Qatar's capital, Doha, is located on the coast of the Persian Gulf. It is the largest city in the country and, with its relatively small area, is home to the majority of Qatar's population.
Population
Doha has a population of over one million people. Interestingly, Qataris are a minority among Doha's permanent residents, as most of the city's population are expatriates.
History
Doha was founded in 1850 and was first called Al Bida. In 1883, Sheikh Kassim's battle against the Turkish army took place here. In 1916, the city became the capital of the British protectorate of Qatar, and it was not until 1971 that Doha received its present name and became the capital of an independent state.
Modernity
Today, Doha is considered one of the most promising and fastest-growing cities in the Middle East. It is the center of the region's fishing and oil industries. Most residents are fabulously wealthy due to the fact that Qatar produces a colossal amount of oil, and every citizen of the country gets a share of the profits from the production.
In the past few years, the Qatari government has embarked on a course to move away from a resource-based economy and has positioned Doha as a major tourist center and air hub.
