WORLD FOCUS

Isolated Qatar reaches out to the world

With its deep pockets, the world's richest country has weathered a year-long boycott by its neighbours well

Al-Bayt Stadium is one of the eight football stadiums which are being built for the 2022 Fifa World Cup to be hosted by Qatar. It is meant to resemble the interior of a traditional Bedouin tent. The US$7.4 billion (S$10 billion) Hamad megaport launch
With travel restrictions stemming from the boycott, many Qataris and residents are spending the Ramadan period at home. During the fasting month, the shopping malls and traditional markets such as Souq Waqif (above) become abuzz with activity during the night. ST PHOTOS: ARLINA ARSHAD
Al-Bayt Stadium is one of the eight football stadiums which are being built for the 2022 Fifa World Cup to be hosted by Qatar. It is meant to resemble the interior of a traditional Bedouin tent. The US$7.4 billion (S$10 billion) Hamad megaport launch
For most people in Qatar, life goes on as before despite the boycott: they go shopping for textiles, gold jewellery and clothing, as well as meet up for meals or to smoke shisha. ST PHOTOS: ARLINA ARSHAD
Al-Bayt Stadium is one of the eight football stadiums which are being built for the 2022 Fifa World Cup to be hosted by Qatar. It is meant to resemble the interior of a traditional Bedouin tent. The US$7.4 billion (S$10 billion) Hamad megaport launch
For most people in Qatar, life goes on as before despite the boycott: they go shopping for textiles, gold jewellery and clothing, as well as meet up for meals or to smoke shisha. ST PHOTOS: ARLINA ARSHAD
Al-Bayt Stadium is one of the eight football stadiums which are being built for the 2022 Fifa World Cup to be hosted by Qatar. It is meant to resemble the interior of a traditional Bedouin tent. The US$7.4 billion (S$10 billion) Hamad megaport launch
Now, grocery shelves proudly display Qatar products from homegrown companies such as bread from Qbake and fresh milk from Baladna. But most of the food is still imported, from South African turnips and Singapore spring rolls to French cheese and Australian carrots. ST PHOTOS: ARLINA ARSHAD
Al-Bayt Stadium is one of the eight football stadiums which are being built for the 2022 Fifa World Cup to be hosted by Qatar. It is meant to resemble the interior of a traditional Bedouin tent. The US$7.4 billion (S$10 billion) Hamad megaport launch
Al-Bayt Stadium is one of the eight football stadiums which are being built for the 2022 Fifa World Cup to be hosted by Qatar. It is meant to resemble the interior of a traditional Bedouin tent. ST PHOTOS: ARLINA ARSHAD
Al-Bayt Stadium is one of the eight football stadiums which are being built for the 2022 Fifa World Cup to be hosted by Qatar. It is meant to resemble the interior of a traditional Bedouin tent. The US$7.4 billion (S$10 billion) Hamad megaport launch
The US$7.4 billion (S$10 billion) Hamad megaport launched last September on Qatar’s south-eastern coast creates new sea links to ship in vital food supplies and building materials. ST PHOTOS: ARLINA ARSHAD
Al-Bayt Stadium is one of the eight football stadiums which are being built for the 2022 Fifa World Cup to be hosted by Qatar. It is meant to resemble the interior of a traditional Bedouin tent. The US$7.4 billion (S$10 billion) Hamad megaport launch
Dairy firm Baladna has emerged as a national hero – having airlifted thousands of dairy cows from the US which now produce 500,000 litres of fresh milk a day, enough for the entire population. ST PHOTOS: ARLINA ARSHAD
Arlina Arshad Regional Correspondent In Doha (Qatar)
Updated
Oct 25, 2018, 03:56 PM
Published
Jun 12, 2018, 05:00 AM
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With an estimated US$335 billion (S$447 billion) of assets in its sovereign wealth fund, Qatar - the world's richest country - still had to dig deep into its pockets to limit the repercussions. It also sought help from Turkey and Iran.

"Qatar is a country with massive financial resources so of course it could afford to pay for the additional costs," National University of Singapore's Middle East Institute (MEI) senior research fellow Mattia Tomba told The Straits Times.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 12, 2018, with the headline Isolated Qatar reaches out to the world. Subscribe

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