Qatar, a small country on the Arabian Peninsula, how “rich” do you think it is? You probably can’t even imagine.
Its area is just 11,500 square kilometers, roughly the size of a small resort, but its total population exceeds 2.5 million!
You might think I’m joking, how could such a small place have so much wealth? The answer is: Qatar relies on natural gas and oil, and it’s “rich beyond measure.” 
When it comes to the wealth of this place, you’ll need to open your eyes wide.
Qatar’s per capita GDP is as high as $61,800, which is about 430,437 yuan.
Even if you just go there to buy an ice cream, you can feel the air around you is filled with the scent of money.
Moreover, this place isn’t just rich, it’s all about luxury. Once you step into the capital, Doha, you’ll see skyscrapers gleaming with gold, luxury cars parked beside them, and the air isn’t filled with dust, but the fragrance of luxury goods.
To say the least, the feeling alone could make you mistakenly think you’ve entered a “temple of money”—every step is gold, and diamonds line the streets.
What’s even more astonishing is that Qatar is particularly good at making people “gain without working.”
Take Qatar’s economic pillar—Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), for example; it’s the world’s largest producer and exporter of LNG.
Add to that its almost unrivaled petrochemical industry, and it’s hard not to be rich.
Even more impressive, the Qatar Investment Authority’s fund pool has investments worldwide totaling over $300 billion, making it financially invincible.
Imagine, members of the Qatari royal family live a life like a fantasy every day.
If you could get on good terms with them, you might not even need to work; the monthly “dividends” alone would be enough for a life of luxury.
You might wonder what life is like for ordinary people here? If you’re a local in Qatar, that’s right, it’s basically paradise mode.
Their average monthly salary exceeds 100,000 yuan, working just four days a week, three hours a day, with the rest of the time dedicated to enjoying food, drink, and leisure.
Do you know what this means? Going to work feels like going to film a movie, work for a bit, and then the rest of the time is for pursuing happiness.
Living in Qatar, you’d be a winner in life, synonymous with “living in luxury.”
However, don’t think this “paradise” doesn’t have its “hellish” side.
You should know that among Qatar’s permanent population, a large number are workers from India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
These workers engage in various low-end jobs daily, earning between 2,000 to 5,000 yuan a month, a stark contrast to the locals’ 100,000 yuan salary.
With such high prices, can you imagine how these workers manage to live? You might think their wages are higher than in their home countries, but compared to the “nurtured life” of locals, these foreign workers are merely struggling to survive.
Speaking of prices, the situation in Qatar is both amusing and frustrating.
Qatar has almost no industry or manufacturing, so nearly everything has to be imported, naturally driving up prices.
Want to have a casual meal here? Sure, lamb grab rice is 32 yuan, a skewer of Arab beef is 10 yuan, oranges are 8.5 yuan per kilogram, and apples are 14 yuan per kilogram—if you think these prices are affordable, you’re wrong.
Seriously, how much good food could this money buy in China? If you go shopping in a supermarket, you’d probably have to fight with your wallet.
But, the meat for Qataris themselves is relatively cheap, especially beef and lamb, which are both affordable and fresh.
Beef is 50 to 60 yuan per kilogram, and most outrageously, a box of two steaks costs only 70 yuan, letting you feel what real luxury at a reasonable price is.
But you might wonder, if they’re so rich, why isn’t Qatar considered a developed country? Well, honestly, while Qatar is rich beyond measure, it’s not classified as a developed country.
Because almost everything, from daily necessities to luxury goods, depends on imports, the prices can make you cry.
The healthcare policy, however, is quite humane; no matter where you’re from or what illness you have, treatment is free, feeling like an invincible insurance shield.
But for the local rich, life in Qatar is paradise-level treatment, while for foreign workers, it’s practically a “survival challenge.”
Moreover, the wealth gap in Qatar is extremely pronounced, causing many issues, especially in the labor market.
You can see that compared to locals, workers’ wages are worlds apart, and their living conditions are several grades lower.
Those workers from India, Bangladesh, and other places, besides working hard, have little chance to enjoy the comfortable living environment of Qatar.
Also, Qatar is an Islamic country, where religion plays a significant role in daily life.
You’ll see that Qataris don’t drink alcohol, don’t eat pork, and all food must adhere to Islamic halal standards.
You might think it’s to show religious devotion? No, before slaughtering chickens, they must face Mecca, and during the slaughter, a recording of prayers is played, making it a sacred and inviolable act.
Regarding Qatari attire, if you visit their supermarkets, you’ll definitely see people wearing traditional white robes and headscarves. This attire is not just for following religious commandments but also to show humility.
The clothing styles for men and women are starkly different, and you can basically judge their identity and social status through their attire.
However, when Qataris travel abroad, especially to Western countries, they usually dress more “modestly” to avoid misunderstandings and trouble.
Qatar, a small, wealthy country emerging from the desert, hides a plethora of wealth behind its name.
When you hear this name, does your mind immediately conjure up images of luxury cars, skyscrapers, and gleaming yachts? Yes, indeed, this place is one of the richest in the world, with a per capita GDP so high it makes finance ministers in other countries want to jump off buildings—each Qatari can easily take the lead in the global circle of showing off wealth.
