Qatar Online Business Education. Administration. Economy. Politics. Culture. Religion. Media

Qatar
Online Business Education. Economy. Politics. Culture. Religion. Media

Qatar

Country Profile

Capital City: Doha Ad Dawhah (pop 313 600)

Other Cities: Umm Said, Al-Khor, Dukhan, Ruwais

Local Time: UTC +3h

Geography:
Location: Middle East, Gulf Region, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Area: 11 437 sq. km. (4 427 sq. mi.)
Terrain: Mostly desert, flat, barren.
Border country: Saudi Arabia

Climate: Hot and dry, some humidity in summer.

Government:
Type: Constitutional Emirate
Independence: 3 September 1971
Constitution: 1970 Basic Law, revised 1972; currently under complete review.

People:
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Qatari(s).
Population: 770 000.
GNI per capita PPP: $ 29 607 (year) Ethnic groups: Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14% Religion: Islam (state religion, claimed by virtually all of the indigenous population)
Languages: Arabic (official); English (widely spoken)
Literacy: 79%

Business

Currency: Qatari Rial (QAR)

Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, fish.

Agriculture products: Fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish.

Industries: Crude oil production and refining, petrochemicals, fertilizers.

Exports partners: Japan 46%, South Korea 18.5%, Singapore 9.5% (2003)

Imports partners: USA 12.2%, Japan 10.5%, Germany 9.6%, UK 8%, Italy 7.4%, UAE 6.7%, Saudi Arabia 5.9%, South Korea 5% (2003)

Internet Links

Official Sites of Qatar

Amiri Diwan - State of Qatar

Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned

Qatar e-Government

Foreign Information Agency

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Diplomatic Missions
Permanent Mission of Qatar to the UN

Embassy of Qatar in Washington DC

Foreign Diplomatic Missions to Qatar and Qatar's Missions Abroad

Maps
Map of Qatar

Map of the Middle East region

Introduction

Qatar

Background: 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. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy
was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by
the amir who had ruled the country since 1972. He was overthrown by his
son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, in a bloodless coup in
1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both
Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Oil and natural gas revenues enable Qatar to
have a per capita income not far below the leading industrial countries
of Western Europe.

Geography Qatar

Location: Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi
Arabia

Geographic coordinates: 25 30 N, 51 15 E

Map references: Middle East

Area: total: 11,437 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 11,437 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries: total: 60 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km

Coastline: 563 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM exclusive economic zone: as
determined by bilateral agreements or the median line territorial sea:
12 NM

Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

Terrain: mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point:
Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish

Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% other: 99% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 130 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: haze, dust storms, sandstorms common

Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources
are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities

Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone
Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note: strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major
petroleum deposits

People Qatar

Population: 793,341 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 25.2% (male 102,110; female 98,053) 15-64
years: 72.1% (male 403,508; female 168,428) 65 years and over: 2.7%
(male 15,299; female 5,943) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.02% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: 15.78 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 4.34 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: 18.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 2.4 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.57
male(s)/female total population: 1.91 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 20.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 75.48 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 3.1 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.09% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

Nationality: noun: Qatari(s) adjective: Qatari

Ethnic groups: Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%,
other 14%

Religions: Muslim 95%

Languages: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 79% male: 79% female: 80% (1995 est.)

Government Qatar

Country name: conventional long form: State of Qatar conventional short
form: Qatar local short form: Qatar note: closest approximation of the
native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar
local long form: Dawlat Qatar

Government type: traditional monarchy

Capital: Doha

Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular -
baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah,
Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Salal

Independence: 3 September 1971 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Constitution: provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972; in July
1999 Amir HAMAD issued a decree forming a committee to draft a permanent
constitution

Legal system: discretionary system of law controlled by the amir,
although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family
and personal matters

Suffrage: suffrage is limited to municipal elections

Executive branch: chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani
(since 27 June 1995 when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir
KHALIFA bin Hamad Al Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince JASSIM
bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the monarch (selected crown
prince by the monarch 22 October 1996); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the
positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed
forces elections: none; the monarch is hereditary head of government:
Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch
(since 30 October 1996); Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al
Thani, brother of the monarch (since 20 January 1998) cabinet: Council
of Ministers appointed by the monarch note: in March 1999, Qatar held
nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council, which has
consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services

Legislative branch: unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35
seats; members appointed) note: the constitution calls for elections for
part of this consultative body, but no elections have been held since
1970, when there were partial elections to the body; Council members
have had their terms extended every four years since

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: none

Political pressure groups and leaders: none

International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC,
ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS,
IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Badr
Umar al-DAFA chancery: 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
consulate(s) general: Houston FAX: [1] (202) 237-0061 telephone: [1]
(202) 274-1600

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Maureen E. QUINN (since September 2001)
Al-Luqtas District, 22 February Road, Doha mailing address: workweek
is Saturday-Wednesday

Flag description: maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white
points) on the hoist side

Economy Qatar

Economy - overview: Oil accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 80%
of export earnings, and 58% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves
of 3.7 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels
for 23 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to that of
the leading West European industrial countries. Qatar's proved reserves
of natural gas exceed 7 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world
total, third largest in the world. Production and export of natural
gas are becoming increasingly important. Long-term goals feature the
development of offshore natural gas reserves. In 2000, Qatar posted its
highest ever trade surplus of $7 billion, due mainly to high oil prices
and increased natural gas exports, and managed to maintain the surplus
in 2001.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $16.3 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 5.6% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $21,200 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 49% services: 50%
(1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (2001)

Labor force: 280,122 (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate: 2.7% (2001)

Budget: revenues: $5 billion expenditures: $4.8 billion, including
capital expenditures of $900 million (FY01/02 est.)

Industries: crude oil production and refining, fertilizers,
petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity - production: 9.2 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0%
(2000) nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption: 8.556 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products: fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products,
beef; fish

Exports: $11 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)

Exports - commodities: petroleum products 80%, fertilizers, steel

Exports - partners: Japan 43%, Singapore 8%, South Korea 6%, US 4%,
UAE 2% (1999)

Imports: $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)

Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners: UK 10%, Japan 8%, Germany 6%, Italy 6%, US 6% (1998)

Debt - external: $13.1 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient: $NA

Currency: Qatari rial (QAR)

Currency code: QAR

Exchange rates: Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.6400 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Communications Qatar

Telephones - main lines in use: 142,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular: 43,476 (1997)

Telephone system: general assessment: modern system centered in Doha
domestic: NA international: tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave
radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE;
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian
Ocean) and 1 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios: 256,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus three repeaters) (2001)

Televisions: 230,000 (1997)

Internet country code: .qa

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000)

Internet users: 75,000 (2001)

Transportation Qatar

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: 1,230 km paved: 1,107 km unpaved: 123 km (1996)

Waterways: none

Pipelines: crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km

Ports and harbors: Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id (Musay'id)

Merchant marine: total: 25 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 679,081
GRT/1,051,088 DWT ships by type: cargo 10, combination ore/oil 2,
container 7, petroleum tanker 6 note: includes some foreign-owned ships
registered here as a flag of convenience: Kuwait 1, United Arab Emirates 3
(2002 est.)

Airports: 4 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 2 (2001)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2001) 914 to
1,523 m: 1

Heliports: 1 (2001)

Military Qatar

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force

Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 316,885 note:
includes non-nationals (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 166,214
(2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 6,797
(2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $723 million (FY00/01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 10% (FY00/01)

Transnational Issues Qatar

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002