History
Qatar has a rich and vibrant history that can be traced back as far as 4000 BC. Throughout the centuries, the fishing and pearling trades have established Qatar as an important port in the Gulf. With the expansion and growth of its oil and gas industries, the port and the country maintains its international importance.
The Al-Thani family began its rule of Qatar in the 18th century, and today you can still see the positive influence this family has on the growth and development of Qatar. When the present Emir, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, came to power in 1995, he brought a modern and positive approach that transformed the country into an ideal host for major sporting events and international conferences, as well as a luxurious tourist destination.

Geography
Surrounded by water on three sides, Qatar is a peninsula in the Gulf region with its only land border existing at the southern end where Qatar meets Saudi Arabia. The entire county is approximately 240 kilometres from north to south, and less than 160 kilometres wide.



Climate
Qatar enjoys sunshine just about every day of the year. The average temperatures during the summer range from 38°C to 48°C during the day, while winter temperatures can range from 24-34C during the day. One can swim nearly year round in the Gulf, or in the many hotel pools. Qatar also offers an abundance of water sports, desert and city tours, and fine dining and shopping. Once the sunsets, you can enjoy a moonlight stroll along the Corniche, or view the skyline from Doha Bay on a traditional dhow. This clean and pristine environment offers visitors ideal conditions to completely unwind and enjoy their time in Qatar.

Clothing
In their daily lives, Qataris wear traditional dress. For men this means a long, white shirt, called a thobe. The thobe is crisp and welcoming in appearance and worn over white trousers. A head covering, or gutra, is secured with four black, tasseled cords which are intricately braided. Women wear a long black flowing dress called an abayah, and some women choose to wear a veil. The dresses are discretely interwoven with delicate threads and patterns, and each one is an individual creation. The contrast created between the men’s white shirt and women’s black dress is breathtaking. It symbolizes the difference between men and women, while the long shirt and dress indicate the similarities.

For special events and times of tradition, Qataris don their ceremonial clothing. Decorated with elaborate embroidery in both gold and silver, this clothing has been the inspiration for many international fashion designers.

Culture
The people of Qatar are friendly, and make visitors feel very welcome. Arabic is the official language, although English is widely used. Qatar is an Islamic state, which guides not only the religious beliefs of Qataris, but also plays a large part in daily living.

Beautiful mosques are located throughout the country for daily prayers, and Qataris are guided by the Muslim teachings and values. Primarily a Bedouin culture, Qatar’s traditions are based on poetry and song, while amazing art is created through weaving. Using tools made from both wood and gazelle horn, weavers work with sheep, goat, and camel wool to create beautiful rugs, tents, and cushions.
  






Currency
The official currency is the Qatari Riyal (QR), which divides into 100 Dirhams. Banknote denominations include 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 500. Coinages includes 25 and 50 dirhams. The Riyal exchange rate is pegged to the US Dollar at QR 3.65.

General Information
Time - GMT +3 hours
Electricity - 240V + 6% with frequency of 50 Hertz
Telephone - Qatar has direct dialing with 215 countries (Country code is +974 )

From the Qatar Tourism Authority