic groups living in the town. In April 1913, the Ottomans agreed to a British request that they withdraw all their troops from Qatar. Ottoman presence in the peninsula ceased, when in August 1915, the Ottoman fort in Al Bidda was evacuated shortly after

6655-432: The area's coastline. The city of Doha was formed seceding from another local settlement known as Al Bidda . The earliest documented mention of Al Bidda was made in 1681 by the Carmelite Convent, in an account that chronicles several settlements in Qatar. In the record, the ruler and a fort in the confines of Al Bidda are alluded to. Carsten Niebuhr , a German explorer who visited the Arabian Peninsula , created one of

6776-407: The bay are quite low but the land on the western side is stony desert 40 or 50 feet above the level of the sea. The town is built up the slope of some rising ground between these two extremes and consists of 9 Fanqs or quarters, which are given below in their order from the east to the west and north: the total frontage of the place upon the sea is nearly 2 miles. Lorimer goes on to list and describe

6897-415: The central area of Al Najada, which also accommodates the highest total population in the country. The population density across the greater Doha region ranges from 20,000 people per km to 25-50 people per km . Doha witnessed explosive growth rates in population in the first decade of the 21st century, absorbing the majority of the thousands of people then immigrating to Qatar every month. Doha's population

7018-445: The city while preserving traditions is part of the country's long-term plan, Qatar National Vision 2030 . Doha is located on the central-east portion of Qatar, bordered by the Persian Gulf on its coast. Its elevation is 10 m (33 ft). Doha is highly urbanized. Land reclamation off the coast has added 400 hectares of land and 30 km of coastline. Half of the 22 km of surface area which Hamad International Airport

7139-486: The closest significant settlement in the Persian Gulf, Tell Abraq . Another scenario entails that the encampments were created by visiting fishermen or pearl fishers from Dilmun. It has also been suggested that the presence of pottery is indicative of trade between the inhabitants of Qatar and the Dilmun civilization, though this is considered unlikely due to the scarce population of the peninsula during this period. Kassite Babylonian -influenced materials dating back to

7260-408: The coast, cat's tail ( Typha domingensis ) near moist areas, oat brome ( Bromus danthoniae ) near the Al Sadd area, and ndeewa ( Cressa cretica ). Flowers of the sacred datura ( Datura innoxia ), crown daisy ( Glebionis coronaria ), wild chamomile ( Matricaria chamomilla ), and glandular speedwell ( Veronica cymbalaria ) have also been observed in rare instances, the latter as

7381-647: The country's capital in 1971, when Qatar gained independence from being a British protectorate . As the commercial capital of Qatar and one of the emergent financial centers in the Middle East , Doha is considered a beta-level global city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network . Metropolitan Doha includes parts of Al Rayyan such as Education City , an area devoted to research and education, and Hamad Medical City , an administrative area of medical care. It also includes Doha Sports City, or Aspire Zone , an international sports destination that includes Khalifa International Stadium , Hamad Aquatic Centre ; and

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7502-416: The country's pearl harvest at half its value. The aftermath of the collapse resulted in the establishment of the country's first custom house in Doha. British administrator and historian J. G. Lorimer authored an extensive handbook for British agents in the Persian Gulf entitled Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf in 1908. In it, he gives a comprehensive account of Doha at the time: Generally so styled at

7623-456: The country. It was excavated by the 1961 Danish team. The site is theorized to have accommodated a small seasonal encampment, possibly a lodging for a hunting-fishing-gathering group who made recurrent visits. This is evidenced by the discovery of nearly sixty fire pits at the site, which may have been used to cure and dry fish, in addition to flint tools such as scrapers, cutters, blades and arrowheads. Furthermore, many painted Ubaid potsherds and

7744-525: The devaluation of pearl trade in the Persian Gulf brought on by the introduction of the cultured pearl and the Great Depression . The collapse of the pearl trade caused a significant population drop throughout the entire country. It was not until the 1950s and 1960s that the country saw significant monetary returns from oil drilling. Qatar was not long in exploiting the new-found wealth from oil concessions, and slum areas were quickly razed to be replaced by more modern buildings. In 1950, British adviser to

7865-409: The development of a 250-hectare sporting complex known as Aspire Zone . During this time, new cultural attractions were constructed in the city, with older ones being restored. In 2006, the government launched a restoration program to preserve Souq Waqif 's architectural and historical identity. Parts constructed after the 1950s were demolished whereas older structures were refurbished. The restoration

