The capital is a rich mixture of traditional Arabic and modern architecture. The Grand Mosque with its many domes and the Abu Bakir al-Siddiq Mosque are particularly interesting. There is an excellent National Museum in Doha tracing the country’s development. The modern town clusters around the Grand Mosque, the New Amir’s Palace and the Clock Tower.

The North

This area contains most of the historic sites, including Umm Salal Mohammed, a relatively large village dominated by the ruins of a 19th-century fort. At Al Zubara is the Qalit Marir Fortress. Al Khor is the second-largest city, situated around a natural shallow harbor. Gharya has a golden sandy beach stretching for miles. Ruwais boasts a harbor, from where there is an occasional dhow service to Bahrain. There are also good beaches at Fuwairat, on the northeast coast, and Ras Abruk, opposite Hawar Island.

The West Coast

There are beaches at Umm Bab (‘The Palm Tree Beach’), Dukhan and Salwah, near the Saudi border.

The South

This is a region of sand dunes and beaches, offering opportunities to go pearl hunting, or to practice any number of watersports. The ‘inland sea’ of Khor al-Odeid is the center of a region of outstanding natural beauty, surrounded by the Sandi Hills, accessible only to 4-wheel-drive vehicles.

Human Resources

4000 BC - 17th Century AD
- First civilization was put up by migrating Canaanites
- Arabian tribes arrived
- Arabian Gulf found commercial prosperity (pearl trading)
- Trade concentrated in the Red Sea, which caused commercial decline (they eventually regained their position after)

7th Century AD
- Qatar was converted into Islam
- People were reknowned for weaving, cloth-making, and well-breeding of horses and camels

Colonization

16th Century AD - 1538 AD
- Portugese came and took control over Qatar
- Ottoman Turks fought the Portugese and ruled the country

WWI - 1971
- Britain came and recognized Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani as ruler
- A treaty between the British and the sheikh was signed in 1916
- The British established a protectorate
- Another treaty was signed in 1934 to grant further protection

Independence - Present

1971 - Present
- Qatar was declared an independent Arab country
- A union was planned to be formed by hte present UAE and Bahrain
- The country gained admittance to hte UN and Arab League
- Oil relations were handled by the Qatar General Petroleum Corp.
- Diplomatic relations with the USSR and China were established
- Became a member of OPEC and the Gulf Corp. Council
- Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani assumed power
- Qatar argued with Bahrain regarding the Hawar Islands (went to Bahrain in exchange for concessions)
- The constitution was approved by democratic referendum
- The first woman cabinet member was appointed as minister of education

SOURCES:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar
http://travel.iexplore.com/dmap/Qatar/Where+to+Go
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/print/qa.html