The Arabian Persian Gulf is located in the center
of the Middle East. On the southern coast
is the state of Qatar, which occupies a peninsula
of just under 11,500 square kilometers, an area almost 200 times
smaller than Saudi Arabia. Until the 20th century, the peninsula's chief resources
came from the sea. At its widest point, the country
measures only 80 kilometers across. A multitude of islands
surround this territory, which for the most
part is a vast flat desert whose climate and arid soil
are inhospitable to natural vegetation. In winter, heavy rainfalls are common,
and yet color returns to the desert. The rigorous management of water
and methodical distribution systems allow the desert
to flower at the height of summer. While coming out of its shell, Qatar for many years
concentrated on the Pearl oyster. The Pearl launched
the economy of this country, and the al-Thani family
has given the country its constitution and its fame. Located on the East Coast, Doha, the capital, has been completely
transformed over the past 50 years. Eighty percent
of the country's population lives in Doha. The ultra fast growth of this emirate,
which proclaimed its independence in 1971, does not conflict
with its respect for tradition. The state of Qatar
has chosen health, welfare, and education as its top national priorities. The same importance is given
to physical education and sports. The country's high aims in this area are reflected by the number
of international sporting events which are hosted here. Learning is another priority. The entire Qatari society
must have access to it. Women find the means to their emancipation by acquiring knowledge
and mastering modern technical know-how. The quality of education and constant exchanges
with other countries also ensure that Qatar's values
are shared with the rest of the world. Here, the digital revolution
goes hand in hand with ancestral customs. Only one-third
of the population are of Qatari origin. The others are foreign expatriates
who constitute a wealth of know-how and the workforce that
is indispensable to the national economy. The customs are those
of a country where Islam is practiced by virtually the entire population. Qatar is a moderate Islamic country. Religious convictions
are adapted to the present-day world. Integrating housing with the environment
reveals the same sense of adaptation. For centuries, the nomadic tribes
learned to live in a hostile environment. Once they became settled, the Nomads still based
their idea of home on the tent. As a shelter from the wind, sand and sun,
there was no better protection. Light and fluid lines contrasted
with the forms of architecture imported by Western civilizations
at the beginning of the 16th century. The country ignited
considerable foreign commercial interest in the mid 20th century. The wealth obtained from pearl fishing
was not all that people had their eye on. A new pearl had arisen from the soil,
representing a veritable treasure trove, the third-largest
natural gas reserve in the world. The gas and oil
furnish 85% of export income. They also supply
the power to produce electricity. Development depends
on power lines that transport electricity. Like magic,
the desert has been transformed. It isn't always easy to distinguish
between a mirage and reality. The camel, the ship
of the desert has adapted to city life, while automobiles cross the desert. Industrial sites are increasing in number,
always requiring more infrastructure. The technology and genius
of civil engineering set the pace. Qatar is traveling
through time in massive strides. Over 1,000 years of history are behind
its great march toward the future. Economic growth is steady
in a country that has approximately one million inhabitants, but the pearl of the past
has not been forgotten. The shell and its graceful shape
influences urban planners and architects in designing the building
complexes of tomorrow. They are working
relentlessly to prepare for the future that looms on the horizon. The goal is a very ambitious one, but Qatar has prepared
the ground for its takeoff. At the desert's edge,
a country is creating new forms, those that will shape the future. Reclaimed from the desert, Doha was founded in the mid 1800s
when it became a British protectorate. Along the seafront,
the Corniche stretches seven kilometers towards the futuristic forms
of the West Bay Quarter. Doha was originally
a small fishing village, but time flies. The Doha Corniche
is a meeting place for strollers. On Fridays, the dhows,
the traditional boats, disembark entire families. They come here to picnic on the grass
at the foot of the modern buildings. Although no clothing
restrictions are imposed on the women, most of them wear the long black abaya. At the edge of West Bay, the first architects had already proven
their sense of originality. Today, a veritable forest
of skyscrapers has seen the day. There was, in fact,
no real need to build high rises because of all the space available. The buildings are in themselves,
the outward sign of success, and Doha has great
expectations for the future. An architecture without constraints has led to the fusion
between tradition and modernity. Ibrahim Jeddah, Architect. The sky is really your limit
here in Qatar as an architect. A lot of places
in Europe and in the West, are very much limited
