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105-734: The incidence of genetic disorders in Qatar is high, with the top three causes of death in the country being cancer, heart diseases, and diabetes. The government saw the creation of BRC as a strategy for proactively preventing diseases to help foster public health. BRC labs received the ISO/IEC - 17025 accreditation from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA). This research center focus on infectious diseases ( virology and microbiology ), metabolic disorders , and biomedical omics . Since its establishment in 2014,

210-813: 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

315-414: 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 )

420-597: 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,

525-567: 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

630-508: A day were broadcast from Doha, and the rest of the day's output was split equally between London, Kuala Lumpur, and Washington D.C. Among its staff were journalists hired from ABC 's Nightline and other top news outfits. Josh Rushing, a former media handler for CENTCOM during the Iraq war, agreed to provide commentary; David Frost was also on board. The new English language venture faced considerable regulatory and commercial hurdles in

735-534: 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

840-859: 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

945-414: A large global audience of over 430 million people. Originally conceived as a satellite TV channel delivering Arabic news and current affairs , it has since evolved into a multifaceted media network encompassing various platforms such as online, specialized television channels in numerous languages, and more. The network's news operation currently has 70 bureaus around the world that are shared between

1050-632: A loan of QAR 500 million ($ 137 million) to sustain Al Jazeera through its first five years, as Hugh Miles detailed in his book Al Jazeera: The Inside Story of the Arab News Channel That Is Challenging the West . Al Jazeera's first day on air was 1 November 1996. It offered 6-hours of programming per day which would increase to 12 hours by the end of 1997. It was broadcast to the immediate neighborhood as

1155-546: 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

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1260-423: 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

1365-811: 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

1470-551: A new carriage deal was agreed upon. On January 13, 2016, Al Jazeera America CEO Al Anstey announced that the network would cease operations on April 12, 2016, citing the "economic landscape". Al Jazeera Media Network also has a digital online-only news channel AJ+ . The channel is an online and mobile-only news channel primarily found on various social media networks and YouTube and operated by Al Jazeera New Media out of San Francisco, California . The channel consists of mostly On Demand content. It soft-launched on 13 June 2014 with

1575-474: A new webpage, Facebook page and videos on YouTube . The full channel launched with an app in September 2014. There are also Arabic and Spanish language versions of the channel. In 2004 Al Jazeera expanded into the world of sports with the establishment of Al Jazeera Sport (now known as beIN Sports ) and the building of 8 Arabic language specialty sports channels. On 1 January 2014, Al Jazeera Sport

1680-638: A partnership agreement with the China Intercontinental Communication Center . The same year, Al Jazeera and Bloomberg signed a content license agreement. In 2021, Al Jazeera partnered with Arewa 24 to provide its content in Hausa . In 2023, Al Jazeera partnered with Avid Technology . The network operates Aljazeera.com which is the main website for the Al Jazeera English , Al Jazeera Balkans and

1785-445: A podcast on freedom dubbed ( Freedom Stories, featuring Melissa Harris-Perry ), sex ( The Virgie Show ) with Virgie Tovar , and global music ( Movement ) with Meklit Hadero . In 2021, the network launched Rightly, an online news channel aimed at center-right American conservatives. The channel much like AJ+ is only available online, primarily on YouTube. The launch of the channel spurred questions from Al Jazeera staff questioning if

1890-629: 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

1995-401: A result, the channels were no longer free to view and made exclusive to beIN Channels Network. Al Jazeera Media Network also operates Al Jazeera Documentary Channel, an Arabic language documentary channel, Al Jazeera Mubasher , a live politics and public interest channel, which broadcasts conferences in real time without editing or commentary. Al Jazeera Mubasher is first channel of its kind in

2100-662: 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

2205-461: A terrestrial signal, and on cable, as well as through satellites (which was also free to users in the Arab world). 1 January 1999 was Al Jazeera's first day of 24-hour broadcasting. Employment had more than tripled in one year to 500 employees, and the agency had bureaus at a dozen sites as far as EU and Russia . Its annual budget was estimated at $ 25 million at the time. In 2001, Al Jazeera stood as

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2310-545: 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 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

2415-647: 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, 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

