Qatar, Peninsula state in West Asia, Persian Gulf.
This emirate occupies a peninsula that juts into the Persian Gulf, showing flat desert landscape with sand dunes and salt flats along the shoreline. The northern tip is surrounded by water on three sides, while the southern part connects to the Arabian mainland.
The peninsula was under British protection for many decades and gained independence in 1971 when colonial powers withdrew from the Gulf region. The discovery and extraction of oil reserves transformed the economy within a generation.
The National Museum holds archaeological finds, written records and traditional fabrics that show how communities lived on the peninsula before oil was found. These collections help visitors understand the regional heritage and the way people used to trade and fish along the coast.
Hamad International Airport links the peninsula with about 160 destinations and offers direct flights to Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Travelers also find connecting services to other regions with short layover times between flights.
Pearl diving sites off the northern coast mark spots where the early economy grew before oil changed the region. Fishermen and divers worked there for centuries, supplying markets around the Persian Gulf with valuable pearls.
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