Qatar Country Facts

 

Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs                                                
July 2007                                                                     
                                                                       
  Background Note: Qatar Country Facts                                                       
                                                
  A potter demonstrates his craft                                             
  during cultural festival, Doha,                                             
  Qatar, March 23, 2005. [© AP Images]                                        
                                                                       
  Flag of Qatar is maroon with a broad white serrated band - nine white points
  - on the hoist side.                                                        
                                                                       
  PROFILE                                                                     
                                                                       
  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--Messaieed, Al-Khor,
  Dukhan, Ruwais.                                                             
  Terrain: Mostly desert, flat, barren.                                       
  Climate: Hot and humid, with a mild winter.                                 
                                                                       
  People                                                                      
  Nationality: Noun and adjective--Qatari(s).                                 
  Population (July 2007 est.): 907,229.                                       
  Population growth (July 2007 est.): 2.386%.                                 
  Ethnic groups: Qatari (Arab) 20%; other Arab 20%; Indian 20%; Filipino 10%; 
  Nepali 10%; Pakistani 7%; Sri Lankan 5%.                                    
  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 (2007 est.): Infant mortality rate--17.46/1,000 live births. Life    
  expectancy--74.14 years.                                                    
  Work force (2006): 508,000. Private sector--61.2%; mixed sector--28.5%;     
  government--5.6%.                                                           
                                                                       
  Government                                                                  
  Type: Constitutional monarchy.                                              
  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 2008; 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 (2006): $52.7 billion.                                                  
  Real growth rate (2006) 24%.                                                
  Per capita income (2006): $61,540.                                          
  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 and natural gas development (60%
  of GDP), mining, manufacturing, construction, and power.                    
  Trade (2006 est.): Exports--$33.25 billion, principally oil 47% and gas 36%.
  Partners (2005)--Japan 36.3%, South Korea 19.1%, Singapore 8.1%, India 5.1%,
  U.A.E. 2.9%, U.S. 1.2%. Imports--$6.7 billion, principally consumer goods,  
  machinery, food. Partners (2005)--France 11.8%, Japan 10.7% U.S. 10.6%,     
  Germany 8.5%, Saudi Arabia 7.4%, U.K. 7.1%, Italy 6.6%, South Korea 5.6%,   
  U.A.E. 4.9%.                                                                
                                                                       
  PEOPLE                                                                      
  Natives of the Arabian Peninsula, many Qataris are descended from a number of
  migratory tribes that came to Qatar in the 18th century from the neighboring
  areas of Nejd and Al-Hasa. Some came from neighboring Gulf emirates and     
  others are descended from Persian merchants. Most of Qatar's 907,229        
  inhabitants live in Doha, the capital. Foreigners with temporary residence  
  status make up about three-fourths of the population. Foreign workers       
  comprise 52% of the total population and make up about 89% of the total labor
  force. Most are South and Southeast Asians, Egyptians, Palestinians,        
  Jordanians, and Iranians. About 8,000 U.S. citizens reside in Qatar.        
                                                                       
  For centuries, the main sources of wealth were pearling, fishing, and trade.
  At one time, Qataris owned nearly one-third of the Persian Gulf fishing     
  fleet. With the Great Depression and the introduction of Japan's            
  cultured-pearl industry, pearling in Qatar declined drastically.            
                                                                       
  The Qataris are mainly Sunni Muslims. Islam is the official religion, and   
  Islamic jurisprudence is the basis of Qatar's legal system, although civil  
  courts have jurisdiction over commercial law. Arabic is the official        
  language, and English is widely spoken. Education is compulsory and free for
  all Arab residents 6-16 years old. Qatar has an increasingly high literacy  
  rate.                                                                       
                                                                       
  HISTORY                                                                     
  Qatar has been inhabited for millennia. The Al Khalifa family of Bahrain    
  dominated the area 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 when the Ottoman Empire occupied Qatar
  in 1872.                                                                    
                                                                       
  When the Ottomans 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 the 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. However, the start of  
  WWII delayed exploitation of Qatar's oil resources, and oil exports did not 
  begin until 1949.                                                           
                                                                       
  During the 1950s and 1960s gradually increasing oil revenues 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, as the termination date of the British treaty relationship (end of
  1971) approached, the nine still had not agreed on terms of union.          
  Accordingly, Qatar declared independence as a separate entity and became the
  fully independent State of Qatar on September 3, 1971.                      
                                                                       
  In February 1972, the Heir Apparent, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad, deposed his  
  cousin, Amir Ahmad, and assumed power. Key members of the Al Thani family   
  supported this move, which took place without violence or signs of political
  unrest.                                                                     
                                                                       
  On June 27, 1995, the Deputy Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa, deposed his    
  father Amir Khalifa in a bloodless coup. An unsuccessful counter-coup was   
  staged in 1996. The Amir and his father are now reconciled, though some     
  supporters of the counter-coup remain in prison. The Amir announced his     
  intention for Qatar to move toward democracy and has permitted a freer and  
  more open press and municipal elections as a precursor to expected          
  parliamentary elections. Qatari citizens approved a new constitution via    
  public referendum in April 2003, which came into force in June 2005.        
                                                                       
  GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS                                         
  The ruling Al Thani family continued to hold power following the declaration
  of independence in 1971. The head of state is the Amir, and the right to rule
  Qatar is passed on within the Al Thani family. Politically, Qatar is evolving
  from a traditional society to one based on more formal and democratic       
  institutions to meet the requirements of social and economic progress. The  
  country's constitution formalizes the hereditary rule of the Al Thani family,
  but it also establishes an elected legislative body and makes government    
  ministers accountable to the legislature. In current practice, the Amir's   
  role is influenced by continuing traditions of consultation, rule by        
  consensus, and the citizen's right to appeal personally to the Amir. The    
  Amir, while directly accountable to no one, cannot violate the Shari'a      
  (Islamic law) and, in practice, must consider the opinions of leading       
  families and the religious establishment.                                   
                                                                       
  The opinions of the people are institutionalized in the Advisory Council, an
  appointed body that assists the Amir in formulating policy. However, it is  
  possible that the first elections for this body will occur in 2008. Elections
  in 1999, in which both men and women participated, resulted in the formation
  of a municipal council. One woman candidate was elected to the municipal    
  council in 2003. Municipal elections were held for the third time in April  
  2007.                                                                       
                                                                       
  There has been no serious challenge to Al Thani rule. As the most visible   
  sign of the move toward openness, the Al Jazeera satellite television station
  based in Qatar is considered the most free and unfettered broadcast source in
  the Arab world. In practice, however, Al Jazeera rarely criticizes the ruling
  Al Thani family.                                                            
                                                                       
  Principal Government Officials                                              
  Amir, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, and Minister of Defense--HH   
  Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani                                           
  Heir Apparent, Deputy Chief of the Armed Forces--HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad  
  bin Khalifa Al Thani                                                        
  Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs--HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim  
  bin Jabir Al Thani                                                          
  Minister of Energy and Industry and Deputy Prime Minister--Abdullah         
  al-Attiyah                                                                  
  Ambassador to the U.S.--vacant                                              
                                                                       
  Qatar maintains an embassy in the United States at 2555 M Street, NW,       
  Washington, DC 20037 (tel. 202-274-1600) and a consulate in Houston at 4265 
  San Felipe Street, Suite 1100, Houston, Texas 77207 (tel. 713-968-9840).    
  Qatar's Permanent Mission to the United Nations is at 747 Third Ave., 22nd  
  floor, New York, NY 10017 (tel. 212-486-9335).                              
                                                                       
  DEFENSE                                                                     
  Qatar's defense expenditures are estimated to be in the range of 10% of GDP.
  Qatar maintains a modest military force of about 12,000 men, including an   
  army, navy, and air force. The country has a public security force of about 
  8,000 men, including a coast guard, national firefighting force, air wing,  
  marine police, and an internal security force. Qatar also has signed defense
  pacts with the U.S., U.K., and France. Qatar plays an active role in the    
  collective defense efforts of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC--the regional
  organization of the Arab states in the Gulf; the other five members are Saudi
  Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the U.A.E., and Oman). Qatari forces played an     
  important role in the first Gulf War, and Qatar has supported U.S. military 
  operations critical to the success of Operation Enduring Freedom and        
  Operation Iraqi Freedom. Qatar hosts CENTCOM Forward Headquarters.          
                                                                       
  ECONOMY                                                                     
  Oil formed the cornerstone of Qatar's economy well into the 1990s and still 
  accounts for about 62% of total government revenue. In 1973, oil production 
  and revenues increased sizably, moving Qatar out of the rank of the world's 
  poorest countries and providing it with one of the highest per capita       
  incomes. In 2006, Qatar's per capita income of nearly $62,000 was the       
  fifth-highest in the world.                                                 
                                                                       
  Qatar's economy suffered a downturn from in the mid-1990s. Lower Organization
  of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) oil production quotas, a fall in oil
  prices, and the generally unpromising outlook on international markets      
  reduced oil earnings. In turn, the Qatari Government cut spending plans to  
  match lower income. The resulting recessionary local business climate caused
  many firms to lay off expatriate staff. With the economy recovering in the  
  late 1990s, expatriate populations have grown again.                        
                                                                       
  Oil production is currently around 835,000 barrels a day (bpd), and is      
  expected to reach 1.1 million bpd by 2009. At the current production pace,  
  oil reserves are expected to last more than 40 years. Moreover, Qatar's     
  proven reserves of gas are the third-largest in the world, exceeding 900    
  trillion cubic feet (14% of the world's total proven gas reserves). Qatar   
  shares with Iran the largest single non-associated gas field in the world,  
  the North Field. Qatar is now the world's largest producer of liquefied     
  natural gas (LNG), with a capacity of more than 31 million metric tons per  
  annum (mmta), and it expects to reach 77.5 mmta of LNG exports by 2010. By  
  2010, Qatar will account for one-third of the world's LNG supply.           
                                                                       