2520-493: 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

2625-445: 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

2730-479: 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

2835-604: Is not influenced or directed by the Qatari government, and that it does not reflect any official government viewpoints. The network has often been targeted by foreign governments that dispute the legitimacy of its coverage. During the Qatar diplomatic crisis , several Arab countries severed diplomatic ties with Qatar and imposed a blockade. One of their demands was the closure of Al Jazeera. Other media networks have spoken out against this demand. The original Al Jazeera Satellite Channel (then called JSC or Jazeera Satellite Channel)

2940-419: 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,

3045-943: Is the 29th most peaceful country in the world, according to the 2024 Global Peace Index . Al Jazeera Media Network Al Jazeera Media Network ( AJMN ; Arabic : الجزيرة , romanized :  Al-Jazīrah , lit.   'The Island' [æl (d)ʒæˈziːrɐ] ) is a private-media conglomerate headquartered in Wadi Al Sail , Doha, funded in part by the government of Qatar . The network's flagship channels include Al Jazeera Arabic and Al Jazeera English , which provide coverage of regional and international news, along with analysis, documentaries, and talk shows. In addition to its television channels, Al Jazeera has expanded its digital presence with platforms such as AJ+ , catering to younger audiences with formats and content tailored for online consumption. Al Jazeera broadcasts in over 150 countries and territories, and has

3150-650: 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

3255-584: 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

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3360-593: The Balkans . In February 2011, the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund of Turkey put Cine5 up for sale after the channel was confiscated when the owner Erol Aksoy went in debt and became bankrupt. Al Jazeera made a bid for the network and acquired it for $ 40.5 million after an unsuccessful $ 21 million bid. Al Jazeera then renamed the channel and worked on launching a Turkish language Al Jazeera operation. In April 2012, there were reports of

3465-785: 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,

3570-784: 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 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

3675-469: 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

3780-584: 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

3885-599: The United States . On 2 January 2013, Al Jazeera Media Network announced that it purchased Current TV from its founders Al Gore , Joel Hyatt , and Ronald Burkle , in the United States and would be launching an American news channel. Originally 60% of the channel's programming would be produced in America while 40% would be from Al Jazeera English, which later changed to almost all the content being U.S. originated. Though Current TV had large distribution throughout

3990-560: 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

4095-530: 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

4200-474: The Arab movements in the Middle East since Al Jazeera English covered and reported governmental human right abuses against political activists and even ordinary citizens in the Middle East . Al Jazeera media network operates a number of specialty channels besides its original flagship news channel. Al Jazeera network's TV channels include and included: In 2017, Al Jazeera signed a strategic partnership agreement with Google . In 2019, Al Jazeera signed

4305-574: The Arab states was broadcast by Al Jazeera in Arabic for the Arab world as well as in English for the audiences from the rest of the world. In Tunisia , the Ben Ali regime banned Al Jazeera from operating in the country, but with the help of Facebook users inside Tunisia , Al Jazeera was able to access reports from the events such as protests and government crackdowns that were taking place inside

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4410-521: The Arab world and surrounding regions. The center with an extensive network of distinguished researchers, and a wide range array of experts from across the globe, the center aims to promote dialogue and build bridges of mutual understanding and cooperation between cultures, civilizations, and religions. The center also contains the Al Jazeera Media Training and Development Center. The Al Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival

4515-593: 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

4620-598: The BBC. On September 9, 2005, Al Jazeera established a children's division with the launch of Al Jazeera Children's Channel (since 2013 it was known as JeemTV). The channel targets an audience of 7 to 15-year-olds and broadcasts 24 hours a day. On January 16, 2009, Baraem launched, the channel targets an audience of three to seven-year-olds and broadcasts 17 hours a day (6 am to 11 pm Doha time). On April 1, 2016, both JeemTV and Baraem were acquired by beIN Media Group and were made part of beIN Channels Network . Since then, as

4725-585: The BRC has published over 530 research papers. The centre's research projects encompass a range of areas, including: BRC Introduced the use of zebrafish as an animal model in biomedical research and established a facility for it in 2015. The facility is used as a research unit to study many genetic diseases. The Ministry of Public Health articulated an institutional research policy (IRP) on the use of zebrafish in research, which Qatar University backed. The BRC facilities include: Qatar Qatar , officially

