Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues, which enable Qatar to have a per capita income not far below the leading industrial countries of Western Europe. Qatar is home to the Al Jazeera television station and is rapidly entering the modern world. Besides the capital Doha is the city Al-Khor worth to visit, a northern town with a population of some 36,000, close to Ras Laffan LNG (liquified natural gas) terminal and Rayyan, the second largest city with a population of some 275,000. Khor Al Udeid (Inland Sea) is a region of rolling dunes and high revving engines, many tourists and locals alike enjoy racing up and down the seemingly endless sand dunes.