Qatar, like a good Arab city, sleeps during the day and lives at night. The little that you see when you walk down the street while the sun is in the sky are the thousands and thousands of mostly Hindu, Pakistani and Iranian foreigners who work against the clock so that Doha be ready on November 21, the day on which the starting ‘gunshot’ will be fired soccer world cup 2022
Days of between 16 and 18 hours a day, seven days a week and with temperatures of up to 50 degrees. Everything is little in order to become world referenceaware that the world Cup It will be the best showcase to show your power and wealth before the rest of the planet.
The Ras Abu Aboud detachable stadium, designed by the Madrid-based architects Fenwick Iribarren, is the only detachable stadium in the world.
Doha, football capital of the world
A power that is already palpable in ‘The Pearl’, an artificial island that houses the most luxurious hotels and restaurants. In addition, since 2021 it has its own Formula 1 Grand Prix. A race that is run at night, but in which it seems to be daytime thanks to the enormous technological and lighting display.
And although its name resonates strongly in any part of the world, the truth is that, just by landing, it is easy to realize that it is a city yet to be done. With infinite possibilities, but in which it is still difficult to feel everyday life and the warmth of home. And in which the hustle and bustle of the souks or local food stalls is missing.
The country has just 2,650,000 inhabitants. That is to say, almost a million less than those who live in the city of Madrid alone, to give an example. Of these, slightly more than 2.380.000 live in their capital Doha, the best prototype of what this country plans to be. The rest, desert.
A bit of history about Qatar
In 1940, it was discovered that the territory that now makes up Qatar has one of the largest oil reserves worldwide and the third natural gas. This makes you the country with highest per capita income on the planet. From then on, a massive exploitation of these resources began, which ended with the oil crisis of the 1970s. Despite this, they continue to be the 97% of exports from Qatar, which is only surpassed as a producer by Russia.
Qatar became independent from Great Britain in 1971. Located on the Saudi Arabian peninsula, the emirate only has 11,586 kilometers of territory and only 60 kilometers they separate the northernmost point from the southernmost part. Located in the Persian Gulf, it is surrounded by water on almost all sides. Except for the southern area, bordering Saudi Arabia.