Arabian Oryx
Qatar chose the Arabian oryx as its national animal because this sturdy desert antelope can survive for weeks without drinking water by absorbing moisture from the plants it eats.
Flag of Qatar
Field Report
Qatar is a small, flat, sandy country that sticks out into the Persian Gulf, tucked between Saudi Arabia and the sea in the Middle East. It is home to about three million people, most of whom follow Islam and have never heard the full story of who Jesus is and what He has done. Because Qatar sits at a crossroads where workers from dozens of nations come and go, it is a place where the gospel has the chance to reach people from all over the world.
From the Field Notebook
Arabian Oryx
Qatar chose the Arabian oryx as its national animal because this sturdy desert antelope can survive for weeks without drinking water by absorbing moisture from the plants it eats.
Sooty Falcon
The sooty falcon migrates to Qatar's rocky coastline each summer to nest, and Qatari falconers have treasured trained falcons as prized hunting companions for centuries.
Dugong
The shallow, warm waters of the Persian Gulf around Qatar are home to one of the largest populations of dugongs in the world, gentle sea mammals that graze on underwater sea grass.
Machboos
Machboos is Qatar's most beloved dish — spiced rice slow-cooked with tender lamb or chicken and dried limes that give it a warm, tangy flavor unlike anything in most Western kitchens.
Luqaimat
Luqaimat are small fried dough balls drizzled with date syrup, crispy on the outside and soft inside, and families often enjoy them together during evening gatherings.
Balaleet
Balaleet is a breakfast dish of sweet vermicelli noodles flavored with cardamom and rose water, usually served alongside a savory fried egg on top.
Qatar is a small peninsula — a thumb of land poking into the Persian Gulf — and the entire country is about the same size as the state of Connecticut.
Qatar holds the world's third-largest proven natural gas reserves — behind only Russia and Iran — and that wealth has transformed it from a poor pearl-fishing village into one of the wealthiest nations per person in just a few decades.
The temperature in Qatar can reach 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in summer, so many outdoor workers and construction crews shift their schedules to work at night when it is cooler.
More than 85 percent of the people living in Qatar were not born there — they came from countries like India, Nepal, and the Philippines to work, which means Qatar is home to dozens of languages and cultures at once.
Qatar hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2022, becoming the first Arab country ever to do so, and built seven brand-new stadiums to make it happen.
Daily Life
82
Years life expectancy
98%
Can read and write
94%
Kids go to school
Missions Field Report
Qatar is home to 25 distinct people groups — 14 of them haven’t yet heard about Jesus.
Most Qatar's people follow Islam (82.8%). Less than 1% of people in Qatar are Evangelical Christians.
What People Believe
Unreached People Groups
These are communities of people who haven’t had the chance to hear about Jesus yet. They need missionaries — and they need kids like you to pray for them.
Arab, Arabic Gulf Spoken
611,000 people
Arab, Palestinian
405,000 people
Persian
302,000 people
Arab, Lebanese general
292,000 people
Arab, Syrian
292,000 people
Prayer Journal
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