5 Riyals 2008, Qatar
| in Krause book | Number: 29 |
| Years of issue: | 15.08.2008 |
| Edition: | |
| Signatures: | Governor: Abdullah Saud Al-Thani, Minister of Finance: Yousef Hussein Kamal |
| Serie: | 2008 Issue |
| Specimen of: | 15.08.2008 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 140 x 67 |
| Printer: | De la Rue currency,Loughton |
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Description
Watermark:
Denomination and falcon.
The saker falcon (Falco cherrug). This bird has a great emotional significance for the indigenous population.
There is an opinion, that the national bird of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar is not the Saker, but its hunting hybrid with Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus). However - The first successful results of obtaining a hybrid of gyrfalcon and saker were obtained in the early 1970s in Ireland, that is, when the national bird of the UAE was already identified and there were already circulating banknotes with the image of Saker Falcon. Today - indeed, this hybrid is popular in falconry in many countries, including the OAE and Qatar.
The saker falcon (Falco cherrug) is a large species of falcon. This species breeds from eastern Europe eastwards across Asia to Manchuria. It is mainly migratory except in the southernmost parts of its range, wintering in Ethiopia, the Arabian peninsula, northern Pakistan and western China.
The specific part of the scientific name, cherrug, comes from the Hindi name charg for a female saker. The common name saker comes from the (Arabic: صقر, translit. Ṣaqr) meaning "falcon". 
Avers:
On right and left sides, on the top, are the coat of arms of Qatar.
The emblem of Qatar (Arabic: شعار قطر) is the coat of arms of Qatar.
The emblem shows two crossed white curved swords in a yellow circle. Between the swords there is a sailing ship (dhow) sailing on blue and white waves beside an island with two palm trees. The circle is surrounded by a round doughnut-shaped object, which is divided horizontally, between the two colours of the flag. In the white section, the name of the state of Qatar is written in black, while in the maroon section, the country’s official name is written in white of Qatar.
Across the field of banknotes, on top, is a pattern in the Islamic style, and a column with arches. Where is this column and pattern located, in Qatar, I did not found yet.
Revers:
The Old Amiri Palace, located in Doha, Qatar, previously served as the residence of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani during the early 20th century. It became defunct in 1923 when Abdullah bin Jassim shifted his seat of government to the then-abandoned Ottoman fort of Qal'at al-Askar. In 1972, it was decided that it would be converted into a museum, culminating in the Qatar National Museum.
In late 1871, the Qatar Peninsula fell under Ottoman control after Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, ruler of the peninsula, acquiesced control in exchange for protection from the Sheikhs of Bahrain and Abu Dhabi and agreed to fly the Ottoman flag at his residence. In January 1872, Qatar was formally incorporated into the Ottoman Empire as a province in Najd with Sheikh Jassim being appointed its kaymakam (sub-governor). Sheikh Jassim was allowed to continue presiding over most local affairs. Shortly after their arrival, the Ottomans established a permanent presence at Qal'at al-Askar, a fort built on a slightly elevated area in central Doha. As the de facto ruler, Sheikh Jassim established his headquarters at Fereej Al Salata, a seaside district that provided suitable harborage.
Sheikh Jassim died in 1913 and Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani was to take up his mantle as the ruler of Qatar. The Ottomans withdrew from Qatar in 1915 and Qatar became a British protectorate in 1916; Sheikh Abdullah's ruling of the peninsula was recognized by the British. Throughout the end of Sheikh Jassim's and the beginning of Sheikh Abdullah's reign, the family palace frequently received upgrades and expansions. Finally, in 1923, Sheikh Abdullah decided to shift the seat of government to the now-abandoned Qal'at al-Askar, which eventually became known as the Amiri Diwan. Almost 50 years later, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani began the process of converting the defunct palace into a museum, resulting in the establishment of the Qatar National Museum in 1975.
As mentioned previously, the palace was continuously improved throughout the years with no defined master plan. In 2010, the following sections of the palace were identified:
Sheikh Abdullah's family residence
Sheikh Hamed's family residence
Sheikh Ali's family residence
Guard's residence
Mosque custodian's residence
East Gatehouse residence
North gatehouse residence
Small majlis
Inner majlis
On left side are the national animals of UAE and Qatar - Arabian oryxes.
The Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx, Arabic: المها), the smallest species, became extinct in the wild in 1972 from the Arabian Peninsula. It was reintroduced in 1982 in Oman, but poaching has reduced their numbers there. One of the largest populations of Arabian oryx exists on Sir Bani Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates. Additional populations have been reintroduced in Qatar, Bahrain, Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. As of 2011, the total wild population is over 1000, and 6000–7000 are being held in captivity. In 2011, the IUCN downgraded its threat category from Extinct in the Wild to Vulnerable, the first species to have changed back this way.
Oryx is a genus consisting of four large antelope species called oryxes. Three of them are native to arid parts of Africa, and the fourth to the Arabian Peninsula. Their fur is pale with contrasting dark markings in the face and on the legs, and their long horns are almost straight. The exception is the scimitar oryx, which lacks dark markings on the legs, only has faint dark markings on the head, has an ochre neck, and horns that are clearly decurved.
The Arabian oryx was only saved from extinction through a captive breeding program and reintroduction to the wild. The scimitar oryx, which is now listed as Extinct in the Wild, also relies on a captive breeding program for its survival. Small populations of several oryx species, such as the scimitar oryx, exist in Texas and New Mexico (USA) in wild game ranches. Gemsboks were released at the White Sands Missile Range and have become an invasive species of concern at the adjacent White Sands National Monument.
The term "oryx" comes from the Greek word Ὂρυξ, óryx, for a type of antelope. The Greek plural form is óryges, although oryxes has been established in English. Herodotus mentions a type of gazelle in Libya called "Orus", probably related to the verb ¨oruttoo" or "orussoo", meaning "to dig". White oryxes are known to dig holes in the sand for the sake of coolness.
On right side is The dromedary (Camelus dromedarius).
The dromedary, also called the Somali camel (Camelus dromedarius), is a large, even-toed ungulate with one hump on its back. The dromedary is the tallest of the three species of camel; adult males stand 1.8-2 m. (5.9-6.6 ft) at the shoulder, while females are 1.7-1.9 m. (5.6-6.2 ft.) tall. Males typically weigh between 400 and 600 kg. (880 and 1,320 lb.), and females weigh between 300 and 540 kg. (660 and 1,190 lb.). The species' distinctive features include its long, curved neck, narrow chest, a single hump (compared with two on the Bactrian camel and wild Bactrian camel), and long hairs on the throat, shoulders and hump. The coat is generally a shade of brown. The hump, 20 cm. (7.9 in.) tall or more, is made of fat bound together by fibrous tissue.
Dromedaries are mainly active during daylight hours. They form herds of about 20 individuals, which are led by a dominant male. This camel feeds on foliage and desert vegetation; several adaptations, such as the ability to tolerate losing more than 30% of its total water content, allow it to thrive in its desert habitat. Mating occurs annually and peaks in the rainy season; females bear a single calf after a gestation of 15 months.
The dromedary has not occurred naturally in the wild for nearly 2,000 years. It was probably first domesticated in Somalia or the Arabian Peninsula about 4,000 years ago. In the wild, the dromedary inhabited arid regions, including the Sahara Desert. The domesticated dromedary is generally found in the semi-arid to arid regions of the Old World, mainly in Africa, and a significant feral population occurs in Australia. Products of the dromedary, including its meat and milk, support several north Arabian tribes; it is also commonly used for riding and as a beast of burden.
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