In pictures: Qatar National Day /mritems/Images/2010/12/18/20101218203948249472_8.jpg;*;/mritems/Images/2010/12/18/20101218195145938811_8.jpg;*;/mritems/Images/2010/12/18/20101218194923981472_8.jpg;*;/mritems/Images/2010/12/18/2010121820401847876_8.jpg;*;/mritems/Images/2010/12/18/201012182011519738_8.jpg;*;/mritems/Images/2010/12/18/2010121820143606140_8.jpg;*;/mritems/Images/2010/12/18/2010121820392592436_8.jpg;*;/mritems/Images/2010/12/18/20101218204145441876_8.jpg;*;/mritems/Images/2010/12/18/2010121819481181738_8.jpg;*;/mritems/Images/2010/12/18/20101218204317537884_8.jpg;*;/mritems/Images/2010/12/18/20101218204225911965_8.jpg;*;/mritems/Images/2010/12/18/2010121820427723140_8.jpg;*;/mritems/Images/2010/12/18/20101218204254677811_8.jpg;*;/mritems/Images/2010/12/18/20101218204123565811_8.jpg Young Qataris celebrate their national day on 18 December 2010 [Sara Hassan/Al Jazeera];*;Qatar is an oil and gas-rich nation and has the third largest gas reserves in the world [EPA];*;Before the discovery of oil, the economy of the Qatari region focused on fishing and pearl hunting. After the introduction of the Japanese cultured pearl, Qatar(***)s pearling industry faltered.[EPA];*;Qataris commemorate the day when Sheikh Jassim, the founder of Qatar, succeeded his father, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Thani and led the country towards unity [Sara Hassan/Al Jazeera];*;Qatari Heritage Police participate in the military parade [EPA];*;Qatari women soldiers march down the seaside strip known as the (***)Corniche(***) [EPA];*;Football is the most popular sport in the country and on December 2, 2010, Qatar won the bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup [Sara Hassan/Al Jazeera];*;Many families came out for the National Day celebrations which was a state holiday [Sara Hassan/Al Jazeera];*;In recent years Qatar has placed great emphasis on education. Citizens are required to attend government-provided education until high school [EPA];*;Sheikh Qassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani (1878 - 1913) is considered its founder[Sara Hassan/Al Jazeera];*;The International Monetary Fund states that Qatar has the highest GDP per capita in the world, followed by Liechtenstein. The World Factbook ranks Qatar at second, following Liechtenstein [Sara Hassan/Al Jazeera];*;During the celebrations for Qatar National Day a boat show and fireworks display were provided for residents [Sara Hassan/Al Jazeera];*;Qataris make up less than 10 per cent of the national population [Sara Hassan/Al Jazeera];*;Much of the centre of the city was overtaken by residents celebrating the event [Sara Hassan/Al Jazeera] 0