4830-574: 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

4935-618: 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

5040-495: 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

5145-445: The Middle East in 2011. People in the Middle East have heavily relied on Al Jazeera to obtain news about their regions and the world even more than YouTube and Google. Hillary Clinton , who at the time of the Arab Spring was the U.S. Secretary of State stated that "Al-Jazeera has been the leader in that [it is] literally changing people’s minds and attitudes. And like it or hate it, it is really effective." The news of unrest in

5250-625: The Middle East. Al Jazeera restructured its operations to form a network that contains all their different channels. Wadah Khanfar , then the managing director of the Arabic Channel, was appointed as the Director-General of the Al Jazeera Network. He also acted as the managing director of the Arabic channel. Khanfar resigned on 20 September 2011, proclaiming that he had achieved his original goals and that eight years

5355-662: The North America market for its perceived sympathy with extremist causes. The channel eventually secured carriage on a small number of cable systems in the United States, including one in Washington, D.C. In 2011 Al Jazeera Media Network created Al Jazeera Balkans , a version of Al Jazeera in the Bosnian / Croatian / Serbian language(s) stationed in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina catering to and broadcasting around

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5460-518: 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

5565-422: 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

5670-564: 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

5775-403: 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

5880-501: 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

5985-405: 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

6090-426: 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

6195-402: 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

6300-438: The United States on cable and satellite TV, it averaged only 28,000 viewers at any time. The acquisition of Current TV by Al Jazeera allowed Time Warner Cable to drop the network due to its low ratings, but released a statement saying that they would consider carrying the channel after they evaluated whether it made sense for their customers. The channel was later added to Time Warner and Bright House Networks lineups after

6405-414: 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

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6510-423: The channel being delayed over its refusal to call the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) as terrorists , despite it being designated as a terrorist organization by many countries and supranational organisations including but not limited to Turkey , the United States , the EU , NATO , Israel , the United Kingdom , citing journalistic standards. The Foreign Ministry , who advocated the project, became at odds with

6615-552: The channel took away from Al Jazeera's mission to be non-partisan and from various media critics wondering if conservative audiences would watch a channel from Al Jazeera, a long time target of American conservatives. Al Jazeera Media Network owns and operates the Al Jazeera Center for Studies Al Jazeera Center for Studies . Established in 2006, the Al Jazeera Center for Studies conducts in-depth analysis of current affairs at both regional and global levels. Its research agenda focuses primarily on geopolitics and strategic developments in

6720-460: The channel. Vural Ak, a major Turkish investor, withdrew from the partnership with Al Jazeera. Nuh Yilmaz, head of Al Jazeera's Turkish editorial team, also resigned. In 2013 they announced the creation of Al Jazeera Türk, a version of Al Jazeera in the Turkish language(s), stationed in Istanbul, and catering to and broadcasting around Turkey. On January 22, 2014, Al Jazeera Türk's website was launched with news content. The move made Al Jazeera Türk

6825-448: 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

6930-414: 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 a British protectorate in 1916 and gained independence in 1971. The current emir

7035-466: The country. The intensive media coverage of people's uprising against their leaders by Al Jazeera mobilized more people from other parts of the country to join the revolution. The population in other Arab countries such as Bahrain , Egypt , Yemen , Libya , Syria also mobilized against their governments influenced by the Tunisian's successful revolt which was extensively covered by Al Jazeera in Arabic . The international opinion also came to support

7140-431: 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

7245-404: 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,

7350-427: 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

7455-470: The first 24-hour news operation to go digital before broadcast. The channel was under construction with plans to launch towards the end of 2014. Construction and indoor works were underway at the upcoming channel's building in Topkapı, İstanbul. The website shut down in 2017 without the channel being launched. Al Jazeera America was an American version of Al Jazeera English. The channel launched on 20 August 2013 exclusively on cable and satellite systems in

7560-507: 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

7665-471: 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

7770-606: 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

7875-523: 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

7980-486: The former Al Jazeera America web sites. For its Arabic language properties, it has Aljazeera.net. and for its Turkish properties Aljazeera.tr. On January 1, 2018, Al Jazeera launched a Mandarin-language news website becoming the first Middle Eastern news provider to target the Chinese audience. The staff of the project is in contact with their audience via Chinese social media like Weibo , Meipai and WeChat. In 2017,

