Political
Energy Infrastructure
The Middle East
U.S. Military Bases
Population Density
Political Map
Qatar is located on the Arabian Peninsula. It is a small country bordering Saudi Arabia. Nearly the entire country is surrounded by water—the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Bahrain. From this map, it is easy to see how most of the main roads and access to transportation stem from Doha, the capital city. This is an important piece in studying Qatar and its media landscape, because Doha is the center of economic and cultural growth in Qatar. There are oil wells spread throughout the country; they are rather evenly distributed from northern to southern Qatar. M1
Energy Infrastructure
This map from the U.S. Energy Information Administration details Qatar’s oil and natural gas resources. The oil and gas industries are a primary source of Qatar’s national riches. Pipelines are spread throughout and around Qatar, connecting key ports of Ras Laffan, Doha, and Umm Said. Oil and gas fields are mainly off of the coast. There are only two refineries in Qatar, so I wonder how sustainable this method of production is. This map is from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, demonstrating how Qatar’s oil and gas resources are coveted globally. This access to coveted resources elevates Qatar’s power on the global stage. M2
Qatar & Surrounding Nations
Qatar is clearly much smaller than most of the countries surrounding it. Qatar is in the Middle East, directly across from Iran. Its central location within the Middle East makes it a prime country for international communication. Doha is a media hub, likely due to its prime location for cross-cultural interaction. Al Jazeera, a vital news source on the global stage, is based in Doha. Qatar is both metaphorically and literally at the center of the Middle East. M3
U.S. Military Bases in Qatar
Qatar hosts a multitude of U.S. Military bases, and is home to thousands of expats. Qatar’s armed forces are the second smallest in the Middle East, and they strategically rely on other nations, specifically the United States, for domestic security.1 Qatar draws international forces because of its central location in the Middle East. After Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the U.S. and Qatar made a defense cooperation agreement that was renewed in 2013 (Sullivan). Al Udeid, an airbase located southwest of Doha, among other U.S. facilities, provide the U.S. Military with the center for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). M4
Population Density
I have included this population density map from the World Trade Press to show the high concentration of people near the capital city, Doha. In such a small country, the huge majority of the population is situated in an area of only around 30 square miles. Doha’s large concentration of people from around the globe and massive wealth creates a bustling, high tech metropolis. M5