89-529: The Al Shaheen Oil Field is a production oil and gas field off the north east coast of Qatar in the Persian Gulf , 80 kilometres (50 mi) north of Doha . The oil field lies above the North Gas Field , one of the largest gas fields in the world. The field has been operated by Maersk Oil Qatar AS of Denmark until July 2017 under a production sharing agreement with QatarEnergy , on behalf of
178-548: A British protectorate in 1916 and gained independence in 1971. The current emir is Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani , who holds nearly all executive, legislative, and judicial authority in an autocratic manner under the Constitution of Qatar . He appoints the prime minister and cabinet . The partially-elected Consultative Assembly can block legislation and has a limited ability to dismiss ministers. In early 2017,
267-657: A floating storage and offloading unit (FSO). In January 2010, she was replaced by both the FSO Asia , and in August 2010, the FSO Africa replaced the Astro Canopus. Both vessels are owned as a joint venture by Overseas Shipholding Group and Euronav . In June 2016 France's TotalEnergies won a tender to replace Maersk Oil as operator of Al Shaheen Oil Field and commenced operating the field on 14 July 2017 under
356-813: A major non-NATO ally of the United States. Qatar also has particularly strong ties with France, China, Iran, Turkey, as well as a number of Islamist movements in the Middle East such as the Muslim Brotherhood . The country is an early member of OPEC and a founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council , as well as a member of the Arab League . Diplomatic missions to Qatar are based in its capital, Doha. Regional relations and foreign policies are characterized by
445-414: A 10-year sentence. Alcohol consumption is partially legal; some five-star luxury hotels are allowed to sell alcohol to non-Muslim customers. Muslims are not allowed to consume alcohol, and those caught consuming it are liable to flogging or deportation. Non-Muslim expatriates can obtain a permit to purchase alcohol for personal consumption. The Qatar Distribution Company (a subsidiary of Qatar Airways )
534-475: A 5-metre (16 ft) section of the drill string twisted off and was left in the hole. Drilling was restarted in September 1986, 7,000 metres (23,000 ft) from the first hole. The third hole reached 12,262 metres (40,230 ft) in 1989. In that year, the hole depth was expected to reach 13,500 metres (44,300 ft) by the end of 1990 and 15,000 metres (49,000 ft) by 1993. In June 1990,
623-597: A British protectorate on 3 November 1916 when the United Kingdom signed a treaty with Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani to bring Qatar under its Trucial System of Administration . The treaty reserved foreign affairs and defence to the United Kingdom but allowed internal autonomy. While Abdullah agreed not to enter into any relations with any other power without the prior consent of the British government,
712-567: A Roman Catholic church (2008). Qatar's economy and status as a regional power rapidly grew in the 2000s. According to the UN, the nation's economic growth, measured by GDP, was the fastest in the world during this decade. The basis of this growth lay in the exploitation of natural gas in the North Field during the 1990s. At the same time, the population tripled between 2001 and 2011, mostly from an influx of foreigners. In 2003, Qatar served as
801-539: A breakdown occurred in the third hole at 12,262 metres (40,230 ft) of depth. The drilling of the fourth hole was started in January ;1991 from 9,653 metres (31,670 ft) of depth of third hole. The drilling of the fourth hole was stopped in April ;1992 at 11,882 metres (38,983 ft) of depth. Drilling of the fifth hole started in April 1994 from 8,278 metres (27,159 ft) of depth of
890-557: A central shaft and two off of one of those branches. In addition to being the deepest human-made hole on Earth, Kola Superdeep Borehole SG-3 was, for almost three decades, the world's longest borehole in measured depth along its bore, until surpassed in 2008 by a hydrocarbon extraction borehole in Qatar . Drilling at Kola SG-3 began on 24 May 1970 using the Uralmash -4E, a serial drilling rig used for drilling oil wells . The rig
979-534: A dispute over Qatar's support of the Muslim Brotherhood , which is considered a terrorist organization by some Arab nations. The diplomatic crisis ended in January 2021 with the signing of AlUla declaration. On 2 October 2020, Qatari authorities strip-searched 13 Australian women on a plane at Hamad International Airport over a premature baby found in a bathroom at the terminal. This caused an international incident with Australia. In September 2023, Qatar mediated
SECTION 10
