Summary:
The BBC's Inside the Middle East series looks at the rich history of the Gulf state of Qatar, and the role it has played in its development.

Full article:
(CNN) -- This month "Inside the Middle East" travels to the tiny state of Qatar, where vast oil and gas reserves have transformed a once-impoverished strip of desert into the richest country in the world -- all in the span of just half a century. CNN's Rima Maktabi explores the modern capital city, Doha, and discovers how Qatar's rulers are using a mix of culture, world-class universities, and international sporting tournaments to thrust the tiny Gulf state onto the world stage -- and expand its influence in the region. From journalists to college students, locals explain how and why their country has avoided the type of unrest that has swept across the Middle East and North Africa over the past year. We also meet Bahiya Al Hamad, a 19-year-old rifle shooter going to London for the 2012 Olympic Games. She will make history this summer as one of Qatar's first female Olympians. Watch the May show at the following times: . Wednesday 2 May: 0930, 1630 . Saturday 5 May: 0430, 1830 . Sunday 6 May: 1130 . Saturday 12 May: 1130 . Sunday 13 May: 0430, 1830 . (all times GMT)