2019 DESTINY IN DOHA
QATAR Wonders Await in MICHAEL A. GRANT
Championship was held in Doha. The city will also welcome the FIFA World Cup in 2022. WILDLIFE The Qatari landscape makes an ideal environment for many species, including birds, reples and the legendary Arabian Oryx. Though the desert may seem like a liming place for plants and ani‐ mals, it comes alive aer any rain‐ fall. The Arabian Oryx, which is the naonal animal, was actually lost to exncon by the 1970s, but has been revived through a breeding programme begun in 1980. Away from the cies, visitors may also see foxes, jerboas, reples and various endemic or migrang birds like flamingos. The dugong is the country’s largest nave mammal and is nave to coastal waters. Several horse and camel farms
Qatar's fastest growing city, Doha is the capital and most populous in the country. Located on the Persian Gulf coast to the east, it has a total populaon of close to 2.4 million, with 80% of the naon's populaon in its metropolitan area and the surrounding suburbs. Doha is also the economic centre of the country. Founded in the 1820s as part of Al Bidda, which was then Qatar’s largest city, Doha became the coun‐ try's capital in 1971 when it gained independence from Brish Protec‐ torate status. The city is now recognized as a world city by the Globalizaon and World Cies Research Network. Since 2015, Doha is officially recognized as a New7Wonders City along with Beirut, Durban, Havana, Kuala Lumpur, La Paz and Vigan.
SPORTS IN THE CITY Doha is not new to hosng major internaonal sporng events. The 2006 Asian Games, 2011 Pan Arab Games and most of the games at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup took place there. In addion to playing host to an event in the IAAF Diamond League, the 1995 FIFA World Youth
Welcome to the wonders that await you.
The Arabian Oryx
26
Powered by FlippingBook