Doha was developing rapidly in 2008—mostly the result of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa's modernization program.
Qatar became a British protectorate in 1916, and Doha was made capital.
Located in the outskirts of Doha, Education City covers 14 million square meters (3,460 acres) and houses educational facilities from elementary school to research level.
Doha is home to the headquarters of the country's largest oil and gas companies, including Qatar Petroleum, Qatargas and RasGas.
The British installed Mu?ammad ibn Thani Al Thani, the shiekh of Doha, as the ruler of Qatar.
The MotoGP motorcycling grand prix of Doha is held annually at Losail International Circuit, located just north of the city.
Doha has a number of sports stadiums, many of which were renovated for the 15th Asian Games, held in December 2006, for which Doha spent $2.8 billion in preparation.
The Al Jazeera Arabic satellite television news channel began broadcasting in 1996, with headquarters and broadcast center in Doha.
In 1867, during a war between Qatar and Bahrain, in which Abu Dhabi was assisting Bahrain, Doha was severely damaged.
Doha (Arabic: ??????, transliteration: Ad-Daw?ah or Ad-D??ah) is the capital, largest city, and the economic center of Qatar.
Doha had over 50 towers under construction in 2008, the largest being the Dubai Towers, while 39 new hotels are joining Qatar's booming tourism market, adding about 9,000 new rooms by 2009.
People who are not Qatari citizens are permitted to buy land in several areas of Doha, including the West Bay Lagoon, the Qatar Pearl, and the new Lusail City.
The Lusail City project, under construction north of Doha, will eventually house 200,000 people.
Doha's slums were cleared, and replaced with modern commercial and residential buildings.
During the early twentieth century, much of Qatar's economy depended on fishing and pearling, and Doha had about 350 pearling boats.
Doha also hosted the 3rd West Asian Games in December 2005, is expected to host the 2011 Asian Indoor Games, and will also host the finals for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.
The name "Doha" came from the Arabic ad-dawha, or the big tree, a reference to a prominent tree that is believed to have stood at the site where the original fishing village arose.
The city of Doha is coterminous with the municipality of Dawhah, which also includes an enclave in the Al Rayyan municipality, in which the Industrial Area is located, south of Doha.
Doha is known as the location of the first World Trade Organization negotiations, is home to Education City, an area devoted to research and education, and held the world's largest 2006 Asian Games.
The demographics of Doha are unusual in that the majority of residents are expatriates, with Qatari nationals forming a minority.
Doha's demographics are unique in that the majority of residents are expatriates, with Qatari nationals forming a minority.
Doha recorded a metropolitan area population of 612,707 in the 2004 census, an increase from 217,294 in 1986.
Much of Qatar's oil and natural gas wealth is visible in Doha, which is the economic center of the nation.
The capital of Qatar, Doha is located on the central east coast of the peninsula on a sweeping, if shallow, bay, about three miles (five km) from east to west.