www.rosarychurchqatar.com

Qatar is a peninsula bordering Saudi Arabia, with an area of 22,000 sq. km., and 350,000 inhabitants. It gained independence on 3 September 1971. The region is mostly a desert. The meagre incomes earned by traditional occupations rearing of cameis, pearl fishery, production of dates, and dry fish - were given a boost by the discovery of oil in 1949. The oil is collected from the well in Dukhan and piped to Umm Said, which serves both as a harbour and refinery centre. The Sheikhdom is ruled by a hereditary monarch of a royal family, which concentrates all power in its hands according to a constitution written in 1970. Doha is the Capital. The missionaries used to visit the Christian communities of Qatar from Bahrain. A permanent presence began with Fr. Adriano Benini in December 1970.