to the surrounding buildings. Here the sky is your limit
in terms of style, height, function, and there is usually
daring ideas here in Qatar. Why not have Venetian gondoliers
rowing at the foot of the buildings? Yes, it often takes daring because ambition is high
and nothing is impossible. It's surely not that simple. The major problem is with the scale,
we're not really used to. Only five, six years ago,
Qatar has started going high. Usually we go horizontal. The challenge here is to go very high,
yet maintain a flavor of where it belongs. We tend to lose that identity
when it becomes extremely high. Everywhere, Oriental lines
rival in elegance with Western curves. The flourishing economy
of the state of Qatar rests on solid ground. The government has chosen
to diversify its resources by turning the capital
into an important financial center. For example, the Hamar al Kabir Street
is where all the banks are, where everything
tends to turn the color of gold, even the pearls. Here no one forgets
that it all started with the pearls that were fished from the waters depths
at the price of considerable effort. It is also impossible
to ignore the Islamic influence. It is the axis around which Qatar winds. The spiral of the minaret
follows the path of a world in movement. All the components of traditional society
remain ever present, but are updated. The architecture of the Museum
of Islamic Arts is a good example of this. Its subtle play on cubes was conceived
by the creator of the Louvre pyramid. The American architect, Liu Ming Pei. Madam Sabiha Alchemiya
is curator of the museum. When asked to design
the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, I.M. Pei embarked on a long journey
throughout the Islamic world. He was looking
for the essence of Islamic architecture, and that journey
went from North Africa to Iraq to Egypt, everywhere in the Middle East. What Pei did
is take Islamic architecture, the root of tradition, to modernity. The objects that are exhibited
here come from three continents. They span 13 centuries
of a brilliant civilization. They range from pottery,
glass, metalwork, carpets, basically from earthenware to silk, and from Cordoba in Spain
to Samarkand in Central Asia. It's a wide geographical area,
and is from the seventh century when Islam came to date. Very close to the museum
and in the shadow of the skyscrapers is a boatyard out of time, where the dhows are built
according to the ancient techniques. The dhow is a commonly
used boat in the Indian Ocean, and particularly along the Gulf coasts. They are usually built out of teak,
a wood that does not rot. The hull is assembled using wooden pegs
and the stern has a square shape. One of the properties of teak
is to harden after it's wet. The prow of the dhow
has left its imprint on the sky. Another tradition, the souk, a word which in Arabic
signifies old city market. The old Doha Souk has been restored
and has maintained all of its activities, which are divided into different sections. Traditional musical instruments. Preparation of the traditional bread. Everything here reflects
an aspect of the past. Inside the souk,
jewels, gems and precious metals have been crafted
by Qatari jewelers for generations. Early on, artisans
had prime material available here, which was highly prized
the world over, natural pearls. Today, the pearls are imported. This is the grandson of a pearl fisherman. He is a pearl salesman and also
an artist who creates wonderful images by using woods of different nuances. His works sometimes recall
the intricate craft of his ancestors. With an extraordinary
feel for detail, he uses real pearls for a special highlighting effect,
a work of great finesse. There are two things
combined in this art of woodworking, the art of the sculpting,
such as in creating the image of the emir, and also the art
of assembling the many shades of wood. There are an incredible number
of pieces of wood in these portraits. A three dimensional image
more expressive than a photograph. In the fruit and vegetable souk, it is surprising to see
such a variety of produce and colors, especially considering the limited
possibility of agriculture in Qatar. That's why most of the produce
in stores arrives from all over the world. Bulky products
and moving merchandise are sold at another souk. The harsh desert climate
and the absence of pasture land are obstacles to animal breeding. The traditional souks co-exist
with more contemporary souks. Modern shapes, exotic shapes,
the more gigantic, the better. Inside, the air is always cool and the wind
will never chase the clouds away. The shopping centers
are enormous air-conditioned bubbles. Bubbles that function independently
regardless of their geographic location. No matter what the outdoor temperature is,
the ice rink always keeps head spinning. Nothing can cool the attraction
that Qataris have for consumer goods. Another Qatari pleasure, perfume. The word perfume originally signified
aromatic substances that were burned. Perfume has existed in the
Middle East since antiquity. Tradition is important in Qatar. Nevertheless, the country
has not shut itself off from the present. It is resolutely turned
outward toward the future. In keeping with that goal is Al Jazeera, the satellite television channel
created by the Emir in 1996. It has become one
