Dr. Amanulla Vadakkangara

Qatar is a beautiful and rich country blended with oil wells, sand hills, palm trees, camel folks and green oasis. Though literally it means a drop of water Qatar is making indelible footprints in the history with its farsighted views and dedicated leadership. The country which won freedom from the colonial regime before four decades has made a niche for it among the developed countries though very small in geographical boundaries. The developmental model of Qatar has been widely hailed as imitable for welfare and security.

Now again the country has won the praise of whole world with its wise and bold steps against the unlawful siege made by the neighbouring countries. Qatar was successful in convincing the world its stand on all issues through transparent and declared policies and principles of international standards. Though the siege has crossed more than 6 months the country has managed the situation effectively and made all possible ways for achieving self sufficiency in products services.

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has won the hearts all nationals and expatriates through his dedicated efforts and Tamim Al Majd has become a slogan of all people living in Qatar. Perhaps it was beyond the expectation of all that the whole nation could stand with the leadership in facing the challenges of unlawful siege imposed on the country.

It is a remarkable achievement of Qatar rulers that they never approached the issue emotionally rather they dealt with extreme care and respect. The stand of HH the emir was made very clear that the country is always open for diplomatic dialogue to end the crisis and if my brother come to me walking I will go to them running is really praiseworthy. His participation in the GCC meet as well as the OIS summit was an excellent example of his wisdom and farsightedness in handling any issues with brother countries.

Qatar is a sovereign country located in Western Asia, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its territory surrounded by the Persian Gulf. An arm of the Persian Gulf separates Qatar from the nearby island country of Bahrain. Total land area is 11521 square kilometer. Total population is 2.7 million people including the majority of expatriates. The geographical position of Qatar is highly convenient for developing trade routes from Asian and European countries. Doha , Al Wakara, Mesaeed, Al Khor, Dukhan, Shamal, Raslaffan are the major cities. Though Arabic is the official language of Qatar English is also widely used.

Qatar has been ruled by the House of Thani since the early 19th century. Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani was the founder of the State of Qatar. It was on December 18 he took over the rule and that day is marked as Qatar National Day since 2007.It is assumed that people inhabited in Qatar since BC 4000 and Islam reached Qatar during the time of the prophet Muhammed PBUH.

Qatar is a high-income economy, backed by the world’s third-largest natural-gas reserves and oil reserves. The country has the highest per capita income in the world. Qatar is classified by the UN as a country of very high human development and is widely regarded as the most advanced Arab state for human development.
Education is the leading cause of the development in any country. Qatar realized it in its time and invested a huge amount for educational revolution. The initiative of HH Sheikha Mouza Bint Naser Al Misnad to set up Qatar foundation for educational development was a turning point in the educational and cultural development of the country. Now there were world class universities offering various professional courses under the umbrella of Qatar foundation enabling the nationals and expatriates to pursue excellent education of global standards.
The role of Qatar in promoting art, culture and sports has also won the praise of the world. The country has unique distinction of hosting the Asian games as well as a number of sports and games. Now the country is moving towards the coveted dream of hosting the 2022 FIFA world cup marking the distinction of being the only Arab country to ever host such a reputed global sporting event. Preparations of building the necessary infra structure and modern stadiums are in full swing and the country expects to complete all constructions on time.
The democratic experience of Qatar by approving a comprehensive constitution as well as civic polls for municipal elections was another stride materialized.

Al Jazeera Media Network is a unique achievement of the country as it upholds the freedom of expression and journalism. It has become the voice of the voiceless with its bold stand on international issues .
Tourism promotion by waving visa requirement for more than 80 countries has attracted thousands of more visitors to the country. As an investor friendly country it is also attracting huge investments in various developmental and business projects. World class hotels with their network facilitate tourists movements and make their stay comfortable.

The Museum of Islamic Arts is not only a piece of architectural beauty but also a monument of culture and civilization. Katara with its natural design and elegance has become an excellent venue of cultural renaissance. The Qatar National Library with its innovative strategy has also added to the cultural development of the country.
Privatization and the provision of private public participation are the other two steps of actions taken by the government to ensure economic development. A number of real estate projects such as pearl Qatar has attracted huge foreign investment as it gives hundred percent ownership to the expatriates also. Qatar has proved to be an ideal location for safe and potential investment. The oil and gas rich economy is supported by various alternative projects aiming at optimum use of resources. A number of giant towers and marvelous buildings have added to the multi faceted development of the country .

Qatar has its pioneering role in procuring world class geographical information system as well as health information system .Hamad Medical Corporation and primary Health Centres are offering quality health care services to the nationals and expatriates. When the country is marking its national team Kerabhooshanam family conveys its highest regards and sincere greetings to the HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the father emir HH Sheikh Hamad bin Halifa Al Thani and the whole ruling family and goods people of Qatar.

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