Part of: Arabian PeninsulaMENA10/40 WindowIslamic Belt
Discover
The identity of the nation
Qatar is a small peninsula surrounded by the waters of the Persian Gulf, bordering only Saudi Arabia by land. In a few decades, the country moved on from fishing and pearl diving to become one of the wealthiest nations in the world, thanks to the enormous natural gas reserves found within its territory. That transformation brought skyscrapers, modern stadiums and a fast paced urban life to Doha, but the country remains deeply rooted in Arab, tribal and Islamic tradition.
Most people living in Qatar today were not born there: they are millions of foreign workers, coming mainly from South Asia, the Philippines and other Arab countries, who sustain construction, services and much of the country’s economy. Native Qataris, a small share of the total population, are almost all Muslim, and the Islamic faith is deeply tied to national identity and family honor.
Centuries before Islam reached the region, the Christian faith had already flourished there. Isaac of Nineveh, one of the most widely read Christian writers on spiritual life to this day, was born in the region that corresponds to present day Qatar, in the seventh century. But over time local Christianity nearly disappeared entirely, and today the Christian presence in the country is made up almost entirely of foreigners.
For those who feel called to pray for and serve the peoples of the Gulf, Qatar is a strategic meeting point: within its borders live, side by side, Gulf Arabs, Persians, Indians, Pakistanis, Filipinos and many other peoples, several of them still without a church of their own and without real access to the gospel. Proclaiming the faith to a Muslim Qatari is forbidden by law, which makes the witness of a life lived and prayer practically the only paths open today.
Despite the legal and cultural barriers, foreign Christians already live and work in Qatar, and their quiet presence can be a real bridge between peoples. The need for intercession is great: for Qataris who seek the truth despite strong social pressure, for migrant workers who keep their faith alive far from home, and for the day when the ancient history of Christianity in this land flourishes once again.
- 4th-9th centuries Nestorian Christian communities (an ancient branch of the Church of the East) live in the region, before disappearing with the arrival and expansion of Islam.
- 1868 The Al Thani family establishes itself as the region's leading political force.
- 1916 Qatar becomes a British protectorate, retaining internal autonomy but with foreign policy under British influence.
- 1971 Qatar's independence, ending the British protectorate.
- 20th century (second half) Discovery and development of one of the largest natural gas fields in the world, which completely transforms the country's economy.
- 2022 Qatar hosts the FIFA World Cup, the first held in an Arab country.
- Today One of the countries with the highest per capita income in the world, with a population made up mostly of foreign workers.
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Arabicofficial language, mother tongue of native Qataris
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Englishwidely spoken, serves as a common language among the many foreigners
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Urdu, Hindi, Tagalog, Malayalam and otherslanguages spoken by the millions of migrant workers from South Asia and the Philippines
Qatar occupies a small peninsula that juts into the Persian Gulf, surrounded by sea on nearly every side, with a land border only with Saudi Arabia. The terrain is largely flat and desert like, with very few elevations, and the territory also includes a few islands near the coast.
Major cities
- DohaCapital and main city, home to more than 80% of the country's population
- Al RayyanSecond largest city, part of the Doha metropolitan area
- Al WakrahFormer fishing and pearl diving village, now a growing city
- Al KhorFormer pearl extraction center, now a natural gas hub in the north of the country
- LusailA planned, modern city built in recent years near the capital
- Umm SalalOne of Qatar's oldest cities, bringing together historic neighborhoods such as Umm Salal Ali and Umm Salal Mohammed
- Ras LaffanIndustrial city in the north of the country, one of the world's largest liquefied natural gas production hubs
Climate and temperature
Machboos
National dish: rice seasoned with spices, served with meat, chicken or fish.
Harees
Wheat slow cooked with meat until it becomes a thick paste, traditional during Ramadan (the Muslim month of fasting).
Madrouba
Rice cooked with meat and spices until very creamy; the name means "beaten rice" in Arabic.
Karak chai
Strong black tea, boiled with cardamom and milk, an everyday social drink in the country.
Balaleet
Thin noodles cooked with sugar, saffron and cardamom, topped with an omelet; a traditional breakfast dish and a favorite for celebrations such as Eid.
Luqaimat
Fried dough balls, crispy outside and soft inside, served with date syrup.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Bedouin hospitality
Welcoming guests with Arabic coffee (an aromatic drink with cardamom) and dates is a sign of honor and respect.
Family and tribe
Social identity revolves around the extended family and tribes, which still weigh heavily on relationships and personal decisions.
Recent wealth, simple roots
In just a few decades the country went from fishing and pearl diving to one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, and this humble origin is still remembered with pride.
