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STATE OF QATAR
its capital, Doha. With the expatriate population of over 600,000 and counting, the State of Qatar has been transformed from a little known Emirate in the Arabian Gulf, to major world player in sports, education, energy, politics and more. In achieving this, Qatar certainly has its wise leadership to thank, but the people living in Qatar, nationals and expatriates, also have much to be proud of.
The ethnic roots of the Qatari people are as varied as the many tribes that inhabited Arabia in ancient times. Qataris often distinguish themselves from expatriate residents by wearing traditional clothing: the thobe (a floor-length white garment) with a ghutra and egal headdress for the men; and the abayah (a floor-length black robe) with a shayla headdress for the women. In Qatar, the men’s head cloth will be either a solid white or a pattern of red and white. The colors have no religious significance, but may have tribal or cultural significance to the individual wearer. Most Qatari women choose to wear a black headdress; however, a different- or multi-colored scarf may also be worn. Some women wear a full or partial face-veil while in public places in order to maintain personal modesty. Non- Qatari men from selective Middle Eastern and Asian countries may also have distinctive clothing. Head wear is often a public sign of national origin.

Qatar is an Islamic state. The Holy Quran not only guides the religious beliefs of Qataris, but also plays a large role in daily life. Law, business practices, and family traditions in Qatar are governed by Muslim beliefs and values. Beautiful mosques are located all over the country for daily worship, from which calls to prayer are announced throughout the day. Non- Muslims should refrain from entering a mosque and should at all times speak respectfully of the Muslim religion. Prayer schedules are published in daily newspapers and are announced on the radio broadcast.