7986-530: The districts of Doha, which at the time included the still-existing districts of Al Mirqab , As Salatah , Al Bidda and Rumeilah . Remarking on Doha's appearance, he states: The general appearance of Dohah is unattractive; the lanes are narrow and irregular the houses dingy and small. There are no date palms or other trees, and the only garden is a small one near the fort, kept up by the Turkish garrison. As for Doha's population, Lorimer asserts that "the inhabitants of Dohah are estimated to amount, inclusive of

8107-403: The east of the country, north of Al Wakrah and south of Al Khor and Lusail , it is home to most of the country's population. It is also Qatar's fastest growing city, with over 80% of the nation's population living in Doha or its surrounding suburbs , known collectively as the Doha Metropolitan Area . Doha was founded in the 1820s as an offshoot of Al Bidda . It was officially declared as

8228-466: The encampments were created by visiting fishermen or pearl fishers from Dilmun. It has also been suggested that the presence of pottery is indicative of trade between the inhabitants of Al Khor Island and the Dilmun civilization, though this is considered unlikely due to the scarce population of Qatar during this period. The Kassites operated a purple dye industry on the island from c.  1400 to 1100 BC . There were also trade relations between

8349-402: The end of 1839 or the beginning of 1840, the governor of Al-Hasa dispatched troops to lay waste to Qatar following the refusal of the Al Nuaim tribe of Zubarah to pay the demanded tribute . The assassination of a governor in Hofuf prematurely ended the expedition before the forces could reach the country. In 1847, Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and a Qatari chief named Isa bin Tarif formed

8470-436: The era was discovered in Ras Abrouq . The relatively large number of cairns suggest a sizeable sea-faring community prevailed in the area. After losing most of their territories in the Persian Gulf, Seleucid influence ceased in the area by c.  250 BC . Following the eviction of the Seleucid by the Parthian Empire in c.  250 BC , the latter gained dominion over the Persian Gulf and Arabian coast. As

8591-521: The establishment of a girls' school. Historically, Doha had been a commercial port of local significance. However, the shallow water of the bay prevented bigger ships from entering the port until the 1970s, when its deep-water port was completed. Further changes followed with extensive land reclamation, which led to the development of the crescent-shaped bay. From the 1950s to 1970s, the population of Doha grew from around 14,000 inhabitants to over 83,000, with foreign immigrants constituting about two-thirds of

8712-478: The first descriptions of the major towns in Qatar. All of the coastal cities mentioned in his report were situated near the Persian Gulf pearl banks and had been practicing pearl fishing for millenniums. Until the late eighteenth century, all of the principal towns of Qatar, including Al Huwaila, Fuwayrit , Al Bidda and Doha were situated on the east coast. Doha developed around the largest of these, Al Bidda. The population consisted of nomadic and settled Arabs and

8833-426: The first half of the 20th century due to the flourishing pearl trade. A British political resident noted that should the supply of pearls drop, Qatar would 'practically cease to exist'. In 1907, the city accommodated 350 pearling boats with a combined crew size of 6,300 men. By this time, the average prices of pearls had more than doubled since 1877. The pearl market collapsed that year, forcing Jassim Al Thani to sell

8954-560: The first maps to depict the settlement in 1765, in which he labelled it as 'Guttur'. David Seaton, a British political resident in Muscat , wrote the first English record of Al Bidda in 1801. He refers to the town as 'Bedih' and describes the geography and defensive structures in the area. He stated that the town had recently been settled by the Sudan tribe (singular Al-Suwaidi), whom he considered to be pirates . Seaton attempted to bombard

9075-469: The following centuries, Qatar was a site of contention between the Wahhabi of Najd and the Al Khalifa. The Ottomans expanded their empire into Eastern Arabia in 1871, withdrawing from the area in 1915 after the beginning of World War I . In 1916, Qatar became a British protectorate and Abdullah Al Thani signed a treaty stipulating that he could only cede territory to the British in return for protection from all aggression by sea and support in case of

9196-544: The games at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup . In December 2011, the World Petroleum Council held the 20th World Petroleum Conference in Doha. Additionally, the city hosted the 2012 UNFCCC Climate Negotiations and the 2022 FIFA World Cup . The city will host the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup . The city also hosted the 140th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in April 2019 and hosted the 18th yearly session of