#17327805650961068-859: A famous horse and camel breeding centre during the Umayyad period. In the 8th century, it started benefiting from its commercially strategic position in the Persian Gulf and went on to become a centre of pearl trading. Substantial development in the pearling industry around the Qatari Peninsula occurred during the Abbasid era. Ships voyaging from Basra to India and China would make stops in Qatar's ports during this period. Chinese porcelain , West African coins, and artefacts from Thailand have been discovered in Qatar. Archaeological remains from
1157-649: A joint venture agreement between Total (30%) and QatarEnergy (70%) through a new company named North Oil Company . The oil and gas producing formation is the Kharaib, Shuaiba and Nahr Umr Formations ( Early Cretaceous ). The field is characterized by low permeability, limited thickness, and geological complexity. The field consists of 131 operational production and water injection wells, 18 permanent platforms, and six production installations connected by 20 pipelines. In 2006, Al Shaheen's production of 38,000 cubic metres per day (240,000 bbl/d) accounted for
1246-404: A lack of funding. The scientific team was transferred to the federal state unitary subsidiary enterprise "Kola Superdeep," downsized, and given the new task of thoroughly studying the exposed section. In 2007, the scientific team was dissolved and the equipment was transferred to a private company and partially liquidated. In 2008, the company was liquidated due to unprofitability, and the site
1335-546: A mediator, such as for Middle Eastern conflicts; for example, Qatar mediated between the rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas in 2006 and helped unite Lebanese leaders into forming a political agreement during the 2008 crisis. Qatar has also emerged as mediators in African and Asian affairs, notably holding a peace process for Sudan amid the Darfur conflict and facilitating peace talks for Afghanistan , setting up
1424-423: A modesty campaign was launched to remind tourists of the country's restrictive dress code. Female tourists were advised not to wear leggings, miniskirts, sleeveless dresses, or short or tight clothing in public. Men were warned against wearing shorts and singlets. Qatar's international profile and active role in international affairs have led some analysts to identify it as a middle power . Since 2022, it has been
1513-811: A negligible military presence in the area, the Ottomans were expelled by the Bani Khalid tribe and their emirate in 1670. In 1766, members of the Al Khalifa family of the Utub tribal confederation migrated from Kuwait to Zubarah in Qatar. By the time of their arrival, the Bani Khalid exercised weak authority over the peninsula, notwithstanding the fact that the largest village was ruled by their distant kin. In 1783, Qatar-based Bani Utbah clans and allied Arab tribes invaded and annexed Bahrain from
1602-629: A political "office" for the Afghan Taliban to facilitate talks. Ahmed Rashid , writing in the Financial Times , stated that through the office Qatar has "facilitated meetings between the Taliban and many countries and organisations, including the US state department, the UN, Japan, several European governments and non-governmental organisations, all of whom have been trying to push forward
1691-457: A significant portion of Qatar's total oil production of 815,000 barrels per day (129,600 m/d). Although the production capacity reaches 41,000 cubic metres per day (260,000 bbl/d), the current actual production is only 32,000 cubic metres per day (200,000 bbl/d) due to OPEC quotas. A development plan between Maersk Oil and QatarEnergy calls for an increase in production to 83,500 cubic metres per day (525,000 bbl/d). This increase
1780-662: A significant portion of eastern Arabia in 1521. In 1550, the inhabitants of Al-Hasa voluntarily submitted to the rule of the Ottomans , preferring them to the Portuguese. After the fall of the Jabrid Dynasty with the conquest of Bahrain by the Portuguese, the Arabian coast up to Al Hassa came under the rule and influence of the Portuguese empire. Attempts by the Ottomans to dominate the region were eliminated with
1869-466: A third of the way through the Baltic Shield of the continental crust , estimated to be around 35 kilometres (22 mi) deep, reaching Archean rocks at the bottom. Numerous unexpected geophysical discoveries were made: In 1992, an international geophysical experiment obtained a reflection seismic crustal cross-section through the well. The Kola-92 working group consisted of researchers from
SECTION 20
#17327805650961958-493: Is a mixture of civil law and Sharia. Sharia is applied to family law, inheritance, and several criminal acts (including adultery, robbery, and murder). In some cases, Sharia-based family courts treat a female's testimony as being worth half that of a man. Codified family law was introduced in 2006. Islamic polygyny is permitted. Judicial corporal punishment is a punishment in Qatar. Only Muslims considered medically fit are liable to have such sentences carried out. Flogging
