Qatar achieved full independence from the United Kingdom on 3 September 1971. Arab states were among the first to recognize Qatar, and the country gained admittance to the United Nations and the Arab League in the same year. Qatar established diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, and Communist China in 1988. The country was an early member of OPEC and a founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Qatar is a strategic ally of China, with relationship between the two countries growing stronger.
Hamad International Airport is the sole international airport in the state of Qatar. Located south of its capital, Doha, it replaced the former Doha International Airport as Qatar's principal airport.
Qatar, officially the State of Qatar, is a country located in Western Asia, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with neighbouring Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) monarchy Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its territory surrounded by the Persian Gulf. The Gulf of Bahrain, an inlet of the Persian Gulf, separates Qatar from nearby Bahrain.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Qatar face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar, with a punishment of up to 3 years in prison and a fine for consenting males, and could lead to the death penalty for Muslims under sharia law; however, there are no known cases that the death penalty was enforced for homosexuality. There is also prevailing cultural mores which view homosexuality and cross-dressing negatively. The Qatari government does not recognize same-sex marriage or civil partnerships, nor does it allow people in Qatar to campaign for LGBT rights.
Al Khor is a coastal city in northern Qatar, located 50 kilometres north of the capital, Doha. Considered one of Qatar's largest cities, it is the capital city of the municipality of Al Khor. The name of the city means creek in Arabic; it was given this name because the original settlement was built on a creek.
Al Khor, officially Al Khor and Al Thakhira, is a municipality in the State of Qatar. Al Khor City, the municipal seat, is located in the northeast coast of Qatar, around 50 kilometres from the capital, Doha and it is considered to be one of the major cities in Qatar. Al Thakhira is the second largest settlement in the municipality after Al Khor City.
The Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rosary is a Roman Catholic church in Doha, Qatar. It is located, along with churches of other Christian denominations, at the Religious Complex in Abu Hamour. It is the first church built in the country since the Muslim conquests in the 7th century.
Sheikha Abdulla Al-Misnad is a Qatari academic who has occupied numerous positions in teaching, administration, and research for over three decades. She assumed presidency of Qatar University in 2003. Before assuming presidency, she served the university as Vice President for Research and Community Development (2000–2003), Head of the Department of Foundations of Education (1992–1995), and as a member of the University Council.
Villaggio Mall is a shopping mall located in the Aspire Zone in the west end of Doha, the capital city of Qatar. It is located on Al Waab street between the Hyatt Plaza and Sports City and has over 200 stores, including many famous brands in the U.S., U.K., Italian and German markets.
Doha is the capital and most populous city of the State of Qatar. It has a population of 956,460 (2015). The city is located on the coast of the Persian Gulf in the east of the country, North of Al Wakrah and South of Al Khor. It is Qatar's fastest growing city, with over 80% of the nation's population living in Doha or its surrounding suburbs, and it is political and economic center of the country.
Israel–Qatar relations refers to the historic and current bilateral relationship between Israel and Qatar. Qatar established trade relations with the State of Israel in 1996.
Al Jazeera, owned by the Qatari government, is currently one of the largest news organizations in the world. With 80 bureaus around the globe, Al Jazeera produces extensive news coverage through various media platforms in several languages, including Arabic and English. While Al Jazeera has a large audience, the organization, particularly the original Arabic channel, has faced criticism for its involvement in several controversies ranging from slanted journalism to anti-semitism.
Women in Qatar Qatar's policies regarding women's rights is restricted due to the male guardianship law. and restrictions influenced by the Wahhabi interpretation of Islam. Both women and men were enfranchised in the country at the same time, in 1999. Labor force participation rates of Qatari women are above the world average and among the highest in the Arab World, which comes mainly as a result of an increasing number of Qatari women who are attaining academic degrees.
Matthew and Grace Huang are an American couple who were wrongfully convicted by the judicial system of Qatar in March 2014 of neglecting their daughter, thus leading to her death. However, on November 30, 2014, the Appellate Court of Qatar declared the Huangs innocent, and three days later lifted the travel ban allowing them to return home and be reunited with their sons.
Al Raya is an Arabic daily newspaper published in Doha, Qatar. It is semi-official newspaper of the country and is one of the five leading Qatari dailies. As for Arabic dailies published in the country Al Raya is among the three major newspapers along with Al Sharq and Al Watan.
The mass media in Qatar relays information and data in Qatar by means of television, radio, cinema, newspapers, magazines and the internet. Qatar has established itself as a leading regional figure in mass media over the past decade. Al Jazeera, a global news network which was established in 1996, has become the foundation of the media sector. The country uses media to brand itself and raise its international profile.
The National Museum of Qatar is a national museum in Doha, Qatar. The museum opened to the public on 28 March 2019. The building, which was constructed in place of the original Qatar National Museum, was designed by architect Jean Nouvel who got his inspiration from the desert rose crystal, which can be found in Qatar. The museum site includes Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani's Palace, which is the heart of the Qatari national identity.
Al Jazeera is a Qatari state-owned broadcaster based in Doha, Qatar, owned by the Al Jazeera Media Network. Initially launched as an Arabic news and current affairs satellite TV channel, Al Jazeera has since expanded into a network with several outlets, including the internet and specialty television channels in multiple languages.
Hamad Port is Qatar's main seaport, located south of Doha in the Umm Al-Houl area. Construction of the port began in 2010; it became operational in December 2016. It was officially opened in September 2017, and is expected to become fully operational by 2020. Capable of handling up to 7.8 million tonnes of products annually, the bulk of trade which passes through the port consists of food and building materials.
Lekhwair is a district in Qatar, located in the municipality of Ad Dawhah. It is close to the West Bay district.
