A (Very) Short History of Qatar (Part Three)

Oil and Independence.

A major step in Qatar’s emergence occurred in 1935 when a consortium of American, British, Dutch, and French oil interests were granted a concession for oil exploration and production in the peninsula. High-quality oil was first discovered at Dukhan in 1939, and additional fields in 1940. Due to the Second World War, production and exportation did not begin until 1949. But over the subsequent decade, oil revenues provided funds for expansion and improvement of Qatar’s infrastructure system. In the 1960s, petrol-based prosperity led to rapid immigration, significant social progress, and the beginnings of modernization.

Decolonization of Europe’s world empires reached the Persian Gulf in 1968 when the British Government announced withdrawal from the region. That same year Qatar entered into negotiations with Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Bahrain, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Qaiwain for the formation of a federation. The plan progressed up to late 1971, when Britain officially terminated its agreements with the Truce States; but the nine states had yet to formalize an agreement on union.

Then, on 3 September 1971, Qatar struck out on a separate course and declared its independence. Bahrain followed soon after. By December of that year the United Arab Emirates was formed, but without those two states as members.

Exit Permits: Am I Sixteen Again?

For any Westerner over the age of eighteen, it’s taken for granted that once one reaches the age of majority he can pretty much go where he wants when he wants. In a way, that’s not the case in Qatar for a foreign resident. This is an aspect of residency that takes some getting used to, but it’s not as troublesome as it sounds.

Once one has received his Residency Permit and identification card, he can travel but must first ask permission from the government to leave the country. I recently went to Dubai for a weekend vacation. I arranged the trip a month ahead, so I knew exactly when I was leaving well in advance. About two weeks out, I went to the College’s human resources department. As with most everything, the request for and issuance of Exit Permits is managed by the employer. The form was simple: name, Resident ID number, destination, departure date, return date. Two days before my departure, the permit was finalized and human resources gave me a copy of the verification. When I took off, I carried the document with me but no one ever asked for it. The information is tied to the passport, so they have all the records.

 

It’s not as sinister as it sounds. While there is room for problems, it’s minimal. As long as the government receives twenty-four-hour’s notice travel abroad is easy, and in the Persian Gulf region pretty cheap.

 

So, make sure mommy and daddy know where you’re going and maybe they’ll even let you stay out past your curfew.

Either I'm Famous, or I Look Like Someone Who Is

Despite some (semi-justified) perceptions, people in this region of the world are immensely friendly and generous.  In general, there is always someone willing to help in some way.

The other day, I made the ten-minute walk to the local grocery store for a few things.  I can only buy so much, because the ten-minute walk back with forty-fifty pounds of frozen meat and bottles of water after the first quarter mile.  Waiting in line, an older man started talking, but I didn't realize it was directed at me because he was speaking Arabic.  When it occurred that he was looking at me, I replied "Sorry?" because it could have been that I just misunderstood his English.  "No Araby?" he asked.

"No, sorry, just English," I answered.

"Oh were are you from?"

"The United States."

"Oh yes. Where in United States?"

"Texas."

"I have brother who go to Dallas."

And so our conversation continued.  Then, as the checker was going through my items, the older Lebanese man offered to give me a ride.  Back home, we're taught that's kind of creepy, and not to take rides from strangers.  In local culture, however, it is only polite to make such an offer; and it is highly impolite to not accept (although it's also impolite to automatically accept).  So I told him that was not necessary, but thanked him for the offer.  I was hoping he would not press it, but he did: "No, is okay, so close. I take you."  So I hopped in his truck and we rode to my place.  I hoped out, thanked him, and that was that.  It's how things work here in this part of the world.

Here's something I can't explain:

Just a few weeks after I got here I was at one of the malls, just walking around.  A couple of strangers, Arabs if I remember right, asked to take a picture with me -- not of me, with me.  It's happened a few more times since then, including just the other day.  More interesting, the same happened at the Dubai Mall a couple weeks ago; a group of Indian guys wanted to take their picture with me (three of them, individually).

Some Saudis who recently asked to get a photo with me

I've yet to find an explanation, but I've come up with three possibilities: 1.) people think I'm famous, so they want to get a photo with me (but no one has asked for an autograph so far); 2.) I look like someone famous and so people think I am him (again, no one has asked for an autograph); or 3.) I'm considered fantastically handsome in this part of the world, and people want a record that they saw someone so good looking.

Granted, it's probably not the last or I may have been kicked out of the country (something that has happened, by the way).  But it's probably that one.

A (Very) Short History of Qatar (Part Two)

The British Period.


While the earliest years of Qatar were dominated by Islamic forces, for about one hundred and fifty years the British were the most powerful influence in Persian Gulf and Qatari affairs.

Due to the Persian Gulf’s proximity to India and other trade interests, the British became highly concerned with stability in eastern Arabia.  To minimize piracy, the United Kingdom arranged the General Maritime Treaty in 1820 with the sheikhs of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Bahrain, Dubai Sharjah, and Umm Al-Quwain. The British solidified the protectorate status of the “Trucial States” in a subsequent treaty in 1853.

After a series of disputes over territorial claims between Qatar’s tribal elite and the rulers in Bahrain, the two went to war in 1867.  The conflict ended the next year with the semi-independence of Qatar under British protection.  Not only did the English recognize Qatar as a separate entity from Bahrain, but the 1868 Treaty endorsed Sheikh Mohammad bin Thani of Ad-Dawha as ruler of the peninsula.

Despite British dependency status, the Qataris maintained a historic connection with the Ottoman Caliphs.  The Turks held official governance over the Persian Gulf from the 1500s onward.  By the 1800s, that rule was truly indirect with the effective independence of the Treaty Emirates guaranteed by the British.  Still, the al-Thani emirs recognized their subject status to the Ottoman sultans into the early 1900s.  In 1871, Turkish forces established a garrison at the Qataris' invitation.  They would maintain forces in Qatar up until the start of the First World War in 1914.



When the Turks abandoned Qatar to concentrate forces against the Entente forces in 1915, the Ottoman and British governments recognized Abdullah bin Jassim as ruler of Qatar.

With the departure of the Turks, the British negotiated a new treaty with the al-Thani in 1916 and formalized the state’s protectorate status.  Under the agreement with Sheikh Abdullah, Britain gained control of Qatar's external affairs.  The Qataris promised not to cede any territory, or enter into relationships with, any other foreign governments without British consent.  In recompense, the British Government promised protection from all aggression. Another treaty in 1934 provided even greater British protection.  At the same time, British influence inside the country was limited to supervision of some administrative matters.