2047-445: Is employed as a punishment for alcohol consumption or illicit sexual relations. Article 88 of the criminal code declares that the penalty for adultery is 100 lashes. Stoning is a legal punishment in Qatar, and apostasy and homosexuality are crimes punishable by the death penalty ; however, the penalty has not been carried out for either crime. Blasphemy can result in up to seven years in prison, while proselytising can incur
2136-516: Is estimated about 6,200,000 cubic metres per day (220 × 10 ^ cu ft/d) of which 3.5 × 10–4.2 × 10 cubic megametres per day (125 × 10 ^ –150 × 10 ^ cu ft/d) is exported through the North Field Alpha facilities to Mesaieed, 8.5 × 10 cubic megametres per day (30 × 10 ^ cu ft/d) is consumed on-site for power and heat generation, and 1.1 × 10 cubic megametres per day (40 × 10 ^ cu ft/d)
2225-650: Is expected to account for the majority of growth in Qatar's petroleum output over this time. Oil is currently stored in the floating storage and offloading vessels FSO Asia and FSO Africa . Produced oil is transported to the Mesaieed Industrial City for processing and export. There is a plan to build a new 40,000-cubic-metre-per-day (250,000 bbl/d) refinery in Mesaieed to process oil from Al Shaheen. This plan has been postponed. The Al-Shaheen field also produces associated gas. The gas production
2314-560: Is flared. The Kola Superdeep Borehole was the longest and deepest borehole in the world for nearly 30 years. However, in May 2008, a new record for borehole length was established by the extended-reach drilling (ERD) well BD-04A, in the Al Shaheen oil field. It was drilled to 12,289 m (40,318 ft), with a record horizontal reach of 10,902 m (35,768 ft) in only 36 days. On 28 January 2011, Exxon Neftegas Ltd., operator of
2403-479: Is made up of 30 popularly-elected members and 15 appointed by the emir. It can block legislation with a simple majority and can dismiss ministers, including the prime minister, with a two-thirds vote. The assembly had its first elections in October 2021 after several postponements. According to Qatar's Constitution, Sharia law is the main source of Qatari legislation, although in practice Qatar's legal system
2492-419: Is permitted to import alcohol and pork; it operates the only liquor store in the country, which also sells pork to holders of liquor licences. Qatari officials had indicated a willingness to allow alcohol in "fan zones" at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, on 18 November, two days before the start of the games, Qatari officials announced alcoholic beverages would not be permitted within the stadiums. In 2014,
2581-447: Is the 29th most peaceful country in the world, according to the 2024 Global Peace Index . Kola Superdeep Borehole The Kola Superdeep Borehole SG-3 ( Russian : Кольская сверхглубокая скважина СГ-3 , romanized : Kol'skaya sverkhglubokaya skvazhina SG-3 ) is the deepest human-made hole on Earth (since 1979), which attained maximum true vertical depth of 12,262 metres (40,230 ft; 7.619 mi) in 1989. It
2670-650: Is the earliest known site of shellfish dye production, owing to a Kassite purple dye industry which existed on the coast. In 224 AD, the Sasanian Empire gained control over the territories surrounding the Persian Gulf. Qatar played a role in the commercial activity of the Sasanids, contributing at least two commodities: precious pearls and purple dye. Under the Sasanid reign, many of the inhabitants in eastern Arabia were introduced to Christianity following
2759-734: Is the result of a scientific drilling effort to penetrate as deeply as possible into the Earth's crust conducted by the Soviet Union in the Pechengsky District of the Kola Peninsula , near the Russian border with Norway. SG (СГ) is a Russian designation for a set of superdeep ( Russian : сверхглубокая ) boreholes conceived as part of a Soviet scientific research programme of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Aralsor SG-1 (in
Al Shaheen Oil Field - Misplaced Pages Continue
2848-584: The Arab Spring . Qatar also forms part of the Gulf Cooperation Council . Pliny the Elder , a Roman writer, documented the earliest account pertaining to the inhabitants of the peninsula around the mid-first century AD, referring to them as the Catharrei , a designation that may have derived from the name of a prominent local settlement. A century later, Ptolemy produced the first known map to depict
2937-767: The Arab world . It is a high-income economy , backed by the world's third-largest natural gas reserves and oil reserves. Qatar is one of the world's largest exporters of liquefied natural gas and the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide per capita. In the 21st century, Qatar emerged as both a major non-NATO ally of the United States and a middle power in the Arab world. Its economy has risen rapidly through its resource-wealth, and its geopolitical power has risen through its media group, Al Jazeera Media Network , and reported support for rebel groups financially during
