Protestantism in Qatar

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Qatar has a population of approximately 3 million people. About 13.7% (409,000 people) are Christian. This includes a large number of migrant workers who follow Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant beliefs.[https://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/world-watch-list/qatar/ Open Doors website, Retrieved 2023-06-27] In 2000, the number of Protestants was estimated at 1% of the population and the Anglicans (being classified otherwise there) at 1.4% for the same year.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C5V7oyy69zgC&q=number+of+protestants+in+Qatar&pg=PA462|title = The Encyclopedia of Christianity|isbn = 9789004145955|last1 = Fahlbusch|first1 = Erwin|last2 = Lochman|first2 = Jan Milic|last3 = Bromiley|first3 = Geoffrey William|last4 = Barrett|first4 = David B.|last5 = Mbiti|first5 = John|last6 = Pelikan|first6 = Jaroslav|last7 = Vischer|first7 = Lukas|year = 1999}}

A hospital was founded in Doha in 1947, in cooperation with Protestants, in particular one started by Mary Bruins Allison, (a missionary doctor from the Reformed Church of America).{{cite book | author=Scudder, L. R. | year=1998 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nKBn1AOZUrwC | title=The Arabian Mission's Story: In Search of Abraham's Other Son | publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company|isbn=978-0-8028-4616-7 | ref={{SfnRef|Scudder|1998}}}}

In May 2005, five Christian Churches (including the Anglican Church in Qatar) were officially recognized by the Qatari government of Qatar. Smaller denominations are not recognised by the government, but are allowed to hold services if they do so under the protection of a recognised church.[https://rpl.hds.harvard.edu/faq/christianity-qatar Harvard Divinity School website]

The Anglican church was then given permission to build the Anglican Centre and the centre opened in 2013. The centre has 26 different worship spaces with 15,000 seating capacity and is used by more than 85 Christian groups, including several Evangelical, Pentecostal and other Protestant congregations.[https://www.dohaguides.com/churches-in-qatar-religious-complex/ Doha Guides website] During a normal week, there are between 16,000-25,000 worshippers from 65 countries in over 150 worship services.[https://www.anglicanchurchinqatar.org/our-history Anglican Church In Qatar website]{{cite web|title=Anglican Centre Website |url=http://www.anglicancentre.org|accessdate=13 May 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-report-on-international-religious-freedom/qatar/|title = US State Dept 2019 report}}

Christian religious literature in English is available in bookstores.{{cite web | author=Michael Theodoulou | date=November 10, 2005| title= Qatar opens doors to first church in 14 centuries | work=Christian Science Monitor |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/1110/p07s01-wome.html |accessdate=}} However, proselytizing is illegal, with a punishment of up to seven years in prison.[https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/qatar/ US State Dept 2021 report]

The Evangelical Churches Alliance Qatar (ECAQ) has approximately 1,200 members who hail primarily from the Philippines, Nigeria, Kenya, India, Indonesia and Malaysia.{{Cite web|url=https://dohanews.co/evangelical-alliance-churches-qatar-breaks-ground-on-new-building/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810172923/https://dohanews.co/evangelical-alliance-churches-qatar-breaks-ground-on-new-building/|archive-date=2017-08-10|title=Evangelical Alliance Churches Qatar breaks ground on new building - Doha News|date=17 October 2015}}