Qatar Tourism Authority

Why Choose Our Destination?

Located halfway along the western coast of the Gulf, the 11,437 sq km State of Qatar benefits from its key location, halfway between Europe and Asia. The history of Qatar is inextricably bound to that of the surrounding region, while the nomadic lifestyle of much of the population of the Arabian Peninsula has resulted in the same family names reappearing around the Gulf. As the State of Qatar, the country is very ‘new’ and its history brief. But archaeological discoveries have uncovered isolated evidence of habitation dating back to the 6th millennium BC with speculation that man’s presence on the peninsula could pre-date that by tens of thousands of years. Certainly tools, pottery and other artifacts show the existence of permanent or semi-permanent populations on the Qatari peninsula from the 5th millennium. The purpose-built 45,000 sq m Doha Exhibitions Centre has 15,000 sq m of exhibition space, along with a business centre, meeting and VIP rooms, a bank and a coffee shop.