3026-589: The Persian Gulf . The Gulf of Bahrain , an inlet of the Persian Gulf, separates Qatar from nearby Bahrain . The capital is Doha , home to over 80% of the country's inhabitants. Most of the land area is made up of flat, low-lying desert . Qatar has been ruled as a hereditary monarchy by the House of Thani since Mohammed bin Thani signed "an agreement, not a formal treaty" with Britain in 1868 that recognised its separate status. Following Ottoman rule, Qatar became
3115-785: The Qatari Emiri Land Forces , 2,500 in the Navy , 2,000 in the Air Force , and 5,000 in the Internal Security Forces. In 2008 Qatar spent US$ 2.3 billion on its military, which was 2.3% of the GDP, and its military spending increased to US$ 7.49 billion as of 2022. After the Arab spring events in 2011 and a diplomatic incident with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries in 2014, Qatar started expanding its armed forces. The country introduced conscription in 2013,
3204-580: The Sakhalin-I project, drilled the world's longest extended-reach well offshore on the Russian island of Sakhalin . It has surpassed the length of both the Al Shaheen well and the Kola borehole. The Odoptu OP-11 well reached a measured total length of 12,345 m (40,502 ft) and a horizontal displacement of 11,475 m (37,648 ft). Exxon Neftegas completed the well in 60 days. On 27 August 2012, Exxon Neftegas Ltd beat its own record by completing
3293-469: The Ubaid period (c. 6500–3800 BC) have been discovered in abandoned coastal settlements. Al Da'asa , a settlement located on the western coast of Qatar, is the most important Ubaid site in the country and is believed to have accommodated a small seasonal encampment. The polity of Dilmun, which is attested to in sources from the 3rd millennium BC onwards, is said to have encompassed Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and
3382-584: The United Arab Emirates . Under an agreement with the United Kingdom, on 3 September 1971, the "special treaty arrangements" that were "inconsistent with full international responsibility as a sovereign and independent state" were terminated. In 1991, Qatar played a significant role in the Gulf War , particularly during the Battle of Khafji in which Qatari tanks rolled through the streets of
3471-560: The United States Central Command headquarters and one of the main launching sites of the invasion of Iraq . In March 2005, a suicide bombing killed a British teacher at the Doha Players Theatre, shocking the country, which had not previously experienced acts of terrorism. The bombing was carried out by Omar Ahmed Abdullah Ali, an Egyptian resident in Qatar who had suspected ties to Al-Qaeda in
3560-530: The 9th century suggest that Qatar's inhabitants used greater wealth to construct higher quality homes and public buildings. Over 100 stone-built houses, two mosques, and an Abbasid fort were constructed in Murwab during this period. When the caliphate's prosperity declined in Iraq, so too did it in Qatar. Qatar is mentioned in 13th-century Muslim scholar Yaqut al-Hamawi 's book, Mu'jam Al-Buldan , which alludes to
3649-593: The Arabian Peninsula . The increased influence of Qatar and its role during the Arab Spring , especially during the Bahraini uprising in 2011 , worsened longstanding tensions with Saudi Arabia , the neighboring United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. In 2010, Qatar won the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup , making it the first country in the Middle East to be selected to host the tournament. The awarding increased further investment and developments within
Al Shaheen Oil Field - Misplaced Pages Continue
3738-574: The Islamic prophet Muhammad sent a Muslim envoy to a ruler in eastern Arabia named Munzir ibn Sawa Al-Tamimi and requested that he and his subjects accept Islam. Munzir obliged his request, and accordingly most of the Arab tribes in the region converted to Islam. In the middle of the century, the Muslim conquest of Persia resulted in the fall of the Sasanian Empire. Qatar was described as
3827-618: The Libyan government and special forces to provide training to Libyan rebels. During the Saudi-led intervention in the Yemeni civil war in September 2015, Qatar sent 1,000 troops, 200 armored vehicles, and 30 Apache helicopters to assist with Saudi military operations. As a result of the diplomatic crisis with Saudi Arabia that began in June 2017, Qatar withdrew its forces from Yemen. Qatar
3916-495: The Middle East . Qatari law does not permit the establishment of political bodies or trade unions. The eighth emir of Qatar is Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani . The emir has the exclusive power to appoint the prime minister and cabinet ministers who, together, constitute the Council of Ministers, which is the supreme executive authority in the country. The Council of Ministers also initiates legislation. The Consultative Assembly
