What's So Special About Qatar?
The tiny state behind a global diplomatic feud.
The tiny state behind a global diplomatic feud.
Qatar's landmass is so small it could fit into the UK 20 times over. Its citizen population is just a few hundred thousand. Yet this desert country finds itself at the centre of a geopolitical dispute, with its powerful neighbour Saudi Arabia leading a blockade against it and President Donald Trump firing off critical Tweets.
So how did this bantam-weight state end up slogging it out with the world's heavyweights? In other words, what's so special about Qatar?
Presenter: James Fletcher
Producer: Simon Maybin and Sarah Shebbeare
(image: Doha city skyline, with armoured vehicles, Qatar. Credit: Karim Jaafar/Getty images)
Last on
More episodes
Clips
![]()
The surprising past of one of the world's richest states
Duration: 02:29
![]()
From "thank you" to feud
Duration: 03:17
![]()
How to win friends and influence people
Duration: 01:58
Broadcasts
- Thu 6 Jul 201702:06GMTBBC World Service Online, Americas and the Caribbean, UK DAB/Freeview & West and Central Africa only
- Thu 6 Jul 201703:06GMTBBC World Service East Asia & South Asia only
- Thu 6 Jul 201706:06GMTBBC World Service Australasia & East and Southern Africa only
- Thu 6 Jul 201707:06GMTBBC World Service Europe and the Middle East
- Thu 6 Jul 201713:06GMTBBC World Service Australasia
- Thu 6 Jul 201714:06GMTBBC World Service except Australasia & News Internet
- Thu 6 Jul 201719:06GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
- Sat 8 Jul 201716:06GMTBBC World Service Online
- Sat 8 Jul 201723:06GMTBBC World Service except News Internet
- Mon 10 Jul 201703:06GMTBBC World Service Australasia
Podcast
![]()
The Inquiry
The Inquiry explores the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world




