Doha is one of the smallest cities in the Arabian Gulf, with a very low population due to the general economical situation. When businesses started to spread throughout Doha, the population rapidly increased to 344,939 (GeoNames geographical database). Later, in 2004 the population reached 744,029 and is continuously increasing today.
Fishing and pearl hunting were Qatar’s main methods for income generation. In the last few years, Qatar has experienced tremendous economic growth due to the country’s international export of petrol, oil and the recently found natural gas. This development has made Qatar one of the countries with the highest rates of income.
When the economical condition reaches its highest level, this will surely affect the country in a positive way. Qatar isn’t a very expensive place to live in, but that mainly depends on a person’s lifestyle and how they are used to spend their money. Taxes in general may be considered an issue for a lot of people living in countries other than Qatar, like European countries for example. However, Qatari citizens don’t pay taxes for their purchases, rentals, services, etc.
One of the major attraction points that draw people to Doha is the job opportunities. Companies in Doha make long-term contracts with varied time limits with international employees. This creates financial security for employees who are willing to leave their hometowns in order to work in Qatar. Employees come with their families guaranteeing a stable lifestyle. These contracts pay for housing expenses, children’s school education and provide medical insurance, making these contracts even more attractive. Another important thing is that the educational system in the country is improving. Financial wise, Independent schools in Doha are not very expensive, however, private schools are costly.
Although Qatar is a relatively small country, it is still working towards greater success. Qatar has recently been known as the capital of sports, since it has been showing a lot of interest in sports and is hosting a lot of the major Sports events. The Arab Games, or the so called Arab Olympics, was the most recent sports tournament held in Doha. Athletes from all over the Arab world came to Qatar for the competition. Supporters have also made their way to Doha in order to support their teams.
Moreover, Doha welcomes tourists from all around the world. People who have visited different places are even more eager to explore what Doha has to offer. Upon landing, their target destinations range from modern places to traditional. These tourists are fascinated by the architecture and the unique building designs. There are the modern towers in Al-Dafnah, and the traditional buildings found in downtown. Souq Waqef is a major tourist attraction where citizens and tourists love for its traditional environment with its shops, and the delicious international cuisine served in an assortment of restaurants and cafes. Its atmosphere takes you back in time to the old days of Qatar, which is the main purpose of the entire Souq.
There are both modern and traditional stores in Doha’s malls, which satisfy all style varieties of people. The number of malls in Doha noticeably increased, which serve all different classes of people with different lifestyles. Tourists enjoy the variety of shopping options, which make their trip even more satisfying. Furthermore, Doha’s Cornish is another place for residents and visitors to go to. It is a lively place where you can spend your day doing different activities alone or with your family. It becomes more attractive during the few winter months in Qatar.
In conclusion, the beauty of Doha, the amazing work opportunities, the good educational system, the economic development status, and the comfortable lifestyle, all play important roles in attracting people globally to live and settle in Qatar. When asked, some people talked about how Qatar has helped them improve and succeed in their education and work. Others talked about how living in Doha is a blessing and how luxury is always available wherever you go. We can see that the capacity of a country does not put limits for the number of people living in it, and even though Doha is a very small city compared to other cities in the world, it has citizens with diverse nationalities who came from different places around the world for different reasons and are enjoying their stay in Doha.
Done by:
Munya Mohammad
Habiba El-Harthy
Mona Mashhoor
Yasmine Rabieh
