Global - Technology - Review

The Qatar Peninsula in the Persian Gulf is hot and arid. The landscape is flat and sandy. Its oil and natural gas reserves have given the Emirate of Qatar the world’s highest GDP per capita. Unusually three-quarters of the population consists of expatriates. The Qataris share their culture with other gulf states, though sport is particularly popular. Qatar will stage the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Doha, the capital, has been transformed from a small port relying on fishing and pearling into a modern city. The Pearl is a series of artificial islands which will have luxury hotels, villas and apartments. The Aspire Tower will eventually be overtaken as Qatar’s highest structure by the 437 metre Dubai Tower which will have a luxury hotel and penthouses. At the end of the Doha Corniche, an attractive waterfront promenade is the Museum of Islamic Art standing on an artificial island and containing a collection of manuscripts, textiles and ceramics from throughout the Islamic world. The Al Jazeera satellite channel is based in Doha. Lusail, a new city, is being built nearby. It will feature island resorts, marinas, luxury shopping malls and golf courses. The new World Cup football stadium will seat 86,000.