Word: qatar
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...QATAR...
...Qatar (pop. 25,000), to the south of Kuwait, marks the next stage of the evolution of a sand-blown sheik into a millionaire. Seventeen years ago, Qatar (rhymes with butter) was no more than a sunburned thumb-120 miles long and 50 wide-sticking out into the Persian Gulf. Periodically, howling shamal winds blistered the low, monotonous plateau. Doha, seat of government, was a mud village, and the only sign of industry was a few palm groves by the sea and a few fishing boats. The only foreigners were American missionaries...
Enter the ubiquitous Iraq Petroleum Co., through a subsidiary, called Petroleum Development (Qatar) Ltd. It dragged in equipment, pitched tents, and started exploring for oil. By the time war broke out in 1939, Qatar was ready to begin production. The British ordered the wells jammed, to prevent their capture and use by the enemy; Qatar went back to sleep...
...crude. Last year total production reached 18.5 million barrels. Last week 57-year-old Sheik Ali, a dull but honest fellow, was getting an average $1,360 a day in royalties. As soon as the British can find a suitable teacher, they promise to open the first school in Qatar's history. P.D.Q. has built a network of roads, and now the big new Cadillacs and Buicks in Doha have some place to go. The Eastern Bank has opened a branch. The Sheik's royalty will shortly be increased when he finishes negotiating a new 50-50 deal...
...this part of the world love my passport. They play it like an accordion. I've made eight trips to Iran, seven to Egypt, six to Syria, three each to Turkey and Iraq, two each to Greece and Bahrein, one each to Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar ... My wife wistfully wishes she'd married a traveling salesman...