There is a country that looks smaller than a fingernail on the map. Its total population is like just one part of a big city. But if there is a war or peace talks, if gas prices change or there is a World Cup, its name is heard everywhere. So the question is: how is Qatar so powerful? It is a peninsula country with only about 300,000 of its own citizens. Still, it sits at the same table as the biggest powers in the world. Let us measure the real power of this small country.
A Small Land With the World's Biggest Gas Field
First, look at its size. The total area of Qatar is about 11,600 square kilometres — one of the smallest countries in the world. But under this small land is the biggest gas field in the world: the North Field. Qatar has the 3rd largest proven gas reserves in the world. This gas puts Qatar among the biggest LNG exporters in the world. Now its production is being raised from 77 million tons per year to 126 million tons per year.
Gas Money and a Huge Wealth Fund
The wealth from gas is Qatar's 2nd power. Its GDP is about $230 billion. But the real wonder is income per person: more than $71,000, one of the highest levels in the world. Then there is the Qatar Investment Authority: a sovereign wealth fund of more than $500 billion. Its money is invested from famous buildings in London to big companies of the world. Qatar does not only sell gas — it also has the power to buy a share in the world.
A Big American Base and a Strong Shield
But power is not only money. Qatar has the biggest American military base in the Middle East: Al Udeid Air Base, with 8,000 to 10,000 American soldiers and the forward headquarters of CENTCOM. In return, Qatar got America's security cover, and America declared it a major non-NATO ally. Qatar has also given its small army the most modern fighter jets. In 2017, neighbour countries put a blockade on Qatar. Qatar did not bow down for 3 and a half years. The blockade ended without Qatar accepting any of their conditions.
Diplomacy, Media and Sport
Qatar's most special power is its diplomacy. The deal between America and the Taliban was made in Doha. The talks for a ceasefire in Gaza also ran from Doha. When big powers need to talk to someone, they turn to Doha. With this is Al Jazeera, one of the most watched news networks in the Arab world, Qatar Airways, one of the best airlines in the world, and the FIFA World Cup in 2022, hosted by Qatar for the first time in the Middle East. A small country, but present on every screen.
So, How Powerful Is Qatar?
If you measure Qatar by the size of its army, it is small. But if you look at gas, wealth, diplomacy and media together, it is one of those few countries that play a game many times bigger than their size. Qatar has proved that power does not mean being big. Power means having that thing without which the work of the world cannot run. This is Daily Info Dose. Next in the Nation Power series: how powerful is the United Kingdom? Keep watching, keep listening, and keep knowing.
Watch the video: How Powerful Is Qatar? | Most Powerful Nations on Earth #4 on YouTube. This article is the full written version of the video, in simple English. See all articles on the Blogs page and more videos in the History Series.