"Doha, Qatar" a Doha Travel Page by MM212

Qatar, the least populous country in the Gulf and the Middle East, has remained dormant for years despite its oil and natural gas wealth. It was not until a few years ago, well after Dubai's emergence on the world stage, that Qatar suddenly decided to raise its profile worldwide and compete for a piece of the commercial and tourist activity in the region. As such, large construction and infrastructure projects were initiated and have especially accelerated in advance of the 2006 Asian Games, which are scheduled to take place in early December 2006. Doha, the capital, is redrawing its skyline and its map. Without exception, everything in this city, from airport to roads and from buildings to beaches, seems to be under construction. Yet to distinguish itself from other cities in the Gulf, particularly Dubai, Doha is aiming to be the educational and cultural centre of the Gulf, and hopes to attract high-end tourism, rather than the masses. Let's keep watching this rapidly changing city...