11 January 2013 Last updated at 11:51 ET
Lyse Doucet Article written by Lyse Doucet Chief international correspondent

Living and working in Qatar

Dana Alfardan works for a real estate business in Qatar

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It's hard to go anywhere in the Middle East these days without hearing mention of Qatar.

The oil-rich Gulf state is putting its vast wealth behind an ambitious assertive new foreign policy. At home, one of the world's richest countries is trying to diversify away from oil and gas to develop what it calls a knowledge-based economy.

And with the 2022 World Cup looming on its agenda, Qatar is growing - fast. What's it like to live and work there?

For the BBC's Qatar Direct season, I've been to the capital Doha for our Working Lives programme.

Like the country, many Qataris and expats we met were also fired by ambition - to make money or make a difference.

One of them is Dana Alfardan, in her twenties, the daughter of a billionaire making her way in the world of business.

Watch Qatar Direct: Working Lives on BBC World News on Saturday 12 January 2013 12:30 GMT and on 13 January at 00:30, 07:30 and 19:30 GMT. Read more about Qatar Direct here.

Lyse Doucet Article written by Lyse Doucet Lyse Doucet Chief international correspondent

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