Iată textul scris de E.S. Abdullah bin Nasser AL-HUMAIDI,  pentru Defense România:

The State of Qatar celebrates its National Day every year on December 18th, marking its founding by Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani in 1878. The name of Qatar was first mentioned on the map drawn by Ptolemy, and had two written forms in Latin - Qatara or Katara.

Despite the limited size of Qatar and its small population, the state has been able to find a privileged place among the world's states through the wisdom of its leadership and its support by the people, but also through the adoption of sustainable development plans, which have brought Qatar prosperity and development, becoming the first country in the world in terms of national income per capita, according to World Bank statistics. It has reached a rate of about 129 thousand dollars per capita and its gross domestic product (GDP) reached $ 210 billion in 2017, according to World News Bourse. The World Bank expects this level to continue also in 2019 on the background of the economic recovery and the capacity of the Qatari economy to adapt to all the changes and challenges, both those related to the blockade imposed by the three neighboring countries in the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of Gulf (GCC) and Egypt, since the summer of 2017, as well as fluctuations in energy prices and political instability in the Middle East.

A few days ago, Qatar decided to withdraw from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), respecting its international obligations like any other member of the organization, but focusing on the increase in natural gas production from 77 to 110 million tons per year, becoming the world's first country in this field.

The State of Qatar is also a top country in the region in terms of education quality, lack of unemployment, economic growth, health system, giving its citizens free of charge treatment, electricity and water, and without paying taxes on their professional activities. Last year, Qatar was ranked the 10th in the world among the best emerging economies. With regard to the World Economic Index for 2017, published by Herting Foundation, the Qatar State has won five positions, ranking 29 and registering 73 points out of a total of 100 points.

It is worth mentioning that Qatar has been ranked the first country in terms of exports of natural liquefied gas (LNG), or the equivalent of a quarter of the worldwide production of five countries, namely Qatar, Australia, Malaysia, Algeria and Nigeria. As far as natural gas exports are concerned, Qatar was the third country in the world.

Qatar is also the world's fourth-largest petrochemical producer, with its rational economic policies succeeding in transforming oil and gas revenues into wealth by investing, its assets exceeding 320 billion dollars. The New York Post notes that the Investment Authority of Qatar, which was founded 13 years ago, is doing business in American and European companies on four continents, being the 10th largest Sovereign Investment Fund in the world. The fund supports Qatar Airways, which co-ordinates Hamad International Airport, and has expanded its fleet to 196 aircraft, flying in more than 150 countries.

The Davos World Economic Forum report for the period 2015-2016 showed that Qatar is in the top of the Arab countries and ranked fourth in the world in terms of the quality of higher education. It is the first Arab country and the 49th internationally in terms of internet speed and for years has been ranked the first country for the best health system among the Arab countries.

Qatar ranks first among the Arab countries and ranked 33rd worldwide, according to the United Nations Development, Economic and Environmental Report 2016.

According to OCHA, the State of Qatar is the world's number one in helping populations of other countries facing wars and crises and the number of beneficiaries of Qatar's charity programs has reached over 5 million people affected by wars, disasters and crises in Syria, Yemen, Palestine, Somalia, Myanmar, Nepal and others.

His Royal Highness, Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, emir of Qatar, received the World Cup mantle from the Russian President Vladimir Putin in July this year in order to organize the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Among the surprises of this sporting event are the receiving of over 40,000 fans from cruise ships among the 1.5 million who will participate in the World Cup. These sporting events seek to become the most successful in the history of this event.

Since 2008, the State of Qatar has adopted a comprehensive vision for national development in 2030, the framework for the preparation of national strategies and operational plans aimed to transform Qatar into a more developed country capable of achieving sustainable development and ensuring a decent life for its following generations.

All these achievements in Qatar have not only been achieved through energy resources, but also through wisdom, planning, trust in their people, the adoption of a balanced and active foreign policy that strives to make Qatar the Arabian Pearl of Gulf despite the challenging political climate to which the Middle East is exposed.