Per Capita Wealth So High, Even the Sand Exudes Nobility
Qatar’s area is smaller than many Chinese provinces, just 11,500 square kilometers, but “small area” doesn’t mean “poor.”
You should know that with a total population of 2.5 million, possibly less than a district in Beijing, each person’s wallet could hold a shopping list from a “global top luxury brand.”
On this land, the most dazzling sight isn’t the desert, but those shimmering skyscrapers and luxurious shopping malls.
Doha, like a city pieced together with dollars, transforms the desert’s desolation into a “synonym for wealth.”
Every passing Mercedes, Ferrari, seems to boast about its origin.
Speaking of Qatar’s economic pillar, we can’t overlook its “natural gas” industry.
Qatar is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). If it weren’t for Qatar’s economy being so reliant on natural gas, few would know that “natural gas” could make a country so rich.
Rich to the Point of Excess—Ordinary People Live Differently
There’s a curious phenomenon here, which is that Qatar virtually has no “poor people.”
If you’re a local, life is practically paradise, with the state taking care of you from cradle to grave.
Look, Qataris, with an average monthly salary exceeding 100,000 yuan, work such short hours it’s almost laughable—only four days a week, three hours a day.
The rest of the time, they can buy luxury cars, engage in water sports, go skiing in Europe, or spend time in slightly warmer places.
Yes, life in Qatar seems like a luxurious “resort,” but—this paradise isn’t for everyone.
Those foreign workers from India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, their daily wages aren’t as dazzling, with monthly salaries between 2,000 to 5,000 yuan, which, although higher than in their home countries, is far from what locals earn.
Prices So High They Make You Question Life
Qatar’s prices are so high they make you question if it’s a “life challenge” set up to make you save money.
Yes, almost everything here has to be imported, especially food.
Can you imagine, lamb grab rice costs 32 yuan, Arab beef skewers are 10 yuan, oranges and apples are 14 yuan and 8.5 yuan per kilogram?
It’s like a “luxurious feast of food.”
When it comes to meat, however, Qatar’s beef and lamb are relatively cheaper and very fresh, with beef at 50-60 yuan per kilogram, and a box of two steaks only 70 yuan.
As for luxury goods in branded supermarkets, the prices are “heart-stopping,” no wonder they say “rich beyond measure.”
Welfare So Thick, the Wealth Gap is Obvious
Qatar, while not a developed country, has welfare policies that match those of developed nations.
The healthcare services here are very advanced; heart surgery, brain surgery, all free!
There are even rumors that Qatar once offered a blank check to an Austrian liver transplant expert, but he ultimately didn’t agree to come.
These welfare benefits truly provide care from birth to old age.
And if you get sick, whether it’s a minor or major illness, the state will pay for your treatment; if you don’t have money, that’s not a problem—the state covers everything!
Education goes without saying; Qatar’s free education system covers you from primary school to university, with no tuition worries.
Even electricity and gas bills are waived.
Such policies allow every Qatari family to easily navigate economic pressures and enjoy the happiness brought by the state.
Moreover, from living allowances to high-quality medical services, Qatar’s welfare system is truly comprehensive.
You’ll never worry about not being able to afford medical care or education.
Traditional Culture and Religious Customs—Never Forgetting “Tradition” Despite Wealth
Qatar, though it looks luxurious, its traditional culture and religious customs are no less than the modern city’s facade.
As an Islamic country, religious life permeates every corner, with five daily prayers, and only after cleansing can one start the day’s work—this isn’t a scene from a movie, it’s the daily way of life for Qataris.
As for family privacy, it’s taken to the extreme.
Even close friends and relatives aren’t allowed to casually see Qatari women, especially wives, which is absolutely impossible.
During gatherings, men and women are separated, each in different rooms, eating, chatting, playing cards, doing what they’re good at.
When it comes to gifts, oud wood is a sign of respect and esteem from Qataris.
Don’t underestimate this oud wood; its price is exorbitantly high, a symbol of “nobility.”
Family Concept and Marriage—A Low-Key, Luxurious “Love Story”
Qatar’s family concept is also very traditional.
Men are usually the breadwinners, while women mostly stay at home to take care of children, cook, and watch dramas.
As for marriage, it’s not comparable to Western countries; cousin marriages are quite common and carry no significant taboo.
This marriage custom isn’t something everyone can understand, but in Qatar, it’s seen as a way to “maintain family purity” and “inherit wealth.”
Living in Qatar—Paradise Has Its Hardships
In summary, life in Qatar is a typical example of “rich beyond measure.”
People here, from birth to death, have virtually no worries—from raising children to buying a house, to care in old age, the Qatari government almost provides “VIP treatment” from cradle to grave.
Here, you never have to worry about healthcare, fret over your children’s education, or feel much pressure from the high cost of living.
Every day you can live like a god, with a monthly salary easily over 100,000 yuan, and the rest of your days can be spent enjoying life.
However, it’s worth noting that this “paradise” life doesn’t apply to everyone.
Foreign workers, especially those from low-income countries, although earning more than in their home countries, live a life that’s worlds apart from that of the locals.
Heavy work, high living costs, and meager wages make their daily lives more about survival than enjoyment.
Qatar, truly a place that’s both loved and hated.
For locals, it’s “paradise,” but for foreign laborers—behind this “paradise” might be their unspeakable pain.
