20 Interesting Facts about Qatar you need to know

Looking for some interesting facts about Qatar? As a country of contrasts, where ancient traditions meet state of the art modernity, Qatar is undoubtedly a fascinating place with something interesting to discover behind every corner or over every sand dune.

At first glance, Qatar may seem like an ultra luxury country with the capital city of Doha filled with high tech skyscrapers, but when exploring deeper, it's also a country with a deep, rich history and fascinating culture.

Just outside the vibrant and bustling city of Doha, you'll find stunning desert landscapes, vast dunes, serene beaches and historical sites that offer a unique glimpse into Qatar.

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When visiting Qatar, there are lots of great things to do in Doha as well as the rest of the country. Some of the highlights to discover are one or more of the nearly countless souqs, the Doha skyline as seen from the Corniche, taking a city harbour dhow tour in the evening or a desert safari to discover the beautiful Inland Sea.

In order to get to know different aspects of the country, we have collected 20 interesting Qatar facts you need to know when visiting Qatar or Doha as a tourist.

Qatar gained independence in 1971

From 1916 to 1971, Qatar used to be a British Protectorate under British Rule. On September 3, 1971, Qatar gained its independence.

Doha is the capital city

After gaining independence from British protectorate status in 1971, Doha officially became the capital of Qatar. Previously a modest pearl and fishing village, Doha had already served as the administrative and economic center of the country since Qatar became a British-protected state in 1916.

The meaning of the qatar flag

The flag of Qatar consist of two colours; maroon and white connected by a serrated band with nine white points. The meaning of the serrated points is Qatar as being the ninth member of the 'reconciled emirates' in the Qatari-British treaty of 1916.

Hamad International Airport was chosen as the World's best airport in 2024

The international airport of Qatar in Doha was chosen as the 'World's Best Airport' in the 2024 Skytrax World Airport Awards. Named after the previous Emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Hamad International took over from Doha International in 2014 and has since been expanded while allowing for future expansion.

The airport has also been named as the 'Best Airport in the Middle East' for 10 years in a row. Should you have a long layover in Doha, don't hesitate to visit the city. You'll find more information in our guide about how to spend one night in Doha.

Qatar Airways was the worlds best airline in 2024

Qatar Airways, the national carrier of Qatar and based in Doha was chosen as the 'World's Best Airline' in the 2024 Skytrax World Airlines Awards.

Qatar is the worlds 2nd flattest country

The terrain in Qatar is predominantly flat with the majority of the country covered by a barren desert comprised of rocky plains, limestone outcrops, salt flats, beautiful sand dunes and long stretches of desert land.

Qatar is currently the world's second flattest country, after the Maldives.

The highest point in Qatar is 103 metres (338 ft.)

With an altitude of 103 metres or 338 feet, Qurain Abu al-Bawl is the highest point of Qatar. It is located near the border with Saudi Arabia in the south west of the peninsula. This makes Qatar the 7th country with the lowest natural high points in the world.

The Torch is the tallest hotel in Qatar

Standing at 300 meters (984 feet), the Torch Doha is the highest hotel in Qatar and one of the highest in the world. Also known as the Aspire Tower, it was built as the focal point for the 15th Asian Games hosted in Qatar in 2006.

The hotel has 360 degree panoramic views over Doha and features a revolving restaurant on the 47th floor, with the restaurant making a full circle every 90 minutes. Another stunning feature is the cantilevered swimming pool on the 19th floor.

TIP: To stay overnight in The Torch you can book your accommodation here or here.

Al Jazeera has its headquarters in Qatar

The news channel Al Jazeera was launched in 1996 from Doha, Qatar as the first independent news channel in the Arab world. Even though they are partly funded by the Qatari government, they still today operate independently from any such influence.

Qatar had the worlds longest continuous cycle path

In 2020, Qatar held the title for having the world's longest continuous cycle path according to the Guinness Book of World Records, achieved by the Public Works Authority Ashghal. The path was just under 33 km or 20 miles long.

However, in 2022, this record was broken by the Al Qudra cycling track in Dubai, which measures just over 80 km or 50 miles long.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Qatar

Al Zubarah, the largest archaeological site in Qatar, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013. It used to be a thriving trading and pearl fishing town in the 18th to 19th century. Located 100 kilometres (or 62 miles) northwest of Doha, it makes a great day trip to visit from Doha. This tour takes you to the highlights of Al Zubara and the north of Qatar from Doha.

Khor Al Adaid nature reserve is a unique inland sea or landlocked lagoon in the south east of Qatar, close to the border of Saudi Arabia. It is currently (as of 2024) on the tentative list to be included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Falcons are the national birds of Qatar

Falcons are birds of prey that are an important part of the national culture of Qatar. For over 4000 years, Bedouins or desert nomad tribes, used falcons to hunt game meat as a vital source of food for life in the desert. Even today, falconry is an important skill, valued not only as a form of historic art but also as a symbol of prestige.

The Falcon Souq in Doha is where these majestic birds are traded and can be visited. Falconry has also been recognized by UNESCO and has been inscribed in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, with Qatar as one of the contributing countries.

Qatar is a peninsula surrounded by the Persian Gulf

Qatar sits on the Qatar Peninsula and extends into the Persian Gulf. Due to it being surrounded on three sides by the Persian Gulf it consequently has one of the longest coastlines in the region, relative to its size. This coastline stretches approximately 563 kilometres or 350 miles along the Persian Gulf. Qatar only shares one land border with Saudi Arabia.

The Museum of Islamic Art is one of the most important museums of its kind

The Museum of Islamic Art or MIA, located in Doha, is considered one of the most important museums of Islamic art in the world. It houses an exceptional collection spanning over 1400 years of Islamic artefacts. The museum was opened in 2008 and is situated on an artificial island along the Doha Corniche and is one of the most iconic cultural landmarks of Doha.

The Qatar natural gas reserves are the third largest

Qatar has the third largest natural gas reserves in the world, after Russia and Iran which in turn plays an important role in the country's economy.

Qatar has one of the highest GDP per capita in the world

Mainly driven by its vast natural gas and oil reserves, Qatar has one of the highest GDP per capita in the world. However, Qatar is looking forward to diversify its economy in growth sectors such as logistics, tourism, sports, green energy and artificial intelligence.

PEarl diving used to be an IMPORTANT economic source

Before the discovery of oil and gas, Qatar was well known for its high quality pearls which played an important role in the economy. The pearls were harvested by divers at great depth who would dive without any diving or breathing equipment. Its peak was reached end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century.

Nowadays, pearls are still an important part of the cultural heritage of Qatar so there are still lots of shops selling them. They are a great souvenir from Qatar to bring back home.

Qatar has a small native population

Qatar is undoubtedly a country of expats. With a total population of just over 3 million inhabitants, less than 15% are Qatari citizens with the remaining 85% being expats from various countries around the world.

Qatar has the lowest female to male ratio

The female to male ratio in Qatar is 1 woman for every 3 men, so only ~33% of the population living in Qatar is female. This makes Qatar the country with the lowest female to male ratio in the world.

The 2022 Fifa World Cup soccer was hosted in Qatar

Qatar was the first Middle Eastern country to host the FIFA Soccer World Cup in 2022. But, unlike almost all other World Cups which are normally held in the northern hemisphere summer (June/ July), the 2022 World Cup was scheduled in the cooler months of November and December to avoid the extreme heat, even though all the stadiums were air conditioned. On the other hand, the 2010 World Cup Soccer in South Africa was held in June/July where temperatures dropped to almost freezing in some stadium locations.