Qatar Holiday

The Middle Eastern state of Qatar has sweeping sand dunes, ancient stone carvings and an extensive coastline on the Persian Gulf.

The State of Qatar occupies the Qatar Peninsula and borders Saudi Arabia. It has only been issuing tourist visas since 1989 and has a small population of just 800,000 people.

However, with a great deal to offer in terms of architecture, history and beaches, Qatar is becoming increasingly popular as a tourist destination.

Dominated for thousands of years by the Persians, followed by Bahrain, the Ottoman Turks and the British, the state has been ruled by the al-Thani family since the mid 19th century and is now a booming Islamic state built on oil and gas wealth with some of the highest per capita revenues in the world.

Qatar became an independent state in 1971, having previously been a British protectorate. The emirate struggled during the 1980s and early 1990s because of the Amir's hold over the country's petroleum revenues, but has flourished since he was overthrown by his son in a bloodless coup in 1995.

With its extensive deserts and arid climate, Qatar was peopled by nomadic tribes since the Stone Age, with settlements evolving slowly around the coastline.

The capital Doha is the seat of Qatar's wealth and has an attractive bay, some excellent shops and restaurants and impressive modern architecture. Also of interest is the town of Umm Salal Mohammed, north of Doha, which is home to an old fort, a pretty mosque and the ruins of the fortifications.

There are a number of tourist attractions around the state, including Doha Zoo, the Qatar National Museum, housed in an old palace in Doha, the Al Wakra Museum and the Al-Zubara Regional Museum.

Elsewhere in the country, the Khor al Adaid 'inland sea' is stunning, with rolling sand dunes surrounding a clear blue inlet of the Persian Gulf. The Jebel Dukhan limestone outcrops west of Doha are the highest points in the country and camel racing takes place at the vast stadium at Al-Shahaniya.

Qatar tolerates drinking, but public bars tend to be mostly located in expensive hotels in the main population centres. Accommodation in Doha tends to be in large, luxurious modern hotels, while it is harder to find places to stay out of the city.

There are a number of outdoor activities of interest to tourists in Qatar, including four wheel drive rides in the sand dunes, desert safaris, horse riding, golf and sailing. Shoppers will delights in the bright colours, sights and smells of the markets (souqs).

Qatar is an Islamic state and visitors are advised to respect its religious customs, though it is relatively liberal compared with other countries in the region. The national language is Arabic, though English is widely spoken.

Summer in the state is particularly hot and humid, while the winter months between December and February are cooler and more pleasant.