9317-601: The help of the Bani Khalid. They also believed that its residents practiced teachings contrary to the Wahhabi doctrine and regarded the town as an important gateway to the Persian Gulf. Saudi general Sulaiman ibn Ufaysan led a raid against the town in 1787. Five years later, a massive Wahhabi force conquered Al Hasa, forcing many refugees to flee to Zubarah. Wahhabi forces besieged Zubarah and several neighboring settlements in 1794 later as punishment for accommodating asylum seekers. The local chieftains were allowed to continue carrying out administrative tasks but were required to pay

9438-481: The inhabitants of Qatar and the Kassite. Among the findings were 3,000,000 crushed snail shells and Kassite potsherds. It has been asserted that the island is the site of the earliest known production of purple shellfish dye. The dye was obtained from the murex snail and dubbed " Tyrian purple ". Artifacts originating from the late Sasanian period, from c.  400 to 600 AD , were found here. Al Khor Island

9559-514: The island. In May 1851, Faisal launched his third attempt to capture Bahrain, ordering his forces to proceed towards Al Bidda, Qatar, which was intended to be used as a staging area for an invasion of Bahrain. In response, Ali bin Khalifa, the Bahraini representative in Qatar, called on all men of fighting age to defend Al Bidda, as well as sending for help from Saeed bin Tahnun Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi . Mohammed bin Thani served as one of

9680-510: The late seventh century. As a result, there were many revolts against the Umayyad at the end of the seventh century, particularly in Qatar and Bahrain. Ibn al-Fuja'a led an uprising against the Umayyad caliphs for more than twenty years. In 750, discontent in the caliphate had reached a critical level due to the treatment of non-Arab citizens in the Empire. The Abbasid Revolution resulted in

9801-538: The leadership of Mohammed bin Thani . In the proceeding years, the Al Thani family assumed control of the town. At various times, they swapped allegiances between the two prevailing powers in the area: the Al Khalifa of Bahrain and the Bin Saud is. In 1867, many ships and troops were sent from Bahrain to assault the towns Al Wakrah and Doha over a series of disputes. Abu Dhabi joined on Bahrain's behalf due to

9922-470: The most notable being Rahmah ibn Jabir al-Jalahimah . By 1790, Zubarah was described as a safe haven for merchants who enjoyed complete protection and no customs duties. The town came under threat by the Wahhabi from 1780 onward due to the intermittent raids launched on the Bani Khalid strongholds in Al-Hasa . The Wahhabi speculated that the population of Zubarah would conspire against their regime with

10043-541: The new emir after his father Khalifa bin Hamad in a bloodless coup. The Emir permitted more liberal press and municipal elections as a precursor to parliamentary elections. A new constitution was approved via public referendum in April 2003 and came into effect in June 2004. In 1961, a Danish archaeological expedition carried out on the peninsula uncovered approximately 30,000 stone implements from 122 Paleolithic sites. Most of

10164-632: The overall population. Qatar officially declared its independence in 1971, with Doha as its capital city . In 1973, the University of Qatar was opened by emiri decree, and in 1975, the Qatar National Museum opened in what was originally the ruler's palace. During the 1970s, all old neighborhoods in Doha were razed and the inhabitants moved to new suburban developments, such as Al Rayyan , Madinat Khalifa and Al Gharafa . The Doha Metropolitan Area 's population grew from 89,000 in

10285-532: The overthrow of the Umayyad Caliphate, ushering in the Abbasid period. Several settlements, including Murwab , were developed during the Abbasid period. Over 100 stone-built houses, two mosques, and an Abbasid fort were constructed in Murwab during this era. Murwab fort is the oldest intact fort in the country and was built over the ruins of a previous fort which was destroyed by fire. The town

10406-561: The peninsula. This is likely due to adverse climatic changes rendering Qatar less inhabitable during this period. In the 5th century BC, Greek historian Herodotus published the earliest known description of the population of Qatar, describing its inhabitants as 'sea-faring Canaanites '. Around 325 BC, Alexander the Great sent his top admiral, Androsthenes of Thasos , to survey the entire Persian Gulf. The requested charts arrived shortly after Alexander died in 323 BC. Seleucus I Nicator

10527-560: The perception that Al Wakrah served as a refuge for fugitives from Oman . Later that year, the combined forces sacked the two Qatari towns with around 2,700 men in what would come to be known as the Qatari–Bahraini War . A British record later stated that "the towns of Doha and Wakrah were, at the end of 1867 temporarily blotted out of existence, the houses being dismantled and the inhabitants deported". The joint Bahraini-Abu Dhabi incursion and subsequent Qatari counterattack prompted

