50 Riyals 2008, Qatar
| in Krause book | Number: 31 |
| 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): | 152 x 70.5 |
| Printer: | De la Rue currency,Loughton |
* All pictures marked 
are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.
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:
There are 2 combined images on the banknote - from this angle it is impossible to take a joint picture of the Pearl monument and the building of the Central Bank of Qatar! Objects are at the same intersection, but at diametrically opposite corners of the Al Cornishe.
Central Bank of Qatar building in Doha. It have 11 stores. Hight - 45,96 meters.
Address: Qatar Central Bank Building, Abdullah Bin Jassim Street, Al Corniche Area, 1234, Qatar.
While oil has made Qatar rich - it boasts the highest per capita income in the world - the tiny Gulf nation hasn’t forgotten its seafaring roots.
Prior to the discovery of oil in 1939, pearling was one of Qatar’s primary revenue streams. Not only is it a gamble, approximately one in 10,000 oysters contains a pearl - it was extremely dangerous due to the toll diving took on the body, coupled with the constant threat of lingering barracudas, sea snakes, and sharks nearby.
The pearl’s significance is still honored throughout Qatar today. There is a giant Pearl Monument in Doha, a luxury artificial island called The Pearl was built on one of the nation’s major pearl-diving sites, and the annual Qatar Marine Festival showcases pearling methods as well as its history.
And located on Corniche Street, just before entering Dhow Harbor, stands the Pearl Monument. The fountain sculpture depicts a giant open oyster presenting a massive pearl in its mouth. This fountain, which lights up at night, provides an ideal photo opportunity while paying homage to Qatar’s pearling history.
Pearl diving was a seasonal activity and profession that took place between June and September each year. Divers and crews would set out on a two-month-long journey as well as a 40-day journey in the hopes of returning with a plentiful bounty. But as Japan began cultivating pearl beds and creating oyster farms in the mid-1920s, pearl prices decreased. Coupled with the discovery of oil, Qatar’s priorities underwent a massive shift, and, as they say, the rest is history. (www.atlasobscura.com)
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