Clothing as identity
The thobe (white men's robe) and the abaya (black women's dress) express cultural identity and Islamic modesty.
A country of a foreign majority
Most people living in Qatar today are migrant workers, coming mainly from South Asia and the Philippines.
Falconry
Hunting with trained falcons is a thousands of years old Bedouin tradition, recognized by UNESCO (the UN's educational, scientific and cultural organization) as cultural heritage, and today a symbol of status and national identity.
- Talking about religion or trying to convince someone to change their faith Proclaiming the gospel to Muslims is forbidden by law and can lead to serious legal consequences.
- Drinking alcohol in public or appearing drunk Alcohol consumption is quite restricted, and public drunkenness is considered a crime.
- Showing physical affection in public Unmarried couples cannot share the same hotel room, and gestures like hugging and kissing in public are frowned upon.
- Wearing short or low cut clothing Covering shoulders, knees and chest is a sign of respect for local culture, even for non Muslims.
- Photographing people without permission Many Qataris, especially women, consider this invasive.
- Using the left hand to eat or greet The left hand is seen as improper for these actions; local custom is to always use the right hand.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
Being Qatari and being Muslim are so intertwined that changing one's faith is seen as a breach of family honor, not just a personal choice.
The rapid prosperity brought by fossil fuels can replace the spiritual search with comfort and status.
A conservative interpretation of Islam guides much of the country's laws and public life.
Major investments in sports and global events fuel the pursuit of external recognition.
The honor of the family and clan (a traditional kinship group) outweighs the individual freedom to choose another faith.
Qataris and the millions of foreign workers live in largely separate worlds, with little spiritual contact between them.
Many foreign workers face harsh working conditions and isolation, leaving them spiritually and emotionally fragile.
There is no legal freedom for a Qatari born Muslim to openly declare themselves Christian.
Beliefs in amulets against the evil eye and other popular practices coexist alongside the official religion.
Malls and status symbols play a central role in the social life of the major cities.
In Qatar, religious freedom is quite limited and depends a great deal on who the Christian is: a foreign worker or a Qatari born Muslim. Islam is the official state religion, and much of the country’s laws and customs follow a strict interpretation of Islam known as Wahhabism.
Foreign Christians, generally from India, the Philippines and other countries, can gather for worship at a religious complex authorized by the government, but the churches operate under surveillance, with no visible symbols on the outside, and cannot invite Muslims to their services. Proclaiming the gospel to a Muslim is forbidden by law and can lead to legal proceedings.
For a Qatari born Muslim who decides to follow Jesus, the pressure is much heavier. Conversion is not officially recognized, which creates serious legal problems, such as the loss of rights over property and child custody. The harshest reaction, however, usually comes from within the home: the family and clan can impose strong pressure, and women and girls risk having their freedom limited to the extreme, including being prevented from leaving home or communicating with the outside world.
Despite this difficult scenario, Qatar welcomes millions of foreign workers every year, many of them already Christian, which makes the country a surprising place of contact between different peoples and cultures.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
Qatar has 25 people groups, but the vast majority of the population, more than 86%, belongs to peoples still unreached by the gospel, among them Gulf Arabs, Palestinians, Persians and other groups from the Middle East and Asia. Only a small fraction of the population, mostly among Indian and Filipino migrants, belongs to significantly reached peoples. The need for more Christian witness in the languages and cultures of these peoples, especially among native Arabs, is great and urgent.
- 2.7M Unreached 86.1%
- 84K Minimally reached 2.7%
- 21K Superficially reached 0.7%
- 308K Partially reached 10%
- 15K Significantly reached 0.5%
- 14 Unreached 56%
- 1 Minimally reached 4%
- 3 Superficially reached 12%
- 6 Partially reached 24%
- 1 Significantly reached 4%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Najdi Arabs Frontier
Saudi Hijazi Arab Frontier
Gulf Arab
Urdu Frontier
Egyptian Arab
Sudanese Arab Frontier
Syrian Arab
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Source: Joshua Project and Progress.Bible. Estimates, may vary.
Standard Arabic Official
Levantine Arabic
Gulf Arabic
Najdi Arabic
Sudanese Arabic
Southern Baluchi
Hijazi Arabic
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
can range between QAR 18 and 70, according to Numbeo
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Respect Ramadan: during the sacred Muslim month, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public during the day.
- Dress modestly: cover shoulders and knees, even though it is not mandatory for foreigners.
- Avoid discussing politics or religion openly in public spaces.
- Alcohol only at licensed venues: hotels and a few specific restaurants, never in public.
- The rest week is Friday and Saturday, not Saturday and Sunday as in much of the West.