10648-623: The pilgrimage to Mecca a superstition and once in control of the Bahraini state they launched raids along the pilgrim routes crossing the Arabian Peninsula . In 906, they ambushed the pilgrim caravan returning from Mecca and massacred 20,000 pilgrims. Qatar is mentioned in 13th-century Muslim scholar Yaqut al-Hamawi 's book, Mu'jam Al-Buldan (Dictionary of Countries) , which alludes to the Qataris' fine striped woven cloaks and their skills in improvement and finishing of spears, known as khattiyah spears. The spears acquired their name as an homage to

10769-521: The population was introduced to Islam after Muhammad sent an envoy to Munzir ibn Sawa who was the Sasanid governor of Eastern Arabia. It became a pearl trading center by the 8th century. The Abbasid era saw the rise of several settlements. After the Bani Utbah and other Arab tribes conquered Bahrain in 1783, the Al Khalifa imposed their authority over Bahrain and mainland Qatar. Over

10890-502: The port of Qatar during this period. Chinese porcelain, West African coins and pieces from Thailand have been discovered in Qatar. Archaeological remains from the 9th century suggest that Qatar's inhabitants used greater wealth, perhaps from the pearl trade, to construct higher quality homes and public buildings. However, when the caliphate's prosperity declined in Iraq, so too did it in Qatar. Most of Eastern Arabia, particularly Bahrain and

11011-403: The present day, but Bedouins sometimes call it Dohat-al-Qatar, and it seems to have been formerly better known as Bida' ( Anglice "Bidder"): it is the chief town of Qatar and is situated on the eastern side of that peninsula, about 63 miles south of its extremity at Ras Rakan and 45 miles north of Khor-al Odaid Harbour. Dohah stands on the south side of a deep bay at the south-western corner of

11132-586: The region of Al-Khatt which encompassed present-day Qatif , Uqair and Qatar. Much of Eastern Arabia was controlled by the Usfurids in 1253, but control of the region was later seized by the prince of Ormus in 1320. Qatar's pearls provided the kingdom with one of its main sources of income. The Portuguese defeated the Ormus by 1507 following the destruction of their fleet by Afonso de Albuquerque 's forces. However, Albuquerque's captains grew rebellious, and he

11253-606: The religion was dispersed eastward by Mesopotamian Christians. Monasteries were constructed in Qatar during this era, and further settlements were founded. During the latter part of the Christian era, Qatar was known by the Syriac name ' Beth Qatraye ' (ܒܝܬ ܩܛܪܝܐ; "region of the Qataris"). A variant of this was 'Beth Catara'. The region also included Bahrain , Tarout Island , Al-Khatt, and Al-Hasa . The dioceses of Beth Qatraye did not form an ecclesiastical province , except for

11374-470: The resistance troop, bin Khalifa demolished Al Bidda and moved its inhabitants to Bahrain. He sent his brother, Ali bin Khalifa, as an envoy to Al Bidda. However, he did not exercise any administrative powers, and local tribal leaders remained responsible for the internal affairs of Qatar. Mohammed bin Thani and his tribe migrated from Fuwayrit to Al Bidda in 1848. Prior to this migration, each tribe and settlement had its independent leader, and there

11495-640: The rule of the Ottomans in 1550, preferring them to the Portuguese. After the Portuguese were expelled from the area in 1602 by the Dutch and British, the Ottomans saw little need to maintain a military presence in the Al-Hasa region. As a result, the Ottomans were expelled by the Bani Khalid in 1670. Having expelled the Ottomans, the Bani Khalid held jurisdiction over Qatar from 1670 onward. In 1766,

11616-477: The second millennium BC, which were found in Al Khor Island , are evidence of trade relations between the inhabitants of Qatar and the Kassite. Among the findings were 3,000,000 crushed snail shells and Kassite potsherds. It has been asserted that Qatar was the site of the earliest known production of shellfish dye owing to a purple dye industry operated by the Kassite which existed on the island. The dye

11737-539: The site. Pliny the Elder , a Roman author, wrote an account of the peninsula's inhabitants around the mid-first century AD. He referred to them as the "Catharrei" and described them as nomads who constantly roamed in search of water and food. Around the second century, Ptolemy produced the first known map to depict the landmass, referring to it as "Catura". In 224 AD, the Sasanian Empire gained control over

11858-463: The sites were situated along the coastline, and were divided into four separate cultural groups based on flint typology. Macrolithic tools such as scrapers , arrowheads and hand axes dating to the Lower and Middle Paleolithic periods were among the discoveries. The flooding of the Persian Gulf roughly 8,000 years ago, resulted in the displacement of Persian Gulf inhabitants, the formation of

