Modern day Doha, a wealthy retreat of luxurious hotels and air-conditioned malls, could not be further removed from its humble origins. Forsaken by early Stone Age settlers and left uninhabited for centuries, the Al-Thani family established the capital city in the middle of the 19th-century. At this time Qatar’s pearling industry was at its peak, yet the country remained desperately poor. The discovery of oil in 1939 changed Qatar’s fortunes and when it stepped up its oil production in the 1970s it was well on its way to becoming one of the world’s richest countries. Today Doha
is emerging as a key destination for business people and tourists. In 2006 the world’s media will thrust the capital further into the limelight as it hosts the Asian Games. Keen to attract new business and expand its tourist industry, development in Qatar has gone into overdrive, with a forest of skyscrapers and a new multi-billion dollar airport terminal both set to dramatically alter the face of Doha’s skyline. Old traditions, though, still shine through Doha’s ultra modern exterior in the guise of its markets and sailing boats. The city also enjoys an enviable location overlooking the Arabian Gulf, with easy access to Qatar’s inland sea (Khor al-Adaid), year-round sunshine, little rain and temperatures that rarely dip below 20ºC (68°F).
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