Entitled خارطة قطر (Map of Qatar), this 1982 cartographic statement was issued by the Ministry of Information, Qatar, at a moment when the young nation sought to codify its identity on paper as decisively as it did in policy. The map balances crisp governmental clarity with the warm topographic color gradients characteristic of the early 1980s, rendering the peninsula intelligible at a glance while inviting extended study. Political boundaries are drawn with assurance, urban names are set with disciplined legibility, and the surrounding waters of the Persian Gulf frame the country like a natural proscenium. It is an authoritative synthesis of terrain, settlement, and statecraft from a pivotal decade.

Across the page, Qatar’s distinct geomorphology unfurls: a low, calcareous peninsula tapering northward into the Persian Gulf, its shore scalloped by shallow bays and salt flats. Elevation tints gently rise toward the west, culminating in the Jebel Dukhan ridge, a subdued highland that has long anchored the nation’s interior. To the southeast, the dramatic sweep of Khor Al Adaid—the Inland Sea—etches an amphitheater of dunes and tidal channels at the Saudi frontier, a meeting of desert and water unique in the region. Subtle symbols pick out hills and lowlands, while the color gradient deftly conveys Qatar’s nuanced relief despite its modest altitudes, revealing a landscape shaped by wind, brine, and time.

The human geography is no less meticulously articulated. Doha, the capital, occupies the cartographic center of gravity, its name radiating along roads that lace the coast and pierce the interior. Al Rayyan, spreading to the west of the capital, appears in tandem with Doha, a testament to their entwined growth. Southward, Al Wakrah marks an older maritime axis, while Umm Salal to the north anchors routes that feed the peninsula’s spine. Highways and secondary roads are diagrammed with purposeful hierarchy, tracing the principal corridors that knit east and west—most notably the trunk line to the oil-rich west—and the coastal artery that links towns and villages in a chain of commerce and daily life.

Clear political delineation frames this network. The land border with Saudi Arabia is inscribed with a quiet finality, emphasizing the singularity of Qatar’s peninsular form, while the surrounding maritime expanse hints at dialogues across water with Bahrain to the northwest and the Emirates farther east. Within the country, administrative lines and captions organize settlement clusters into recognizable jurisdictions, reflecting the governance architecture of the period. Ports and coastal towns register Qatar’s historic orientation to the sea, even as new inland links redirect attention to emergent industrial zones. The composition captures a state composed in firm outlines yet open to the currents—economic, cultural, and strategic—that glide along the Gulf.

As a 1982 issue, the map crystallizes a transformative threshold: a decade after independence, amid accelerating infrastructure and institutional consolidation, and on the cusp of later gas-driven expansion. Produced by the Ministry of Information—an agency charged with narrating the nation to itself and to the world—it functions as both guide and mirror, cataloging settlements, roads, and sites of interest while projecting an image of coherence and momentum. Scholars and collectors will read in its symbology the priorities of the era: connectivity, urban primacy, and careful stewardship of a delicate coast. It is, in essence, a baseline—an elegant ledger of where Qatar stood as it prepared to surge ahead.

Cities and towns on this map

• Doha (modern population approx. 1.4 million)
• Al Rayyan (modern population approx. 600,000)
• Al Wakrah (modern population approx. 150,000)
• Umm Salal (modern population approx. 100,000)

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Major towns and settlements marked with labels.
• Roads and highways connecting different areas.
• Physical landmarks such as hills and lowlands.
• Body of water, specifically the Persian Gulf along the coasts.
• Political boundaries outlined.
• Elevation indicators to suggest varying terrain.
• A color gradient indicating different land elevations (topographic representation).

Historical and design context

• The map was created in 1982.
• Published by the Ministry of Information, Qatar.
• The Ministry of Information in Qatar plays a significant role in producing informational resources and promoting knowledge about the country, reflecting its cultural, historical, and political landscapes.
• The map features a cartographic style typical of the early 1980s, likely employing a combination of color gradients to represent topography and clearly marked features for ease of navigation and understanding.
• As a product from 1982, this map can provide insights into how Qatar’s borders, settlements, and infrastructure have evolved, reflecting the socio-political changes in the region over time.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This is a very large map that must be ordered at a large size, so that you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 100in (250cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 24x36in (60x90cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.

Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.

We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.

• We can deliver directly to the recipient
• Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
• Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
• Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
• 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide

If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.

Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.

We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.

Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.

Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.

Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.

If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.

Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.

Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 10-year guarantee.

Read our full delivery and local production guide

Our standard frame is a gallery-style black ash hardwood frame, with a simple, modern look. It is approximately 20mm (0.8in) wide. You can also view some lovely customer photos of framed maps and art.

We use super-clear acrylic glazing, also known as Perspex or Acrylite, instead of traditional glass. It is lighter, safer, and has lower reflectivity, giving the artwork a clearer, cleaner appearance.

Six standard frame colours are available at no extra cost: black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white, and antique gold. Custom framing and mounting/matting is also available for customers looking for something more specific.

Most maps, art prints, and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced wooden box frame, and then float the piece within a wooden outer frame. The finished result is beautifully presented, with no glazing between you and the artwork.

All frames are supplied ready to hang, with either string or brackets fitted to the back. Very large frames will include heavy-duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

We can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag, and other materials.

If you would prefer to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read our size guide before ordering.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.