of the leading news channels in the world, while presenting the news
from the Arab point of view. The station has built
a memorial to journalists who have been killed on the job. The Freedom Wall is a reminder
of their dedication to the profession and of the risks involved. A museum has been created
with a number of personal items that belong to journalists
employed by the channel and who died while covering the news. To prepare for the future,
Qatar has created the Qatar Foundation, chaired by Her Royal Highness,
the wife of the Emir. Considerable funds have been
invested to help all of the Qatari people meet the challenges that await them. By keeping to the lines
of traditional architecture, but also by calling upon
the masters of contemporary architecture, an immense complex
has been built, Education City. A simple idea, but a daring one to found a campus
not by establishing one university, but by grouping several of the best
campuses in the world on the same site. The astronomical scale of investment,
the state of the art techniques and top professors
recruited throughout the world have rapidly given
international renown to this achievement. Bright colors are especially good
for capturing children's attention, for opening their eyes on the world,
and helping them to understand it better. An open mind
and tolerance are the objectives that motivated the creation
of the Al Jazeera Children's channel. The channel aims at the education
and entertainment of Arab children. It has all the facilities to produce many
educational programs that are also fun. The size of the projects
that have been endowed by the Qatar Foundation is in keeping
with a measure of its ambitions. The new Convention Center will be the largest
in all the Middle East. The palm trees are wondering
where their desert went. Qatar created monumental plans
for the Al Khalifa Stadium. With state-of-the-art
sports architecture design, a 320-meter-high tower in the shape
of a flame dominates the city of sports. The quality of its sports facilities
is an immense asset for Qatar, which organized the Asian Games in 2006. The country is now
looking forward to the Olympics. In declaring its burning desire
for the Olympics, Qatar obviously benefits
from a major asset in its infrastructure. Qatar disposes also of a unique
educational resource called Aspire. Taking young future champions under
its wing is this institution's vocation. It thus supports the ambition
of making a name for itself on the international competitive level. Dieta Hackford is director of Aspire. Aspire, the Academy
for Sports Excellence is a unique academy with the most advanced facilities,
I can say, in the world. Not only are the facilities most advanced,
but also the programs for education and enhancement of elite sports
and training of young athletes. The basic idea is to create champions
in the country and on the other hand, to enforce a sports culture here in Qatar. Raising Qatari athletes
to the international level is well worth the price. The young candidates are taken in hand. They share a communal life in which school courses
are part of a very intensive program. Here sports contribute
to creating new shapes, the shapes of the future. Organizing high-level sporting events
has made Qatar famous worldwide. First, the desert had to be conquered. The Doha Golf Club
organizes the Qatar Masters. The feat is remarkable
since the 18-hole course calls for ducks in the middle of the desert
and among the cactus plants. The grass here is such a luxury. One would think the golf balls are pearls. Horses have always accompanied
the nomad populations of the Middle East. They have belonged
to Arab culture for centuries. For horse breeding and training,
Qatar has become a top place. Horses are one
of the Emir's great passions. His horse farms
are famous the world over, and his horses have won many prizes. The Qataris have become great racing fans. The long British presence
in the country may largely explain why Qataris are
so interested in horse racing. In Qatar, another animal that
the Qataris are devoted to is the Falcon. This bird of prey belongs
to an age old tradition which makes bird
and master hunting partners. The Falcons have their own hospitals. The bird is often wounded because it hunts
by impacting its prey at high speed. Fractures are frequent. During surgery,
the bird is under anesthetic. A small laceration here. This is caused during training when he is landing
or attacking a pigeon or some bird in the desert,
he hit a stone. The owner is very concerned
as he watches the operation. The trained Falcon is of great value,
both sentimental and financial. Another type of operation
replacing a feather. The damaged feather is spliced. Each feather is referenced
according to size and positioning. The stem is simply slipped into the wing. No other fixation is necessary. The Falcon wakes up
and is ready to go back to work. We're all set for a hunting
expedition in the desert. The prey is released. The falcon takes off. The falconer keeps the bird in sight. The bird swoops down on its prey,
which doesn't stand a chance. The falcon is the fastest
animal in all creation. It's another Falcon's turn. It disappears from sight. Fortunately, the falconer
has a trusty gadget in his four-by-four. He has located the falcon. The prey had taken refuge in a bush,
