[[Asia]] | [[Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani]] | [[Witkoff Group]] | [[Qatar Holding LLC]] | [[Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani]] | [[1970s]] | [[Doha]] | [[Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani]] | [[Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani]] | [[United Nations]] | [[WW III]] | [[Donald Trump, 45]] ### Culture - **Ramadan 2026:** The country is currently observing the holy month of **Ramadan** (which began mid-February). This is a period of spiritual reflection where the pace of daily life slows during the day, followed by lively **Iftars** and **Suhoors** in the evenings. - **National Sports Day:** Earlier this month (February 10), Qatar celebrated its unique National Sports Day, a public holiday dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles through nationwide sporting activities. - **Hospitality:** Qatari culture is centered on generosity. Majlis gatherings are the primary social venue, where guests are traditionally served dates and Arabic coffee. - **Cuisine:** **Machboos** (spiced rice with meat or seafood) is the national dish. During Ramadan, local favorites like **Harees** (beaten wheat and meat) and **Luqaimat** (sweet dumplings) are highly popular. ### Language - **Official Language:** **Arabic**. - **Daily Usage:** **English** is the primary language of business and is spoken fluently by the vast majority of the population, which includes over 80% expatriates. ### Important Landmarks - **The Pearl-Qatar:** A massive man-made island featuring luxury residences, high-end shopping, and Mediterranean-style marinas. - **Museum of Islamic Art (MIA):** An architectural masterpiece on the Doha Corniche housing one of the world's most complete collections of Islamic artifacts. - **Souq Waqif:** The traditional heart of Doha, a centuries-old market known for spices, handicrafts, and the Falcon Hospital. - **National Museum of Qatar:** Known as the "Desert Rose" for its unique interlocking disc design, it tells the story of the nation's past and future. - **Lusail Stadium:** The 88,000-seat stadium that hosted the 2022 World Cup Final and remains a symbol of the country's sporting legacy. ### Major Historical Events 1. **Independence (September 3, 1971):** Qatar ended its treaty relationship with Britain to become a fully independent state. 2. **The Natural Gas Boom (1990s):** The development of the **North Field**, the world's largest non-associated gas field, transformed Qatar into one of the wealthiest nations on Earth. 3. **2022 FIFA World Cup:** The first time the tournament was held in the Arab world, serving as a massive catalyst for infrastructure and tourism development. 4. **Web Summit Qatar (February 1–4, 2026):** Earlier this month, Doha hosted the third edition of the Web Summit, attracting 30,000 tech leaders and investors from around the world. 5. **Qatar Open 2026 (February 21, 2026):** Just today, Spanish tennis star **Carlos Alcaraz** won the Qatar Open title in Doha, continuing his undefeated start to the 2026 season. 6. **Regional Diplomacy (February 2026):** This week, Qatar has been a central player in regional diplomacy, with the Prime Minister receiving calls from Iranian officials to discuss regional de-escalation. ### Major Exports Qatar’s economy remains one of the strongest in the world, with a significant trade surplus of roughly **QAR 14.1 billion** as of early 2026. - **Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG):** Qatar is the world's leading exporter. The "North Field East" expansion is currently on track to increase capacity by 40% throughout 2026. - **Petroleum Products:** Including crude oil, condensates, propane, and butane. - **Fertilizers & Chemicals:** A major global supplier of urea and ammonia. - **Steel:** Exported primarily for regional construction projects. ### Important People - **Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani:** The Emir of Qatar (since 2013). He is the head of state and the central figure in the country's modernization. - **Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani:** The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, a key figure in international mediation efforts. - **Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani:** President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, currently overseeing the nation's 2026 sporting calendar. - **Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi:** The Minister of State for Energy Affairs and CEO of **QatarEnergy**, who is leading the massive North Field expansion.