Officially name: State of Qatar
Capital: Doha
Largest city: Doha
Official language: Arabic
Government: Absolute monarchy
The view from the plane as you descend into Doha airport will give you an idea of what’s in store: a spectacular view of the capital shows off the contrast between the glistening modern architecture and the traditional Islamic buildings.
Qatar's currency (QAR or QR) is the riyal. The riyal is found in denominations of 1, 10, 50, 100 and 500 notes.