11979-427: The start of World War I. One year later, Qatar agreed to be a British protectorate with Doha as its official capital. Buildings at the time were simple dwellings of one or two rooms, built from mud, stone, and coral. Oil concessions in the 1920s and 1930s, and subsequent oil drilling in 1939, heralded the beginning of slow economic and social progress in the country. However, revenues were somewhat diminished due to

12100-474: The start of the 21st century, Doha attained significant media attention due to the hosting of several global events and the inauguration of several architectural mega-projects. One of the largest projects launched by the government was The Pearl-Qatar , an artificial island off the coast of West Bay , which launched its first district in 2004. In 2006, Doha was selected to host the Asian Games , leading to

12221-564: The stipulations, Al Huwailah was demolished and its residents were removed to Bahrain. Nephews of Abdullah bin Ahmed almost immediately violated the agreement when they incited members of the Al Kuwari tribe to attack Al Huwailah, however. Residents of the peninsula were susceptible to skirmishes between the forces of the sheikh of Bahrain and the Egyptian military commander of Al-Hasa . At

12342-400: The sun is up and cool during the night. The temperature rarely drops below 7 °C (45 °F). The highest temperature recorded was 50.4 °C (122.7 °F) on 14 July 2010, which is the highest temperature to have ever been recorded in Qatar. A significant portion of Qatar's population lives within Doha and its metropolitan area . The district with the highest population density is

12463-620: The territories surrounding the Persian Gulf. Qatar played a role in the commercial activity of the Sasanids, contributing to at least two commodities: precious pearls and purple dye. Sasanid pottery and glassware were found in Mezru'ah, a city north-west of Doha , and fragments of glassware and pottery were discovered in a settlement in Umm al-Ma'a. Under the Sasanid reign, many of the inhabitants in Eastern Arabia were introduced to Christianity after

12584-521: The town with his warship , but returned to Muscat upon finding that the waters were too shallow to position his warship within striking distance. In 1820, British surveyor R. H. Colebrook, who visited Al Bidda, remarked on the recent depopulation of the town. He wrote: Guttur – Or Ul Budee [Al‐Bidda], once a considerable town, is protected by two square Ghurries [forts] near the seashore; but containing no freshwater they are incapable of defense except against sudden incursions of Bedouins, another Ghurry

12705-496: The trading of pearls and date palms during this era. It has been argued that the remains of Dilmun settlements found in Qatar do not represent major evidence of long-term human habitation. Qatar remained largely uninhabited during this period due to regular migration by nomadic Arab tribes searching for untapped food and water sources. The settlements dating to the Dilmun period, particularly in Al Khor Island , may have been established to expedite trade journeys between Bahrain to

12826-436: The treaty relationships with the Persian Gulf sheikdoms in 1968, Qatar joined the other eight states then under British protection in a plan to form a federation of Arab emirates. By mid-1971, as the termination date of the British treaty relationship approached, the nine still had not agreed on terms of union. Accordingly, Qatar declared its independence on September 3, 1971. In June 1995, deputy emir Hamad bin Khalifa became

12947-484: The two settlements. Later that year, Lt. Guy and Lt. Brucks mapped and wrote a description of the two settlements. Despite being mapped as two separate entities, they were referred to under the collective name of Al Bidda in the written description. In 1828, Mohammed bin Khamis, a prominent member of the Al-Buainain tribe and successor of Buhur bin Jubrun as chief of Al Bidda, was embroiled in controversy. He had murdered

13068-426: The vast majority of archaeological discoveries were made on the level areas surrounding these outcroppings. Definitive occupation of the island during the Neolithic period is inconclusive. Several Neolithic campsites and Ubaid potsherds were discovered approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) east of the island. It has been suggested that the island was visited by these Neolithic inhabitants. Pottery originating from

13189-567: Was awarded the eastern part of the Ancient Greek Empire after Alexander's death. Starting from 312 BC, he expanded the Seleucid Empire eastward of Babylon, purportedly encompassing parts of Eastern Arabia. Archaeological evidence of Greek-influenced materials has been discovered in Qatar. Excavations north of Dukhan uncovered potsherds of Seleucid characteristics, and a cairnfield consisting of 100 burial mounds dating to

13310-544: Was close enough to the Dilmun civilization in Bahrain to have felt its influence. Barbar pottery was excavated in two sites by the Qatar Archaeology Project, suggesting Qatar's involvement in Dilmun's trade network. When the people of Dilmun began engaging in maritime activities around 2100 to 1700 BC, the inhabitants of Qatar started diving for pearls in the Persian Gulf. The Qataris were engaged in

