Qatar is situated in the Persian Gulf, bordered by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

A British protectorate for much of the last century, the peninsula consists mainly of low hills, sand dunes, salt flats, a stunning inland sea – and oil and gas. It is this which gives the now-independent country its immense wealth and one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.

Doha, once a quaint pearl-fishing village, is the emirate’s glitzy modern capital and home to a large British and American expatriate population. It is here that most visitors prefer to stay, enjoying a unique blend of eastern and western culture and architecture, and spending time on the palm-fringed Doha Corniche. This promenade, stretching some four miles along the seafront, offers numerous facilities, from five and six-star hotels and restaurants to spacious recreational areas and good beaches.

Just a few minutes’ boat ride from the corniche is Palm Tree Island, an escape offering a range of family amenities and a good fish restaurant.

Among Doha’s many popular attractions are Qatar National Museum and the Kingdom of Aladdin Theme Park – similar in some ways to Disney World – traditional markets and huge, modern shopping malls.

Away from Doha, Qatar’s towns, luxury resorts and fishing villages are well worth visiting. Not to be missed is Almaha Sanctuary at Shahaniya where the Arabian Oryx – the almost-extinct animal on which the unicorn legend is based, and today Qatar’s national symbol – is protected.

The country’s currency is the Qatar Riyal (QR). Credit cards are widely accepted, and visitors are recommended to take traveller’s cheques in US dollars or GB pounds. ATMs are available at banks, in shopping malls and on the main streets of Doha and other towns.