Oil is a cornerstone of the Qatari economy

Oil is a cornerstone of the Qatari economy; it used to account for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 80% of ex-port earnings and 58% of government revenues. Proven oil reserves of 15 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for at least the next 20 years. Oil and gas have given Qatar the highest GDP per capita by most studies. Qatar’s proved reserves of natural gas ex-ceed 7 trillion cubic metres, more than 11% of the world’s total, making it the third largest reserve in the world. Pro-duction and export of natural gas are becoming increas-ingly important. Qatar manages to post very high sur-pluses each year, and escaped the Global Financial Crisis relatively unscathed.

In addition to the energy sector, Qatar also exports petro-chemicals, cement and steel. Doha has a rapidly growing financial sector that is cementing itself as one of the cen-tres of trade and finance within the Middle East. The Qatari government has also outlined its plan to boost tourism and media businesses on the peninsula, creating new sectors to further increase Qatar’s profile. In addi-tion, many foreign universities have set up outposts in Qatar, transforming Qatar into one of the main education hubs of the Middle East.
 Climate
The climate of Qatar can be described as arid and un-forgiving. In the summer, which runs from May through to September, the days are characterised by intense and humid heat, averaging 35°C but not unknown to peak at 50°C. In the winter, October to April, the days are much more bearable at about 20-25°C, with a nice cool evening down to around 15°C. If the heat is to be avoided, the best months to visit would be December through January.

Rainfall and storms in Qatar are extremely rare, forcing locals to retrieve water from newly-constructed desalina-tion plants. However, huge sandstorms that envelop the peninsula are common in the summertime. These can be hazardous if not under shelter, and will descend the coun-try into darkness as it blots out the hot sun above. There may also be disruptions to transportation and other ser-vices.