13431-525: Was compelled to abandon the Ormus island. Ultimately, in 1515, King Manuel I killed Sultan Saifuddin's vizier Reis Hamed, pressuring the sultan to become a vassal of King Manuel. Bahrain and mainland Qatar had been seized by the Portuguese in 1521. After the Portuguese claimed control, they constructed a series of fortresses along the Arabian Coast. However, there have been limited findings of Portuguese ruins in Qatar. One possible contender for

13552-828: Was completed in 2008. Katara Cultural Village was opened in the city in 2010 and has hosted the Doha Tribeca Film Festival since then. The main outcome of the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference of 2013 was the Trade Facilitation Agreement. The agreement aims to make it easier and cheaper to import and export by improving customs procedures and making rules more transparent. Reducing global trade costs by 1% would increase worldwide income by more than US$ 40 billion, 65% of which would go to developing countries. The gains from

13673-558: Was constructed on was reclaimed land. The geology of Doha is primarily composed of weathered unconformity on the top of the Eocene period Dammam Formation, forming dolomitic limestone . Street cats , having first been introduced in the 1960s to deal with the country's rodent infestations, are now widespread in Doha, with government estimates putting the total population at between 2 million and 3 million. The Gulf sand gecko , having been first observed in Qatar on Doha's islands in 2013,

13794-525: Was described as a famous horse and camel breeding centre during the Umayyad period. It began benefiting from its commercially strategic position in the Persian Gulf during the 8th century, going on to become a center of pearl trading. During the Second Fitna , a renowned Khariji commander named Qatari ibn al-Fuja'a , who was described as the most popular, admired and powerful Khariji leader, led

13915-407: Was inhabited during the late Islamic period, from c.  1700 to 1900. The Mission Archéologique Français à Qatar, a French team led by Jacques Tixier , discovered the site in 1976. Doha Doha ( Arabic : الدوحة , romanized :  ad-Dawḥah [ædˈdæwħæ,-ˈdoː-] ) is the capital city and main financial hub of Qatar . Located on the Persian Gulf coast in

14036-571: Was no documented instance of their unification in battle. The concept of a unified land or nation was not present. However, with Mohammed bin Thani's arrival, Qatar began to gain significant economic and political weight. In 1851, Qatar served as a flashpoint for a conflict between Faisal bin Turki , Imam of the Emirate of Najd , and Muhammad bin Khalifa. Faisal had long sought to gain control of Bahrain and had previously attempted, and failed, to invade

14157-480: Was not asked to fly the prescribed Trucial flag. As punishment for alleged piracy committed by the inhabitants of Al Bidda and breach of the treaty, an East India Company vessel bombarded the town in 1821. They razed the town, forcing between 300 and 400 natives to flee and temporarily take shelter on the islands between Qatar and the Trucial Coast. Doha was founded in the vicinity of Al Bidda sometime during

14278-424: Was obtained from the murex snail and was known as " Tyrian purple ". Dye production may have been supervised by the Kassite administration in Bahrain to export the dye to Mesopotamia . Assyrian king Esarhaddon led a successful campaign against Bazu , an area which encompassed Dilmun and Qatar, in c.  680 BC . To date, no archaeological evidence of early Iron Age settlements has been discovered in

14399-485: Was signed between the East India Company and the sheikhs of several Persian Gulf settlements (some of which were later known as the Trucial Coast ). It acknowledged British authority in the Persian Gulf and sought to end piracy and the slave trade. Bahrain became a party to the treaty, and it was assumed that Qatar, perceived as a dependency of Bahrain by the British, was also a party to it. Qatar, however,

14520-430: Was stopped since 2005 and since then attempts have been made to eliminate traces of the tree, to varying degrees of success. The Pearl is an artificial island in Doha with a surface area of nearly 400 ha (1,000 acres) The total project has been estimated to cost $ 15 billion upon completion. Other islands off Doha's coast include Palm Tree Island, Shrao's Island, Al Safliya Island , and Al Aaliya Island . In

14641-587: Was the site of the first sizable settlement established off the coastal area of Qatar. A similar site, containing T'ang stoneware and dating to the 9th and 10th centuries, was discovered in Al Naman (north of Zubarah ). Substantial development in the pearling industry around the Qatari Peninsula occurred during the Abbasid era. Ships from Basra en route to India and China would make stops in

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