Qatar - Art

Link - http://www.qatarvisitor.com/index.php?cID=412&pID=977

This is a Traditional Qatari Handicraft.The weaving is called Sadhew weaving which is a tradition of Bedouin craft. They uses strands of sheep, goat or camel hair in this weaving. Sadhew weaving is still done in the Heritage Village.

Qatar Visitor. "Sadhew Weaving in Qatar". Qatar Tourist Info. http://www.qatarvisitor.com/index.php?cID=412&pID=977(Accessed on June 5,2009).

Qatar: Recent Article

The article is called “New Qatar court will blend legal cultures of West and East.” It said that Qatar established a new civil and commercial court. The president of court is Lord Woolf, which is a former chief justice of Wales and England. This establishment is part of the Qatar Financial Centre. Qatar government wanted to attract multinational cooperation that deal with investment and financial services.
Basically the task of the court is to create laws and procedures using the common law and civil code of Qatari law. Other places such as Dubai and London have this type of court before Qatar. The article speculates that in the future these courts might work together. The article also contains quotes from the judges and Lord Woolf himself.

Gibb, Frances. “New Qatar court will blend legal cultures of West and East”. Times Newspapers Ltd. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article6426215.ece (Accessed on June 4, 2009).

Ruling Powers - Qatar

7th Century - Qatar was ruled by King Al Munthir bin Sawi Al Tameemi.

1517 to 1538 - Qatar was ruled by the Portuguese.

1872 - Sheikh Qassim bin Mohammed Al Thani accepted Qatar's sovereignty. Under Ottoman Empire rule.

1893 - Deteriorating relation with Ottomans. King Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Al-Saud of the resurgent Wahhabis ruled.

1916 - Sheikh Abdullah bin Qassim Al Thani of Al Thani Family ruled Qatar.

1949 - British recognize Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani as a ruler.

May 1970- Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad became Prime Minister of Qatar and Qatar became an Independence state on September 1971.

April 2003 - A new constitution was approved by the Qataris.

Explore Qatar. "Qatar History". Explore Qatar. http://www.explore-qatar.com/info/Facts-and-Figures/Qatar-History/(Accessed on June 3, 2009).

Qatar : World War I

Qatar was part of the British Empire during World War I with the Al-thani family ruling it. Qatar signed an agreement in 1916 with Britain for protection but limited its foreign powers. The country was doing poorly during the time with poverty, malnutrition and disease. It is unknown whether it was a direct result of the war. Since the switch to British Empire didn’t change the ruling family the country operation should had remained the same.

American School of Doha. “Life in Qatar”. American School of Doha. http://www.asd.edu.qa/page.cfm?p=368 (accessed on June 2, 2009).

Qatar : 1258-1922

In the 16th century, the Turks drive out the Portuguese in Qatar. During this time, Qatar was under the rule of Ottoman Empire. Ottoman Empire didn’t have much of an effect on Qatar during its rule. The Al-Khalifa family controlled a portion of the peninsula until the AL-Thani family took over. During the rule of the third emir, Sheikh Abdullah, the Turks were driven out. This was due to WWI when Turkey was on the other side of Britain. Afterward, British took control Qatar foreign power and in return they protected Qatar. This control ended 49 years after the decline of the Ottoman Empire.

Lonely Plant."Qatar History". lonelyplanet.com.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/qatar/history(Accessed on June 1, 2009).

Brief History of Qatar : 661-1258 AD

Near the end of the 7th century Islam have spread through the area of what now is Qatar. In 750 AD the area was part of the Umayyid dynasty. Since Qatar didn’t exist until later on, very little was known about the country during this time.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Qatar. London: Stacey International, 2000.

Architectural Wonders

Islamic -


Link - http://www.qatarvisitor.com/index.php?cID=415&pID=1281

The Museum of the Islamic Arts: The museum displays Islamic Art and artifact. The building was designed by a Chinese American named Pei. The building was build using Islamic design and is located in Doha.

Non –Islamic


Link -http://www.middleeasthub.com/qatar/tourist-attractions/ethnographic-museum.html

Ethnographic Museum: The museum house the history of the region in Doha. It is the only kind left in Doha. It was built in 1935.


Link-http://www.middleeasthub.com/qatar/tourist-attractions/umm-salal-mohammed.html

Qatar national museum: The museum displays the collection of Islamic relicts and artifacts. The museum is the largest one in Doha.

Qatar Visitor. “The Islamic Museum in Qatar” .Qatar Tourist Info. http://www.qatarvisitor.com/index.php?cID=415&pID=1281(accessed May 28,2009).

Middle East Hub. " Ethnographic Museum, Qatar ". Middleeasthub.com. http://www.middleeasthub.com/qatar/tourist-attractions/ethnographic-museum.html (accessed May 28, 2009).

Middle East Hub. " Qatar national museum". Middleeasthub.com. http://www.middleeasthub.com/qatar/tourist-attractions/qatar-national-museum.html (accessed May 28, 2009).

