Middle East

Qatar

The State of Qatar, an emirate in the Middle East, occupies a small peninsula off the larger Arabian Peninsula. It borders Saudi Arabia to the south; otherwise the Persian Gulf surrounds the country. Qatar, officially State of Qatar, independent emirate (1995 est. pop. 534,000), 4,400 sq mi (11,400 sq km), on a largely barren peninsula in the Persian Gulf, bordering Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (S). The capital is Doha. The economy of Qatar is dominated by oil and natural gas, which accounts for 70% of export income. Oil and gas revenues have been used to diversify the economy, including the development of chemicals, steel, cement, and fertilizer industries and banking. A minority (20%) of the population are Qataris (Arabs of the Wahhabi sect of Islam); the rest are largely other Arabs, Pakistanis, Indians, and Iranians. Arabic is the official language, but English is also widely spoken. The country is a monarchy....Qatar Gernal Introduction.

Full country name:State of Qatar
National name: Dawlat Qatar
Area: 4,416 sq mi (11,437 sq km)
Population: 863,051 (growth rate: 2.6%); birth rate: 15.5/1000; infant mortality rate: 18.6/1000; life expectancy: 73.7; density per sq mi: 195
Capital City: Doha, 550,700 (metro. area), 318,500 (city proper)
Language: Arabic (official); English a common second language
Ethnicity/race: Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Religion: Islam 95%
Literacy rate: 83% (2003 est.)
Government: Constitutional monarchy
Head of State: Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (1995)
Head of Government: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani (1996)

History of Qatar

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...Qatar's History.

Overview of Qatar 's Economy

GDP: $19.49 billion
GDP per capita: $23,200
Annual Growth: 8.7%
Inflation: 3%
Major Industries: crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair.
Major Trading Partners: Japan, South Korea, Singapore, U.S., Germany, UK, Italy, UAE, Saudi Arabia (2003).
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish.
Unemployment: 2.7% (2001).
Agriculture: fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish.

Also Read: Economy of Qatar

Political System of Qatar

- Government of Qatar
- Foreign Relations of Qatar
- Politics of Qatar

Climate, Vegetation and Fauna

- Environment of Qatar : The State of Qatar is a peninsula located between 24o 27- and 26o 10- N latitude...Environment of Qatar
- Population of Qatar : Qatar Population is about 742,000 and has been increasing at a rate of six percent...Population of Qatar .
- Geography of Qatar : Qatar is a peninsula in the east of Arabia, bordering the Persian Gulf ...Geography of Qatar
- Culture of Qatar : Qatar explicitly uses Wahhabi law as the basis of its government, and the vast majority of its citizens...Culture of Qatar


Facts for the Traveler

Independence: Qatar gained independence on September 3rd 1971.
Electrical Current : 240 Volts + 6% with frequency 50 hertz.
Local Time : 3 hours + Greenwich Mean Time.
Major Towns: Doha, Al Wakrah, Al Khor, Dukhan, Al Shamal, Mesaieed, Ras Lafan and others.
Currency: The official currency is the Qatari Riyal (QR), which is divided into 100 dirhams. The Exchange parity has been set at the fixed rate of US $ = 3.65QR's.
Time zone: GMT + 3 hours
Visa: Nationals of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries -- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates...more

Also Read:Transportation of Qatar

Places of Interest

The Life in Qatar had always been a story of sea and desert. Both were a source of livelihood despite all the hardships the Qataris faced. Today, the sea and the desert are still the source of wealth and a destination for anyone looking for an enjoyable day away from the hustle and bustle of modern day to day life. They are also the backbone of tourism industry in Qatar: the sea with its calm beaches and its warm waters; the desert with its vista of endless stretches and marvels of nature as well as man-made wonders. Visitors to Qatar will notice the various facilities readily available the moment their plane lands at Doha airport, a 10 to 15-minute drive away from hotels, recreational clubs and shopping centers...more

What to See in Qatar

Major Tourist Attractions in Qatar
- Sealine Beach Resort: Situated 55 km from the capital, the resort offers a large variety of rooms, villas and chalets, all with a sea view....
- Al-Gharriyya Resort: This resort lies on the waterfront of al-Ghariyya area and comprises a number of deluxe and super deluxe villas, children playgrounds, a swimming pool and restaurants.
- The Palm Tree Island: The Palm Tree Island is 10- minute boat ride off Doha Corniche...
- National Museum: The National Museum houses a couple of fine old dwellings, used by previous rulers as residences, which are particularly noteworthy for their surprising economy of scale.
- Zubara: It is 100 kilometres from Doha in the North of the peninsula is recognised as one of the most important...

Getting around in Qatar

Qatar's small and well-serviced airport is in the southeastern section of Doha. Qatar does not have a bus or service-taxi system, so regular taxis and rented cars are your only options for getting to and from the airport and around the country. You can rent a car on most foreign licenses. more...

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Middle East Travel Guide