but is ousted from its hiding place and is immediately caught. The hunters reward,
permission to devour his victim. Couldn't he have caught it sooner? That's because of the wind. That's why it took a long time to catch, otherwise, he should catch it quickly. The falcon was located,
thanks to an antenna and a transmitter. Heading west across the desert. We see familiar silhouettes, another animal
that is traditionally present. On the horizon, a tent camp
has been set up in the Bedouin style. Qataris are very attached to their
ancestral customs and way of life without forgoing
the advantages of the modern world. At the campsite, the customary
division of labor is respected. It is the women who make
the ornaments worn by the camels. They also prepare fritters
and other traditional dishes. Everyone is here in honor of the animal that makes their existence
in the desert possible, the camel. For the camel,
the day begins with a good shower. Lots of people like camels. For me, they're my hobby. Camel races are extremely popular here. I still have my Bedouin soul you know. Qataris are passionate fans
of this event, camel racing. We begin with a little warm up. A strange silhouette
has appeared on the racetrack. It's a robot,
and it's being dressed up like a jockey. The whip is operated
by remote control voice signals or by a pressure on a key chain. The camels used to be ridden by children. Qataris were the first
to adopt the use of robotic jockeys. Ever since,
all the jockeys weigh exactly the same. As starting time draws closer, the camels must line up
in the direction of the race. There are no exceptions to this rule. Everything is soon taken care of. Ready, go. The cameras are off,
accompanied by a group of cars. The track is bordered by two lanes used by the camel owners
to drive alongside the race, piloting their SUVs
as well as their riders. Still in their pen,
the females seem extremely nervous. They've had their hair done. They're wearing their best attire. What is going on? A jury of experts is about
to judge which one is the prettiest. General appearance and numerous
other details are rigorously recorded. In a beauty contest,
everything must be official. And the winner is... A new star is born and the contest
ends with dancing and singing. Further west on the site of Zikreet, the sandy wind sculpts the limestone rocks
according to its whim. In the play of shadows,
the shapes are constantly changing. Here also,
there is no limit to creativity. The West Coast of Qatar
lies on the Gulf of Bahrain. The large beaches could certainly
accommodate a lot of sunbathers, but activity here
is limited to the exploitation of oil. The country's principal oil fields
are in fact located on the Western Coast. The pipelines wind their way
throughout this region. Oil was discovered here
by the British at the end of the 1930s. Qatar was entering a new era. Leaving the capital and heading north,
the desert rapidly reclaims its rights. The further we go,
the more barren the landscape becomes. The desert, however, is not just a vast stretch of land
where life is unsustainable. Surprise, we find crops growing
on carefully delineated plots of land. Another surprise,
there is a great variety of crops, but the vegetation
couldn't possibly survive without the aid of an irrigation system. They can even grow tomatoes,
thanks to strict management of irrigation. With certain vegetables, local production supplies
70% of Qatar's consumption. Amazing, dairy cows
are raised in the desert, animals that have low resistance to heat. Yet it works out,
specially where technology is called for. When excessive heat
presents a risk for the cows, humidifiers are put
into action and blinds are lowered. The milking process
takes place in a sterile environment, and production
is computer controlled at every stage. Hussein Salem. The milking is managed by computer,
which optimizes the quantity and the quality of the milk. The technology also allows streamlining
of all the farm work procedures. Certain manual work remains, but it is the computer that determines
the quantity of milk to be collected. We milk the cows two or three times a day. Each cow has a number
and wears a transponder, which is hooked up to a computer that processes
all the data on the animal. Another animal bred here, the oryx. This animal, which is emblematic to Qatar,
once thrived in the wild in this region, but came very close to extinction. Gazelles are also part of the local fauna. They've almost been wiped out by hunters,
but today they thrive on breeding farms. They're highly valued
for their meat and their hide. The islands off the coast
are a stopover for migratory birds. Dense mangroves border
on the desert in certain places. Further north,
the desert road nears the sea. The towns face towards the Gulf
and their survival depends on it. The dhows are not used
as pleasure boats, but as fishing boats. The port of Al-Ruwais
is at the northern tip of the peninsula. Fishing is one
of the traditional activities of Qatar. Today, those who make a living
as fishermen are immigrant workers. The Al Zubarah Fort was built
in 1938 to guard against the dangers that came from the sea. At the time, Qatar was responding
to the fortifications built in Bahrain. The region was already a hub
