Qatar
State of QatarDawlat Qatar
traditional monarchyIndependence 3 September 1971 (from UK)
Qatar as the 2003 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 123 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
18 fieldsLand useshare of 11,437 sq km
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
People
19 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2003 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 24.7% (male 102,938; female 98,934)
- 15-64 years:
- 72.4% (male 415,302; female 176,183)
- 65 years and over:
- 2.9% (male 17,199; female 6,496) (2003 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 2.36 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 2.65 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1.9 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Government
Traditional monarchy; 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); Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996)
18 fieldsCountry 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
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
Constitution
- provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972;
- in July 1999 Amir HAMAD issued a decree forming a committee to draft a permanent constitution;
- in the 29 April 2003 referendum, 96.6% of Qatari voters approved the new constitution
Legal system
discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters
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 JASIM 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
- 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
- elections:
- none; the monarch is hereditary
note: in April 2003, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council (CMC), which has 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 four years since;
the new constitution provides for a 45-member Consultative Council, or Majlis al-Shura; the public would elect two-thirds of the Majlis al-Shura; the amir would appoint the remaining members
International organization participation
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, 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, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Badr Umar al-DAFA
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 274-1600
- consulate(s) general:
- Houston
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 237-0061
- chancery:
- 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Maureen E. QUINN
- embassy:
- Al-Luqtas District, 22 February Road, Doha
- mailing address:
- P. O. Box 2399, Doha
- telephone:
- [974] 488 4101
- FAX:
- [974] 488 4298
Economy
Oil and gas account for more than 55% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues.
41 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2000 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
Oil and gas account for more than 55% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to that of the leading West European industrial countries. Proved oil reserves of 14.5 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years.
Production and export of natural gas are becoming increasingly important to the economy. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 17.9 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total and third largest in the world. Long-term goals feature the development of offshore natural gas reserves.
Since 2000, Qatar has consistently posted trade surpluses largely because of high oil prices and increased natural gas exports, and Qatar's economy is expected to receive an added boost as it begins to increase liquid natural gas exports.
Industries
crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement
Exchange rates
Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2002), 3.64 (2001), 3.64 (2000), 3.64 (1999), 3.64 (1998)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone 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
Transportation
10 fieldsMerchant marine, 23 ships by typeone square, one ship · ships (1,000 GRT or over) 638,815 GRT/995,096 DWT
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Military
Army, Navy, Air Force
7 fieldsTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Qatar.” The World Factbook 2003. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/qatar/2003.