4005-695: The Ottoman rule. Qatari-Ottoman relations stagnated, and in 1882 they suffered further setbacks when the Ottomans refused to aid Al Thani in his expedition of Abu Dhabi-occupied Khor Al Adaid and offered only limited support in the Qatari–Abu Dhabi War , mainly due to fear of British intervention on Abu Dhabi's side. In addition, the Ottomans supported the Ottoman subject Mohammed bin Abdul Wahab who attempted to supplant Al Thani as kaymakam of Qatar in 1888. This eventually led Al Thani to rebel against
4094-422: The Ottomans was met with refusal. In March, Mehmed imprisoned Jassim's brother and 13 prominent Qatari tribal leaders on the Ottoman corvette Merrikh as punishment for his insubordination. After Mehmed declined an offer to release the captives for a fee of 10,000 liras , he ordered a column of approximately 200 troops to advance towards Jassim's Al Wajbah Fort under the command of Yusuf Effendi, thus signalling
4183-620: The Ottomans, whom he believed were seeking to usurp control of the peninsula. He resigned as kaymakam and stopped paying taxes in August 1892. In February 1893, Mehmed Hafiz Pasha arrived in Qatar in the interests of seeking unpaid taxes and accosting Jassim bin Mohammed's opposition to proposed Ottoman administrative reforms. Fearing that he would face death or imprisonment, Jassim retreated to Al Wajbah (16 km or 10 mi west of Doha), accompanied by several tribe members. Mehmed's demand that Jassim disband his troops and pledge his loyalty to
4272-514: The Persians. The Al Khalifa imposed their authority over Bahrain and retained their jurisdiction over Zubarah. Following his swearing-in as crown prince of the Wahhabi in 1788, Saud ibn Abd al-Aziz moved to expand Wahhabi territory eastward towards the Persian Gulf and Qatar. After defeating the Bani Khalid in 1795, the Wahhabi were attacked on two fronts. The Ottomans and Egyptians assaulted
4361-691: The Pre-Caspian Basin of west Kazakhstan ) and Biyikzhal SG-2 (in Krasnodar Krai ), both less than 6,810 metres (22,340 ft) deep, preceded Kola SG-3, which was originally intended to reach 7,000 metres (23,000 ft) deep. Drilling at Kola SG-3 began in 1970 using the Uralmash -4E , and later the Uralmash-15000 series drilling rig. A total of five 23-centimetre-diameter (9 in) boreholes were drilled, two branching from
4450-501: The Qatari counter-attack, prompted British Political Resident, Colonel Lewis Pelly to impose a settlement in 1868. His mission to Bahrain and Qatar and the resulting peace treaty were milestones because they implicitly recognised the distinctness of Qatar from Bahrain and explicitly acknowledged the position of Mohammed bin Thani. In addition to censuring Bahrain for its breach of agreement, Pelly negotiated with Qatari sheikhs who were represented by Mohammed bin Thani. The negotiations were
4539-405: The Qataris' fine striped woven cloaks and their skills in improvement and finishing of spears. Much of eastern Arabia was controlled by the Usfurids in 1253, but control of the region was seized by the prince of Ormus in 1320. Qatar's pearls provided the kingdom with one of its main sources of income. In 1515, Manuel I of Portugal vassalised the Kingdom of Ormus. Portugal went on to seize
SECTION 50
#17327805650964628-426: The Second World War with the independence of India, the creation of Pakistan in 1947, and the development of oil in Qatar. In 1949, the appointment of the first British political officer in Doha, John Wilton, signified a strengthening of Anglo-Qatari relations. Oil exports began in 1949, and oil revenues became the country's main source of revenue; the pearl trade had gone into decline. These revenues were used to fund
4717-402: The US-Iran prisoners swap deal. Iran freed five Americans in exchange for five Iranians held in the US and transfer $ 6 billion in frozen Iranian money from South Korea to Qatar. In October 2023 United States President Joe Biden thanked the Qatar's Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for his help in mediating a landmark prisoner swap deal with Iran. On September 24, 2024, Qatar was designated as
4806-414: The United States, making its air force one of the largest among the Gulf states. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) found that in 2010–2014 Qatar was the 46th-largest arms importer in the world. SIPRI writes that Qatar's plans to transform and significantly enlarge its armed forces have accelerated. In 2015, Qatar was the 16th largest arms importer in the world, and in 2016, it
4895-415: The Z-44 Chayvo well. This ERD well reached a measured total length of 12,376 metres (40,604 ft). Qatar Qatar , officially the State of Qatar , is a country in West Asia . It occupies the Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East ; it shares its sole land border with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its territory surrounded by
4984-448: The country from his father Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani , with the support of the armed forces and cabinet, as well as neighbouring states and France. Under Emir Hamad, Qatar experienced a moderate degree of liberalisation, including the launch of the Al Jazeera television station (1996), the endorsement of women's suffrage or right to vote in municipal elections (1999), drafting its first written constitution (2005) and inauguration of
