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Economic Growth 

In 1935 the Anglo-Iranian Oil company was granted a concession to explore for oil onshore Qatar. Operating as Qatar Petroleum Co. it made the first discovery, Dukhan 1, in 1940, but due to WWII the first crude exports did not occur until 1949, marking a financial turning point for the country. In 1952, Shell Co. Qatar acquired exploration rights to most of the offshore territory, and in the mid-1970s the government took over these companies, and the oil and gas industry in Qatar was nationalised. 

Traditional dhows on the modern waterfront. (Source: Jane Whaley)Today’s Doha has been built primarily on the revenue the country has made from its oil and natural gas industries, turning Qatar into one of the richest per capita countries in the world. Qatar Petroleum, Qatargas and RasGas all hold their headquarters in the city. company

In line with this economic growth, a hugely accelerated modernisation of the capital has taken place since the 1950s. Most traditional architecture in the Old Doha districts was demolished to make space for new buildings. By 2011, more than 50 glamorous towers were under construction in Doha. One of the more major projects launched by the government was ‘The Pearl-Qatar’, an artificial island available for ownership by foreign nationals (the first land in Qatar to be so) providing over 32 km of new coastline, and an anticipated 18,831 dwellings and 45,000 residents by 2018. The Pearl is one of the many waterfront attractions, where locals and tourists can stroll along the promenade in the cooler months, admiring the views across the waterfront of traditional dhows amongst the backdrop of the West Bay’s skyscrapers. 

In 2014 it was announced that Qatar would be spending $65 billion on new infrastructure projects in upcoming years, partly in readiness for hosting the 2022 World Cup. This preparation includes the building of three stadiums and a new metro system. In line with this, Doha has been developing as a growing tourist destination to rival its emirate neighbours, with many high class hotels catering for the visitors that fly in to attend some of the high profile events the city holds. Shopping in particular has developed as a popular past time for both locals and tourists, with lavish malls catering for all needs. Of note is the Italian-inspired Villaggio mall, which offers shoppers the opportunity to sail past high end stores on a gondola underneath painted clouded skies.