8085-644: 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

8190-476: 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

8295-475: The introduction of English subtitles and dubbing of broadcast into English." In 2003, Al Jazeera hired its first English-language journalists, among whom was Afshin Rattansi , from the BBC's Today Programme . In March 2003, it launched an English-language website (see below ). The name of the website was "Al Jazeera Net"; it was launched by younger journalists. The site published various stories covered by

8400-657: 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

8505-505: 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

8610-493: 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

8715-463: 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

8820-566: The network launched a podcasting network called Jetty. Later renamed Al Jazeera Podcasts, the network is available via the network's website as well as SoundCloud , Apple Podcasts, Stitcher , TuneIn , and iHeartRadio . The network is based out of San Francisco alongside AJ+ and is available in English. Jetty debuted with the podcast Closer Than They Appear , a hybrid interview/narrative show hosted by writer Carvell Wallace . Other podcasts that debuted in 2018 included The Game of Our Lives which uses soccer to explain global economics and cultures,

8925-427: The network's channels and operations, making it one of the largest collections of bureaus among media companies globally. AJMN receives public funding from the Qatar government, which has led to disputes over whether the organization should be considered a public broadcaster or state media . Despite allegations that the government of Qatar has editorial control over its content, AJMN maintains that its reporting

9030-484: The network, but it did not depend on Arabic-language channels and websites. The website aimed to connect to the Western audience, cooperate with BBC, and be "a global citizen's home page." However, twelve hours after the launch of the website, "Al Jazeera Net" was kept offline due to many denial of service attacks. Over twenty-four hours later, "Al Jazeera Net" came back online however, Freedom Cyber Force Militia hacked

9135-417: 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

9240-439: 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 ,

9345-402: 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

9450-714: 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

9555-563: 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

9660-418: The sole international news network broadcasting from Kabul, Afghanistan. Following the events of 9/11, there was a notable surge in demand for an English-language version of Al Jazeera. Consequently, the network began considering the establishment of an English-language service. In late 2002, the director of marketing of Al Jazeera, Ali Mohamed Kama began to push a "repositioning" of Al Jazeera, "accompanied by

9765-469: 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

9870-415: 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

9975-468: 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

10080-592: The website to redirect web browsers to a picture of the American flag with a slogan saying "Let Freedom Ring". "Al Jazeera Net" was then unable to be securely hosted because three of Al Jazeera's web providers, Horizons Media, Information Services, and Akamai Technologies canceled the contract. Also in March, Yahoo and AOL stopped advertising contracts with Al Jazeera. Therefore, the English-translated website

10185-701: 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

10290-400: 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

10395-545: Was enough time for any leader of an organization, in an interview aired on Aljazeera English. On 26 November 2009, Al Jazeera English received approval from the CRTC, which enables Al Jazeera English to broadcast via satellite in Canada. In 2011, in accordance with the renaming of the corporation, Al Jazeera Media Network was legally re-designated from a "public institution to a 'private institution of public utility'"; however, it

10500-466: 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

10605-631: Was launched on 1 November 1996. This was following the closure of the first BBC Arabic language television station, then a joint venture with Orbit Communications Company , owned by Saudi King Fahd 's cousin, Khalid bin Faisal Al Saud . The BBC channel had closed after a year and a half when the Saudi government attempted to thwart a documentary pertaining to executions under sharia law . The Emir of Qatar , Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa , provided

10710-506: Was put off later in 2003. On 4 July 2005 Al Jazeera officially announced plans to launch a new English-language satellite service to be called Al Jazeera International . The new channel started at 12h GMT on 15 November 2006 under the name Al Jazeera English and launched with broadcast centers in Doha (next to the original Al Jazeera headquarters and broadcast center), London, Kuala Lumpur and Washington D.C. Initially, 12 hours of news

10815-503: Was renamed to beIN Sports after it along with all of the organisation's non- news and current affairs assets were spun off and privatised into beIN Media Group ; the channels were legally spun off to have consistency with all the Network's sports properties . According to Kate O'Brian , President of Al Jazeera America, Al Jazeera Sport revenue helped fund the network when it was in operation similar to how BBC Worldwide helps fund

10920-475: 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

11025-460: Was unknown how this would affect editorial management and funding. The network is also funded through its television contracts and revenue from its sports division. Al Jazeera covered the Arab spring more than any other news outlets and had a significant role in spreading the Arab uprising . Al Jazeera was the leading media spreading the news about unrest in a small city in Tunisia throughout

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