Qatar: Land and People

Land and People

Qatar is largely barren, flat desert. Water is scarce, and agriculture is minimal. Once a nomadic society, Qatar now has little rural population. Doha, the main urban center, is on the eastern coast of the peninsula. Most native Qataris, who make up about 10% to 15% of the population, are Sunni Arabs of the Wahhabi sect of Islam. Most of the nonnative population are foreign workers, including South Asians, Iranians, and Palestinians. Overall roughly three fourths of the population are Muslim; there are Christian, Hindu, and other minorities. Arabic is the official language, although English is widely used.

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