Home Home
Search Search
Shopping Cart My Cart
Site Map Site Map

 

  

 QATAR

 

  

 

  

 PROFILE
 

Official Name
 

Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
  History
  Principal Government Officials
  Travel & Business Information
  Useful Links
     
 

OFFICIAL NAME:

State of Qatar

 

GEOGRAPHY:

Area: 11,437 sq. km. (4,427 sq. mi.); about the size of Connecticut and Rhode Island combined.
Cities: Capital--Doha 431,525 (2005 est.). Other cities--Umm Said, Al-Khor, Dukhan, Ruwais.
Terrain: Mostly desert, flat, barren.
Climate: Hot and dry, some humidity in summer.

 

PEOPLE:

Nationality: Noun and adjective--Qatari(s).
Population (2005 est.): 863,051.
Population growth (2005 est.): 2.61%.
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).
Education: Compulsory--ages 6-16. Attendance--98%. Literacy (2004 est.)--89% total population, 89.1% male, 88.6% female.
Health (2005 est.): Infant mortality rate--18.6 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy--73.7 years.
Work force (1997): 280,122. Industry, services, and commerce--70%; government--20%; agriculture--10%.

 

GOVERNMENT:

Type: Constitutional Emirate.
Independence: September 3, 1971.
Constitution: Approved by popular vote 2003; came into force June 2005.
Branches: Executive--Council of Ministers. Legislative--Advisory Council (currently appointed pending elections in 2006 or 2007; has assumed only limited responsibility to date). Judicial--independent.
Subdivisions: Fully centralized government; nine municipalities.
Political parties: None.
Suffrage: Universal over age 18, since 1999.

 

ECONOMY:

GDP (2004): $28.45 billion.
Real growth rate (2004) 20.5%.
Per capita income (2004): $32,966.
Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, fish.
Agriculture: Accounts for less than 2% of GDP. Products--fruits and vegetables (most food is imported).
Industry: Types--oil production and refining (31% of GDP), natural gas development, mining, manufacturing, construction, and power.
Trade (2004): Exports--$18.45 billion, principally oil 47% and gas 36%. Partners (2004)--Japan 42.1%, South Korea 15.8%, Singapore 9.1%, India 5.4%, and U.A.E. 2.9% (U.S. 1.2%). Imports--$6 billion, principally consumer goods, machinery, food. Partners (2004)--France 26.7%, U.S. 9.6%, Saudi Arabia 9.5%, Germany 5.2%, and Japan 5.2%.

 

HISTORY:
  Qatar has been inhabited for millennia. In the 19th century, the Bahraini Al Khalifa family dominated until 1868 when, at the request of Qatari nobles, the British negotiated the termination of the Bahraini claim, except for the payment of tribute. The tribute ended with the occupation of Qatar by the Ottoman Turks in 1872.

When the Turks left, at the beginning of World War I, the British recognized Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani as Ruler. The Al Thani family had lived in Qatar for 200 years. The 1916 treaty between the United Kingdom and Sheikh Abdullah was similar to those entered into by the British with other Gulf principalities. Under it, the Ruler agreed not to dispose of any of his territory except to the U.K. and not to enter into relationships with any other foreign government without British consent. In return, the British promised to protect Qatar from all aggression by sea and to lend their good offices in case of a land attack. A 1934 treaty granted more extensive British protection.

In 1935, a 75-year oil concession was granted to Qatar Petroleum Company, a subsidiary of the Iraq Petroleum Company, which was owned by Anglo-Dutch, French, and U.S. interests. High-quality oil was discovered in 1940 at Dukhan, on the western side of the Qatari Peninsula. Exploitation was delayed by World War II, and oil exports did not begin until 1949.

During the 1950s and 1960s gradually increasing oil reserves brought prosperity, rapid immigration, substantial social progress, and the beginnings of Qatar's modern history. When the U.K. announced a policy in 1968 (reaffirmed in March 1971) of ending the treaty relationships with the Gulf sheikdoms, Qatar joined the other eight states then under British protection (the seven trucial sheikdoms--the present United Arab Emirates--and Bahrain) in a plan to form a union of Arab emirates. By mid-1971, however, the nine still had not agreed on terms of union, and the termination date (end of 1971) of the British treaty relationship was approaching. Accordingly, Qatar sought independence as a separate entity and became the fully independent State of Qatar on September 3, 1971.

In February 1972, the Deputy Ruler and Prime Minister, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad, deposed his cousin, Emir Ahmad, and assumed power. This move was supported by the key members of Al Thani and took place without violence or signs of political unrest.

On June 27, 1995, the Deputy Ruler, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa, deposed his father Emir Khalifa in a bloodless coup. Emir Hamad and his father reconciled in 1996. Since then, the Emir has announced his intention for Qatar to move toward democracy and has permitted a free and open press and municipal elections as a precursor to parliamentary elections expected by early 2007. Qatari citizens approved a new constitution via public referendum in April 2003, which came into force in June 2005.

 

PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS:

Emir, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, and Minister of Defense--HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
Deputy Ruler, Crown Prince, deputy Chief of the Armed Forces--HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
Prime Minister--HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister--HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabir Al Thani
Ambassador to the U.S.--HE Nasir Bin Hamad Mubarak Al-Khalifa

 

TRAVEL & BUSINESS INFORMATION:

 

Following are are the top 10 tips you need to make your trip easier:


1. Make sure you have a signed, valid passport and visas, if required. Also, before you go, fill in the emergency information page of your passport!

2. Read the Consular Information Sheets (and Public Announcements or Travel Warnings, if applicable) for the countries you plan to visit.

3. Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the countries to which you are travelling. While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws.

4. Make 2 copies of your passport identification page. This will facilitate replacement if your passport is lost or stolen. Leave one copy at home with friends or relatives. Carry the other with you in a separate place from your passport.

5. Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

6. Do not leave your luggage unattended in public areas. Do not accept packages from strangers.

7. You should register with the nearest embassy or consulate of your country. Registration will make your presence and whereabouts known in case it is necessary to contact you in an emergency. Remember to leave a detailed itinerary and the numbers or copies of your passport or other citizenship documents with a friend or relative in your own country.

8. To avoid being a target of crime, try not to wear conspicuous clothing and expensive jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money or unnecessary credit cards.

9. In order to avoid violating local laws, deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money or purchase art or antiques.

10. If you get into trouble, contact the nearest embassy of your country.

 

USEFUL LINKS:

 
© 2008 All Rights Reserved  |  Terms of Use
Chaiban Translation & Publishing House  |  Arab Consulting House (ArabConsult) Co. Ltd.  |  Arab Media Services Center  |  Arab Professional Translators Society  |  University Institute of Translation  |  Arabipedia - The Arabic Terminology Encyclopedia  |