Qatar 2026-27 "Prestige"

Qatar, the peninsula on the Persian Gulf.

Qatar is a peninsular state in the central-eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, overlooking the Persian Gulf; the terrain is entirely flat and desert-like and, as in other countries of this part of the world, the economy is based on the exploitation of oil fields. The coastline runs for a total of 550 kilometres and features a number of inlets and bays. The Qatari peninsula is fringed by several islands, all small in size and in some cases transformed and reshaped by human engineering.

There are no permanent rivers or lakes, owing to the country’s position, climate and soil composition. The climate is arid desert, with very hot summers and practically no rainfall, while winters are very short and bring some rain, albeit in small amounts.

The country is divided into 7 municipalities, with almost the entire population living in urban areas (99%).

Around two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the urban area of the capital, Doha (587,000 inhabitants; 1,825,000 in the metropolitan area), a city that has grown at breakneck speed since the early years of this century (in 2000 it had around 300,000 inhabitants); the other main centres are Al Rayyan (590,000 inhabitants), on the western outskirts of Doha, Al-Wukayr (165,000), Ash-Shahaniyah (139,000) and Adh-Dhakhirah (100,000). The huge wave of immigration at the start of the century, driven by the great demand for labour, especially in the construction sector, has brought the proportion of Qatari nationals down to the current 14%. Foreign workers are mainly Indian (27%), Nepalese (17%), Filipino (9%) and Bangladeshi (7%). Islam is the most widely practised religion, with 68% of the population, followed by Christianity (14%), Hinduism (14%) and Buddhism (3%).

The Souq of Doha.

Among the high-rise buildings and vast shopping malls of a modern city, what surprises and captivates more than anything else is undoubtedly the capital’s bazaar. Doha’s Souq Waqif is not actually that old compared with those of other Qatari cities. It dates from the mid-20th century, but it is large, well kept and a real pleasure to visit; what is more, with its sounds, colours and scents, it will make you feel right in the heart of the Middle East. It is crossed by a few broad streets lined with the outdoor tables of cafés and restaurants and countless shops. The best part, however, lies in the narrow inner lanes with their traditional little shops, run exclusively by men, where thick walls and ceiling fans do their best to soften the city’s scorching temperatures. Here you can browse ceramics and fabrics, spices, Arab sweets, saffron, candied fruit, textiles and traditional garments such as the “thobe” for men and the “abaya” for women.

The capital’s souq also has an area devoted to gold and jewellery. The most famous here is the “Gold Souq” on Grand Hamad Street, where gold is sold by weight and is generally 24 carat. Don’t miss the traditional wedding jewellery that every man is expected to give his bride-to-be, so that she can wear it on her wedding day. Amid all this you will find the inevitable tourist souvenirs: flags, mugs and T-shirts, often dedicated to the Emir of Qatar.