5073-431: The eastern portion of Saudi Arabia. Some historians have theorized that the Sumerians may have originated from this region. Kassite Babylonian material dating back to the second millennium BC found in Al Khor Islands attests to trade relations between the inhabitants of Qatar and the Kassites in modern-day Bahrain. Among the findings were crushed snail shells and Kassite potsherds. It has been suggested that Qatar
5162-404: The eastward dispersal of the religion by Mesopotamian Christians. Monasteries were constructed and further settlements were founded during this era. During the latter part of the Christian era, Qatar comprised a region known as 'Beth Qatraye' ( Syriac for "house of the Qataris"). The region was not limited to Qatar; it also included Bahrain , Tarout Island , Al-Khatt, and Al-Hasa . In 628,
5251-427: The expansion and modernisation of Qatar's infrastructure. When Britain officially announced in 1968 that it would withdraw from the Persian Gulf in three years' time, Qatar joined talks with Bahrain and seven other Trucial States to create a federation. Regional disputes, however, persuaded Qatar and Bahrain to withdraw from the talks and become independent states separate from the Trucial States, which went on to become
5340-400: The first Arab and Muslim-majority country to do so, and the third Asian country to host it following the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Qatar is officially a semi-constitutional monarchy , but the wide powers retained by the monarchy have it bordering an absolute monarchy ruled by the Al Thani family . The Al Thani dynasty has been ruling Qatar since the family house
5429-471: The first Gulf country to join the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP), allowing its citizens to travel to the United States for up to 90 days for business or tourism without a visa. The inclusion strengthens security cooperation between the two nations and eases travel for Qatari citizens. U.S. citizens are now permitted to stay in Qatar for up to 90 days without a visa, an increase from the previous 30-day limit. The Qatar Armed Forces consist of 12,000 personnel in
SECTION 60
#17327805650965518-488: The first Gulf state to do so in recent years. It is mandatory for Qatari male citizens to serve for up to 4 months, though not all of them are called up. The national service term was extended to one year in 2018. About 2,000 conscripts pass through the Qatar Armed Forces annually. Military service has become more popular in Qatar due to the recent tensions with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Since 2017, Qatar has also purchased large quantities of equipment from European countries and
5607-458: The first stage in the development of Qatar as a sheikhdom. Under military and political pressure from the governor of the Ottoman Vilayet of Baghdad , Midhat Pasha , the ruling Al Thani tribe submitted to Ottoman rule in 1871. The Ottoman government imposed reformist ( Tanzimat ) measures concerning taxation and land registration to fully integrate these areas into the empire. Despite the disapproval of local tribes, Al Thani continued supporting
5696-427: The fort in Zubarah. The Al Khalifa was effectively returned to power thereafter. As punishment for piracy, an East India Company vessel bombarded Doha in 1821, destroying the town and forcing hundreds of residents to flee. In 1825, the House of Thani was established with Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani as the first leader. Although Qatar was considered a dependency of Bahrain, the Al Khalifa faced opposition from
5785-476: The idea of peace talks." It played a major role in establishing the first ceasefire in the 2023 Israel-Hamas war and the concurrent initial hostage exchange. These high-risk diplomatic middle man endeavors (and its own rigorous defense stance) have thus earned it a reputation as "a prickly Switzerland ". In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt and Yemen broke diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing Qatar of supporting terrorism . The crisis escalated
5874-579: The latter guaranteed the protection of Qatar from aggression by sea and provide its 'good offices' in the event of an attack by land. This latter undertaking was left deliberately vague. On 5 May 1935, while agreeing an oil concession with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company , Abdullah signed another treaty with the British government which granted Qatar protection against internal and external threats. Oil reserves were first discovered in 1939. Exploitation and development were, however, delayed by World War II . The focus of British interests in Qatar changed after