Traditions of Islam in Qatar

Since a majority of Qatari are Muslims, the traditions that are practiced relate to Islam. Most Arab women cover most their body when going outside. “The traditional black overgarment (abaya) is ankle length with long sleeves and a high neckline, and the hair is covered” (“People and Culture”). It depends on how strict the husbands are and how much the women want to cover up. Men are encouraged to wear a “thobe, a loose, ankle-length robe made from fine white cotton (“People and Culture”). Their culture is based on Bedouin poetry, song and dance and they do traditional dances called Ardah. Ardah is "a stylized martial dance performed by two rows of dancers who are accompanied by an array of percussion instruments, including al-ras (a large drum whose leather is heated by an open fire), tambourine and cymbals, along with small drums (“People and Culture”). Other than this, they have two main religious holiday that they celebrate Eid Al Fitr, which follows Ramadan and Eid Al Adha, which is 40 days after Eid Al Fitr.

@llo’ Expat. “People and Culture”. AlloExpat.com. http://www.qatar.alloexpat.com/qatar_information/culture_qatar.php (accesed on May 26,2009).

Islam in Qatar

Islam plays an important role in how the country operates. Base on the Middle East Hub, about 90% of Qatari adherents to Islam. Out of the Qatari adherents to Islam, 10% are Shia and 90 % are Sunni. Other than Islam there are Hinduism and Christianity in Qatar. In Maps of World, it said that Islam started around the 7^th century.

Sources-

Middle East Hub. "Language and Religion in Qatar." Middleeasthub.com. http://www.middleeasthub.com/qatar/culture/language-religion.html (accessed May 24 ,2009)

"Qatar Religion". Mapsofworld.com. http://www.mapsofworld.com/qatar/people-culture-festivals/religion.html(accessed on May 24,2009)

Qatar Religion

Link - http://www.ancient-symbols.com/islam-symbol.jpg

The primary religion of Qatar is Islam. The religion stretches back to the 7th centuries. Most of the Qatari practice Sunni Islam religion. Sunni hold a good amount of political and religious authority. There is a small Shiite community in Qatar. The Sunni and Shi’a were separated on theological ground.

Source -

Mapsofworld.com. "Qatar Religion". Mapsofworld.com. http://www.mapsofworld.com/qatar/people-culture-festivals/religion.html(accessed on May 21,2009)

Old architecture in Qatar

This is Al-Koot fort which is located in Doha. The fort was built in 1927 by Sheikh Abdullah bin Qassim Al-Thani. The fort was build to protect against thieves.

Source -

Member of Qatar Foundation. "Al-Koot fort".Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar. http://www.heritageofqatar.org/sites/koot.htm(accessed on May 20,2009).

Language of Qatar

Arabic is the language that has been and is currently spoken in Qatar. Due to the English speaking working class, English is also spoken in Qatar.

Source -

Middle East Hub."Language and Religion in Qatar".Middle East Hub.http://www.middleeasthub.com/qatar/culture/language-religion.html(accessed on May 20,2009).

Qatar about 2000 B.C.

Qatar was part of Mesopotamia during this time.

Link - http://ant3145-mesopotamia.wikispaces.com/file/view/mesopotamia_map.gif

Three stereotypes

1. anti-Semitic - 'media regularly turn out ugly and hateful images of Jews and Israel' ("Qatar Source of Anti-Semitic Incitement; ADL Says Anti-Jewish Images 'Rampant' in Leading Newspaper")

Anti-Defamation League."Qatar Source of Anti-Semitic Incitement; ADL Says Anti-Jewish Images 'Rampant' in Leading Newspaper".Anti-Defamation League. http://www.adl.org/PresRele/ASaw_14/4270_62.htm(Accessed on May 19,2008).

Other than this it is hard to find out other stereotypes but I believe the following could be stereotypes based on why I know about the country.

2.People thinking that the Qatari are rich like there neighbor Saudi Arabia because of there oil. - "oil and gas still account for more than 50% of GDP"("Qatar")

CIA - The World Factbook."Qatar" CIA - The World Factbook. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/qa.html(Accessed on May 19,2009).

3. The Qatari are misleading - People who expect high paying jobs when they get to Qatar are forced to work in low paying jobs.

"Qatar".Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar.(Accessed May 19, 2009).

Qatar rides the oil boom - 06 June 2008

AlJazeeraEnglish. "Qatar rides the oil boom = 06 June 2008".YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=318jZ3IU04(accessed on May 19,2009).

Pictures of Doha - Capital of Qatar

Avanes, Armond 2004. "Qatar Gallary - doha city". JAlbum. http://www.qatarembassy.net/Qatar%20Gallery/doha%20city/index.asp(accessed on May 19, 2009)

Three Geographical features:

1. Qurayn Abu al Bawl - highest point in Qatar which is 103 meters
2. Sand Dunes - begin about half way down the peninsula
3. Duhul - large caves, widespread on the peninsula of Qatar

Sources -

Oxford Business Group. "Qatar - Country Profile". Oxford Business Group. 2008 http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/country.asp?country=29 (accessed May 18, 2009).

Explore Qatar. "Geography » Geo Features »". explore Qatar. http://www.explore-qatar.com/info/Facts-and-Figures/Geography/Geo-Features-01.htm(accessed May 18, 2009).

Qatar Map

Intute - World Guide - Qatar. “Country Outline Map” Intute. http://www.intute.ac.uk/sciences/worldguide/html/998_map.html(accessed May 18, 2009).