Qatar is located in western Asia. It is only bordered by one other country and that is Saudi Arabia, the rest is surrounded by the Persian Gulf. The country is home to about 2.5 million people. They use currency known as the Riyal (Rial), or QAR, for short. These are a few quick facts you might already be familiar with when it comes to Qatar, but the rest of the facts listed here may not be so well-known.
Here are the top 10 facts about Qatar you need to know, especially if you’re planning a trip there or taking part in your local pub’s next trivia night!
Qatar will be hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022
The FIFA World Cup is one of the most watched sporting events in the world and Qatar will be the first Middle Eastern country to host the prestigious event. Due to the intense heat of the desert country they are aiming for the months of November and December for this event as opposed to the normal May through July. This is to benefit the guests and also those that are participating in the sporting events.
They have some of the lowest gas prices in the world today
Qatar is one of the leading producers of liquid petroleum gas and pretty much the biggest exporter of this product. They have the third largest oil/gas reserves in the world. With that being said you can expect lower gas prices when you come to Qatar. In fact, in 2018 the cost of a liter of gasoline was just in between 50 and 60 cents. The government also provides a subsidy to its citizens so that they can pay even less for gas.
Camel racing is considered a sport
Just like greyhound and horse racing in the United States is a popular sport, they race camels in Qatar. In order to keep the weight to an absolute minimum, children were used to jockey the camels during the races, but that led to many injuries and accidents. Now they do not use live jockeys, instead they control the camels remotely by using robots.
Speaking of sports, they are also very serious about their falcons in Qatar. They have stores dedicated to these amazing birds of prey and falconry competitions and championships. For many citizens of Qatar falconry is a huge part of their culture.
Qatar is known to be the safest country in the world
When it comes to natural disasters you needn’t worry about hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, or any other disaster movie scenario. The only thing you may need to worry about here is the occasional dust/sand storm. Also, due to the sophisticated culture and the harsh punishments set by the Qatari law enforcement, the crime rate in this country is extremely low, too!
Camping is very popular in Qatar
Qataris and foreign nationals love to go camping whether it is by the beach or into the desert. There are several popular camping destinations in the outskirts of Doha. One of the most popular spots for camping is Sealine Beach in Mesajeed.
Al Jazeera is funded by the Qatari government
Al Jazeera, a very well-known media outlet, is funded by the state of Qatar. It is a major global media conglomerate and is headquartered Qatar’s capital, Doha. Al Jazeera happens to be the second largest government funded media outlet next to the BBC. It has been in business since November 1996 and has seen a steady growth since then.
Qatar’s airport is home to the most expensive teddy bear on Earth
There is a giant teddy bear sculpture created by the famous Swiss artists, Urs Fischer, located inside the Hamad International Airport. It is a huge tourist attraction in Doha. It was originally bought by a Qatari royal at an auction in New York City for almost $7,000,000. It is known as “Lamp Bear” and weighs a whopping 35,000 pounds.
Qatar has exactly 0 forests
If you’re the type to like a nice, relaxing walk in the woods or forest, you’d do well to look elsewhere. Qatar, being a desert country with an extremely arid climate, has no natural forests. You can, however, find some mangroves in the northern portion of Qatar. You can also find some nice green shrubbery and trees inside Aspire Park, although those have been imported from other parts of Asia.
They have an indoor snow park inside a mall
It’s not impossible to beat the heat when in Qatar. The Doha Festival City Mall is home to Snow Dunes, an indoor snow park that is over 9,500 square meters in size. There are multiple packages available for entrance and all include the necessary snow gear, like jackets and boots. There are multiple rides and attractions for every member of the family to enjoy and even a little cafe with warm beverages and tasty treats to enjoy. As an added bonus fact, this mall is also home to an Angry Birds theme park.
Qatar has some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving
If you’re a fan of water sports you will be happy to know that there’s no shortage of water activities here. You can see all sorts of wildlife, like dugongs, barracuda, cuttlefish, and sharks. Pearl fishing is a big tourist adventure in Qatar, too. If you want to try something new you might want to consider going pearl fishing. If you are really lucky, you may even find an oyster that contains a valuable pearl in it.
Qatar is one of the world’s richest countries and will continue being so due to their vast wealth, great business skills, and amazing travel appeal. There is no doubt that they will become even more popular after they host the FIFA world cup in 2022 and all the visitors see what an amazing place it is to visit.
Qatar is full of surprises and special customs that make visiting a real treat. It’s always important, whenever traveling to a new country, to become familiar with the customs and traditions practiced in the region. Enjoy and immerse yourself in the Qatari culture and take comfort in knowing that this country is one of the best places you can visit in the whole world.