5963-441: The local tribes. In 1867, the Al Khalifa, along with the ruler of Abu Dhabi , sent a massive naval force to Al Wakrah in an effort to crush the Qatari rebels. This resulted in the maritime Qatari–Bahraini War of 1867–68, in which Bahraini and Abu Dhabi forces sacked and looted Doha and Al Wakrah. The Bahraini hostilities were in violation of the Perpetual Truce of Peace and Friendship of 1861. The joint incursion, in addition to
6052-437: The name is pronounced [ˈqɑtˤɑr] , while in the local dialect it is [ˈɡɪtˤɑr] . English speakers use different approximate pronunciations of the name as the Arabic pronunciations use sounds not often used in English. Human habitation in Qatar dates back to 50,000 years ago. Settlements and tools dating back to the Stone Age have been unearthed in the peninsula. Mesopotamian artifacts originating from
6141-463: The nation during the 2010s. In June 2013, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani became the emir of Qatar after his father handed over power. Sheikh Tamim has prioritised improving the domestic welfare of citizens, which includes establishing advanced healthcare and education systems, and expanding the country's infrastructure in preparation for the hosting of the 2022 World Cup. Qatar hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup from 21 November to 18 December, becoming
6230-417: The outbreak of World War I , nothing was done to carry this out, and the garrison remained in the fort at Doha, although its numbers dwindled as men deserted. In 1915, with the presence of British gunboats in the harbour, Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani (who was pro-British) persuaded the remainder to abandon the fort, and when British troops approached the following morning they found it deserted. Qatar became
6319-439: The peninsula, referring to it as Catara . The map also referenced a town named "Cadara" to the east of the peninsula. The term "Catara" (inhabitants, Cataraei ) was exclusively used until the 18th century, after which "Katara" emerged as the most commonly recognised spelling. Eventually, after several variations—"Katr", "Kattar" and "Guttur"—the modern derivative Qatar was adopted as the country's name. In Standard Arabic ,
6408-474: The population of Qatar was two point 6 million, although only 313,000 of them are Qatari citizens and 2.3 million being expatriates and migrant workers . Its official religion is Islam . The country has the fourth-highest GDP (PPP) per capita in the world and the eleventh-highest GNI per capita (Atlas method) . It ranks 42nd in the Human Development Index , the third-highest HDI in
6497-402: The reconquest of the castle of Tarout or Al Qatif in 1551. Archaeological finds are still being excavated from one of the Portuguese fortresses that served as a base to dominate the region as Ruwayda . The first representation of Qatar appears on the Portuguese map by Luis Lázaro in 1563, showing the "city of Qatar" as a fortress, possibly referring to the fort of Ruwayda. Having retained
6586-714: The region. In 2011, Qatar joined NATO operations in Libya and reportedly armed Libyan opposition groups. It was also a major funder of weapons for rebel groups in the Syrian civil war . Qatar participated in the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen against the Houthis and forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh . Since the 2000s, Qatar increasingly emerged on a wider foreign policy stage especially as
6675-563: The safe passage of Mehmed Pasha's cavalry to Hofuf by land. Although Qatar did not gain full independence from the Ottoman Empire, the result of the battle forced a treaty that would later form the basis of Qatar's emerging as an autonomous country within the empire. By the Anglo-Ottoman Convention of 1913 , the Ottomans agreed to renounce their claim to Qatar and withdraw their garrison from Doha. However, with
6764-469: The start of the Battle of Al Wajbah . Effendi's troops came under heavy gunfire by a sizable troop of Qatari infantry and cavalry shortly after arriving at Al Wajbah. They retreated to Shebaka fortress where they were again forced to draw back from a Qatari incursion. After they withdrew to Al Bidda fortress, Jassim's advancing column besieged the fortress, resulting in the Ottomans' concession of defeat and agreement to relinquish their captives in return for
6853-583: The state of Qatar. As of June 2016, QatarEnergy and the French major TotalEnergies established a new company known as North Oil Company . The new company is 70% owned by QatarEnergy and 30% by TotalEnergies. North Oil Company took over field operations on 14 July 2017. Though well North West Deep-2, drilled by Shell in 1974, blew out briefly from the Shaheen reservoir, the oil field was only formally discovered in 1992 by Maersk Oil. The drilling of appraisal wells
6942-415: The strategy of balancing and alliance building among regional and great powers. It maintains independent foreign policy and engages in regional balancing to secure its strategic priorities and to have recognition on the regional and international level. As a comparatively small state in the gulf, Qatar established an "open-door" foreign policy where Qatar maintains ties to all parties and regional players in
