82
JANUARY 2013
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HEMISPHERESMAGAZINE.COM
THREE PERFECT DAYS
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DOHA
QATARHAS COME A LONGWAY
in a short
time. Having gained its independence only four
decades ago, this small spit of desert jutting
into the Persian Gulf now boasts the world’s
highest per-capita GDP, and is punching well
above its weight in the fields of hospi-
tality, finance and international sport.
It’s a far cry from the 1930s, when a
Japanese invention—cultured pearls—devas-
tated the pearl diving industry onwhichQatar’s
economy relied. Then thediscoveryof fossil fuels
here in the 1940s reversed its fortunes overnight.
More recently, Qatar has beenon a development
binge that’s transformed it into one of themost
vibrant and a ractive spots in the Gulf.
With the soccer World Cup heading to Qatar
in 2022, the capital city’s revival is being stepped
up. A er spending years in the shadow
of nearby Dubai, Doha is emerging as
a destination to be reckoned with: a
place where travelers can immerse themselves
in the best ofMiddle East culturewhile knowing
that a hot nightspot, hip restaurant or fleet of
matching Rolls-Royces is never far away.
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REFLECTINGHERITAGE
The I.M. Pei–designedMuseum
of Islamic Art; top right, an array
of mezes at Tajine; bottom right,
glitz for sale inMsheireb
