Country	Qatar
Capital	Doha
Continent	Asia
Currency	Riyal(QAR)
Languages	Arabic

Locaion

Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

Geographic Co ordinates

25 30 N, 51 15 E

Land Boundries

Total:60 km
Border countries:Saudi Arabia 60 km

Geography - note

strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

Population

840,926 (July 2010 est.)
Country comparison to the world:159

Nationality

Noun:Qatari(s)
Adjective:Qatari

Ethnic groups

Arab 40%, Indian 18%, Pakistani 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%

Religions

Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other 14% (2004 census)

Languages

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

Country Name

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

Government Type

emirate

Capital

Name:Doha
Geographic coordinates:25 17 N, 51 32 E
Time difference:UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

10 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Sa'id, Umm Salal

Independence

3 September 1971 (from the UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 3 September (1971); also observed is National Day, 18 December (anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne)

Constitution

ratified by public referendum on 29 April 2003, endorsed by the Amir on 8 June 2004, effective on 9 June 2005

Legal system

based on Islamic and civil law codes; discretionary system of law controlled by the Amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

Chief of state:Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani (since 27 June 1995 when, as heir apparent, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad al-Thani, in a bloodless coup); Heir Apparent TAMIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, fourth son of the amir (selected Heir Apparent by the amir on 5 August 2003); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the positions of Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
Head of government:Prime Minister HAMAD bin Jasim bin Jabir al-Thani (since 3 April 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah bin Hamad al-ATIYAH (since 3 April 2007)
Cabinet:Prime Minister HAMAD bin Jasim bin Jabir al-Thani (since 3 April 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah bin Hamad al-ATIYAH (since 3 April 2007)
(For more information visit the World Leaders website)
Elections:the amir is hereditary
note: in April 2007, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council (CMC), which has limited consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services; the first election for the CMC was held in March 1999

Legislative branch

unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed)
note:no legislative elections have been held since 1970 when there were partial elections to the body; Council members have had their terms extended every year since the new constitution came into force on 9 June 2005; the constitution provides for a new 45-member Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura; the public would elect 30 members and the Amir would appoint 15; elections to the Majlis al-Shura are tentatively scheduled for June 2010

Judicial branch

Courts of First Instance, Appeal, and Cassation; an Administrative Court and a Constitutional Court were established in 2007; note - all judges are appointed by Amiri Decree based on the recommendation of the Supreme Judiciary Council for renewable three-year terms

Political Parties and Leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AMF, CICA (observer), FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

Chief of mission:Ambassador Ali Fahad al-Shahwany al-HAJRI
Chancery:2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
Telephone:[1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603
FAX:[1] (202) 237-0061
Consulate(s) general:Houston

Diplomatic representation from the US

Chief of mission:Ambassador Joseph E. LEBARON
Embassy:Al-Luqta District, 22 February Road, Doha
Mailing address:P. O. Box 2399, Doha
Telephone:[974] 488 4161
FAX:[974] 488 4150

Flag description

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

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Government - Government- Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry Of Education
Newspapers -  Gulf Times Qatar Journal Qatar News Agency The Peninsula Al Jazeera
                              Al-Rayah Al Watan Al-Sharq
Tourism -         Ministry Of Tourism

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