December 18: National Day in Qatar
Prayer Idea
Pray for the people and government of Qatar.
Map by Peter Hermes Furian / Shutterstock.com.
History Note
Qatar is a peninsula in the Persian Gulf bordering Saudi Arabia. For a long time, its population consisted mostly of nomadic Bedouins and a few small fishing villages.
In 1766 people from Kuwait, including members of the Khalifa family, established the town of Al-Zubārah. The Khalifas went on to conquer and rule Bahrain in 1783. Various sheikhs ruled the peninsula for the next several decades.
The British expanded their influence in the region in the 1800s. They signed a treaty with Mohammed ibn Thani in 1868, which established the Thani family as preeminent in the country. Mohammed ibn Thani’s son, Jassim, came to power on December 18, 1878. He is considered the founder of modern Qatar, and that date is celebrated as National Day.
The discovery of oil led to major growth in Qatar’s economy starting in 1949. Qatar was a founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in 1981, along with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Oman. The GCC is a political and economic alliance.
Qatar is officially a constitutional monarchy, though the Thani family has nearly full control of the government. The government seeks to walk a fine line in international relations. For example, Qatar is home to a large U.S. military base, which was important in the 21st-century wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It also funds the Al Jazeera news organization, which is often critical of the U.S. and its allies in the Middle East (but rarely critical of Qatar).
The population of Qatar is 2.5 million, but only about 300,000 are ethnic Qataris. The rest are expatriates from Asia, Africa, and other nations who fill a variety of jobs, from domestic workers to professionals. Islam is the state religion, though others, primarily Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists, are allowed to practice their faith.
Celebrating National Day with a sword dance in Doha, Qatar (2017). Photo by Shadow of light / Shutterstock.com.
Learn More
This video shows footage of Qatar with a patriotic song sung by Fahad Al Kubaisi. It is sponsored by Qatar Airways.
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