7031-810: The third hole. Drilling was stopped in August ;1994 at 8,578 metres (28,143 ft) of depth due to lack of funds and the well itself was mothballed . The stated areas of study of the Kola Superdeep Borehole were the deep structure of the Baltic Shield , seismic discontinuities and the thermal regime in the Earth's crust, the physical and chemical composition of the deep crust and the transition from upper to lower crust, lithospheric geophysics, and to create and develop technologies for deep geophysical study. Drilling penetrated about
7120-468: The town and provided fire support for Saudi Arabian National Guard units that were engaging Iraqi Army troops. Qatar allowed coalition troops from Canada to use the country as an airbase to launch aircraft on combat air patrol duty and also permitted air forces from the United States and France to operate in its territories. In 1995, Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani seized control of
7209-549: The universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, the University of Wyoming in the United States, and the University of Bergen in Norway, as well as several Russian earth science research institutions. The experiment was documented in a video recorded by Professor David Smythe, which shows the drilling deck in action during an attempt to recover a tool dropped down the hole. The drilling ended in 1995 due to
7298-705: The western front, while the Al Khalifa in Bahrain and the Omanis launched an attack against the eastern front. Upon being made aware of the Egyptian advance on the western frontier in 1811, the Wahhabi amir reduced his garrisons in Bahrain and Zubarah in order to redeploy his troops. Said bin Sultan , ruler of Muscat , capitalised on this opportunity and raided the Wahhabi garrisons on the eastern coast, setting fire to
7387-467: The world record extended reach well BD-04A in the field with the GSF Rig 127 operated by Transocean . The well was drilled incident free to a record measured length of 12,290 m (40,320 ft) including a record horizontal reach of 10,900 m (35,770 ft) in 36 days. From 2004 until August 2009 the massive supertanker , Knock Nevis , the largest ship built to date, was moored there as
7476-489: Was abandoned. It is still visited by sightseers, who report that the structure over the borehole has been partially destroyed or removed. The 12,262-metre (40,230 ft) deep Kola Superdeep Borehole has been the world's deepest borehole since 1979. It was also the longest borehole in the world from 1979 to 2008. Its record length was surpassed in May ;2008 by the curved extended reach drilling bore of well BD-04A in
7565-502: Was completed in 1994 using horizontal drilling techniques. Regular oil production started the same year. In 1995–1996, production facilities were extended with subsea export pipelines, an additional single point mooring loading buoy, new process facilities and a STAR type wellhead platform. In April 2004, the extension area north of block 5 was included to the production sharing agreement. Inauguration of new offshore facilities took place on 23 February 2005. In May 2008, Maersk Oil drilled
7654-466: Was established in 1825. In 2003, Qatar adopted a constitution that provided for the direct election of 30 of the 45 members of a legislature. The constitution was overwhelmingly approved in a referendum, with almost 98% in favour. Despite this, the government remains authoritarian . According to the V-Dem Democracy indices Qatar is 2023 the second least electoral democratic country in
7743-650: Was slightly modified to be able to reach a 7,000-metre (23,000 ft) depth. In 1974, the new purpose-built Uralmash-15000 drilling rig was installed onsite, named after the new target depth, set at 15,000 metres (49,000 ft). On 6 June 1979, the world depth record then held by the Bertha Rogers hole in Washita County, Oklahoma , United States, at 9,583 metres (31,440 ft), was broken by Kola SG-3. In October 1982, Kola SG-3's first hole reached 11,662 metres (38,261 ft). The second hole
7832-428: Was started in January 1983 from a 9,300-metre (30,500 ft) depth of the first hole. In 1983, the drill passed 12,000 metres (39,000 ft) in the second hole, and drilling was stopped for about a year for numerous scientific and celebratory visits to the site. This idle period may have contributed to a breakdown after drilling resumed; on 27 September 1984, after drilling to 12,066 metres (39,587 ft),
7921-475: Was the 11th largest, according to SIPRI. Qatar has signed defense pacts with the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. The forward headquarters of United States Central Command , Al Udeid Air Base , is located in Qatar and houses about 10,000 American military personnel. During the 2011 military intervention in Libya , Qatar deployed six Mirage 2000 fighter jets to assist the NATO air campaign against
#95904