Qatar History and Culture

Stone tools and rock carvings at Al Jassasiya show that people have lived on the Qatar peninsula for thousands of years. For centuries small fishing and pearling villages lined its shores, while Bedouin tribes moved with their herds through the interior.

In the 18th century Al Zubarah, on the northwest coast, grew into one of the Gulf's busiest pearling and trading towns; its excavated remains are Qatar's World Heritage Site. In the 19th century Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani and his son Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, regarded as the founder of modern Qatar, united the tribes. National Day, December 18, honors Sheikh Jassim.

Oil was discovered at Dukhan in 1939, and natural gas later made Qatar one of the world's wealthiest nations. Independence came in 1971. Qatar National Vision 2030 has invested in education, culture and sport. Read about the royal family of Qatar, pearling history and Qatar National Vision 2030.

Qatar has become one of the world's great patrons of art. I. M. Pei's Museum of Islamic Art rises from the sea like a geometric fortress of light; Jean Nouvel's National Museum of Qatar is shaped like a desert rose crystal; and public art by Richard Serra and others appears in the desert and across Doha. Read more on Islamic art and architecture.

Traditional architecture survives in the wind towers and courtyards of Msheireb and Souq Waqif, rebuilt with care. Sadu weaving, dhow building and the songs of the pearl divers remain treasured heritage.

Qatar was the first Arab country to host the FIFA World Cup, in 2022. The inland sea of Khor Al Adaid is one of the few places on earth where the desert meets the sea. Qatar's Education City hosts branches of several American universities. Plan your trip with our Qatar luxury travel guide and our page on Doha's luxury hotels.