of heavy commercial traffic. Munir Tahar is an archaeologist. During the 18th and 19th century, Zubarah was a trade center
for the whole Arabian Gulf area. It was connected
to the Basra from the north, Oman from the south
and from there to East Africa to the west and to the east
to the Indus Valley up to China. On display inside the fort
are objects found in the area during archaeological digs of the ruins. The city used to be
a thriving trade center. There is an important port in Zubarah,
also mentioned in the historical books. And Zubarah
was also famous in pearling industry. The pearls were exported
to many countries. Zubarah was an international port,
which you can use any sort of currency. The city of Zubarah,
protected by its ramparts as early as the 18th century,
was ideally located. The importance of this site proves that
the country's outward-looking orientation is not just recent history. Traveling south, Saudi Arabia
is only 75 kilometers away. Immediately leaving the capital behind us is a region southwards
where the law of the desert prevails. There'll be no obstacles
on the road other than immense sand dunes. Only the sea coast
brings the desert to an end. Suddenly, behind a mountain of sand rises one of the emblems
of the Qatari economy, the enormous
industrial complex of Mesaieed. Natural gas, which constitutes
the country's major source of wealth, is processed here. One of the biggest gas fields in the world
was discovered in Qatar in the 1970s. The installations in Mesaieed are equipped
with sophisticated processing technology. These involve cooling
the natural gas to liquefy it and then ensuring its transport
in this lower volume, more stable form. A veritable industrial city
has been created out of nothing, and the installations in Mesaieed are constantly
being improved and expanded. If the world consumption of natural gas
is maintained at its current level and if Qatar continues
to maintain its rate of exporting, it is estimated
that exploitation of the gas reserves could continue for over 200 years. This is where the country's future begins. To head south,
we simply follow the coastline. An unexpected oasis
appears between desert and sea. An oasis of comfort and tranquillity. Suddenly, Bedouin horsemen
appear in full regalia. The national colors fly proudly. Unexpected luncheon on the grass and young sports fans
who let us in on what's going on. Of course, bicycles. In January, the tour of Qatar
starts off the cycling season under the direction
of ex-champion Eddy Merckx. I think it's an ideal way
to warm up for the season. The stages aren't too long. The cyclists return
to the same hotel every night, so it's the ideal way
to get into condition. This is the only place in the country
where the landscape seems to undulate. It's because of the Barkhans,
the crescent shaped sand dunes. Tracks, silhouettes, shapes, sand duning in 4x4s has become
a favorite pass-time of the Qataris. The sports field goes on forever. What's really interesting is finding dunes
no one has ever driven on before. Finding new terrain. It's a real hobby, you know. The terrain is constantly renewed because the wind
regularly erases the tire tracks and the desert
lends itself to all kinds of vehicles. All this is like taking a safari. We are camping somewhere. We just came here. The southern coast takes us to a channel
that leads to a small inland sea. On the other side, Saudi Arabia. Tents seem like punctuation
marks in the immensity. For several hours or several days,
Qataris come to commune with the desert. It's a way of returning to their origins, which doesn't mean
leaving the modern world behind. This room is not in a canvas tent and the air conditioning makes you
soon forget the outside temperature. It'll soon be night. For the day drippers,
it's time to get back to that other world. Reality turns
into an extraordinary mirage, and unbelievable gymkhana. The moon illuminates Doha,
lighting up rows of pearls. The desert has retreated, but the boundaries,
both modern and traditional, are still there. The house lit up
like a tent for the celebration. Ancestral customs taking place
at the foot of the skyscrapers. The mosque is a landmark in the night. It's a wedding feast. The guests present their compliments. The men gather in one area,
the women in another. The coffee pots are heated
just as they are in the dessert. Incense is still used
as a sign of welcome. Along with dates. In the very heart of the modern city, tradition goes
hand in hand with the present. Pearls of light
bring on the traditional dances, a Bedouin dance
reserved for very special occasions. The sword dance. After the dances, the feast. The traditional dish of lamb
with rice called Majboos. You eat with the right hand
and with the right hand only. Tomorrow, a new life
begins for the bridegroom. In the shade or in the light, Qatar is in the process
of meeting the challenge. Reconciling identity with modernity. As in a waking dream, the country emerges straight
from the desert, from tent to skyscraper, with almost no transition in between. It has raced into a new age. You have to rub your eyes
to believe what you're seeing. To Arab poets of ages passed,
pearls were teardrops of the moon. The pearls of today
have brought overwhelming change to the life of Qataris,
but not to their essential values. They have become the pearls of the future.