  The 1991 completion of the $1.5-billion Phase I of the North Field gas      
  development project strongly boosted the economy. In 1996, Qatar began      
  exporting liquefied natural gas to Japan. Further phases of North Field gas 
  development costing billions of dollars are in various stages of planning and
  development, and Qatar has concluded agreements with the U.A.E. to export gas
  via pipelines and to Spain, Turkey, Italy, the U.S., France, South Korea,   
  India, China, Taiwan, and the U.K. via ship. However, the government has    
  halted any further expansion of gas production until 2010, as it assesses its
  plans for future exploitation of the field.                                 
                                                                       
  Qatar's natural gas liquefaction facilities and related industries are      
  located in Ras Laffan Industrial City, site of the world's largest LNG      
  exports of more than 31 million metric tons per year. Qatar's heavy         
  industrial base, located in Messaieed, includes a refinery with a 140,000 bpd
  capacity, a fertilizer plant for urea and ammonia, a steel plant, and a     
  petrochemical plant, and several new petrochemical plants will be built in  
  the coming years. All these industries use gas for fuel. Most are joint     
  ventures between U.S., European, and Japanese firms and the state-owned Qatar
  Petroleum (QP). The U.S. is the major equipment supplier for Qatar's oil and
  gas industry, and U.S. companies are playing a major role in the development
  of the oil and gas sector and petrochemicals.                               
                                                                       
  The country's economic growth has been stunning. Qatar's nominal GDP,       
  currently around $52.7 billion, has grown an average of 15% over the past   
  five years. GDP is expected to grow approximately 8.3% in 2007. Qatar's per 
  capita GDP is more than $60,000, and projected to soon be the highest in the
  world. The Qatari Government's strategy is to utilize its wealth to generate
  more wealth by diversifying the economic base of the country beyond         
  hydrocarbons.                                                               
                                                                       
  Qatar pursues a vigorous program of "Qatarization," under which all joint   
  venture industries and government departments strive to move Qatari nationals
  into positions of greater authority. Growing numbers of foreign-educated    
  Qataris, including many educated in the U.S., are returning home to assume  
  key positions formerly occupied by expatriates. In order to control the     
  influx of expatriate workers, Qatar has tightened the administration of its 
  foreign manpower programs over the past several years. Security is the      
  principal basis for Qatar's strict entry and immigration rules and          
  regulations.                                                                
                                                                       
  FOREIGN RELATIONS                                                           
  Qatar achieved full independence in an atmosphere of cooperation with the   
  U.K. and friendship with neighboring states. Most Arab states, the U.K., and
  the U.S. were among the first countries to recognize Qatar, and the state   
  promptly gained admittance to the United Nations and the Arab League. Qatar 
  established diplomatic relations with the U.S.S.R. and China in 1988. It was
  an early member of OPEC and a founding member of the GCC.                   
                                                                       
  In September 1992, tensions arose with Saudi Arabia when Saudi forces       
  allegedly attacked a Qatari border post, resulting in two deaths. Relations 
  have since improved, and a joint commission has been set up to demarcate the
  border as agreed between the two governments. Most, but not all, of the     
  border issues have been resolved.                                           
                                                                       
  For years, both Qatar and Bahrain claimed ownership of the Hawar Islands. The
  case was eventually referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 
  The Hague. The ICJ issued a ruling in June 2001, which both sides accepted. 
  In the agreement Bahrain kept the main Hawar Island but dropped claims to   
  parts of mainland Qatar, while Qatar retained significant maritime areas and
  their resources.                                                            
                                                                       
  U.S.-QATARI RELATIONS                                                       
  Bilateral relations are strong and expanding. The U.S. embassy was opened in
  March 1973. The first resident U.S. ambassador arrived in July 1974. Ties   
  between the U.S. and Qatar are excellent. Amir Hamad last visited Washington
  in 2004, and President Bush visited Qatar in 2003. Qatar and the United     
  States coordinate closely on regional diplomatic initiatives, cooperate to  
  increase security in the Gulf, and enjoy extensive economic links, especially
  in the hydrocarbons sector. Qatar sees the development of a world-class     
  educational system as key to its continued success. As a result, hundreds of
  Qataris study in the United States. Cornell University has established a    
  degree-granting branch medical school campus in Doha, and other universities
  including Texas A&M, Carnegie Mellon University, the Virginia Commonwealth  
  University School of Design, and the Georgetown School of Foreign Service   
  also have branch campuses in Qatar's "Education City" complex.              
                                                                       
  Principal U.S. Officials                                                    
  Ambassador--Chase Untermeyer                                                
  Deputy Chief of Mission--Michael Ratney                                     
  Political/Economic Counselor--Stephen Rice                                  
  Senior Commercial Officer--Robert Peaslee                                   
  Consular Officer--Timothy Ponce                                             
  Public Affairs Officer--Joey Hood                                           
  Defense Attaché--CDR Coby Loessberg, USN                                    
                                                                       
  The U.S. Embassy in Qatar is located in Doha at 22 February Road, Al Luqta  
  District, Doha, Qatar. Mailing address: P.O. Box 23, Doha. Tel.:            
  974-488-4161; fax 4884150. The embassy is open Sunday through Thursday      
  (Qatar's workweek), closed for U.S. and Qatari holidays.                    
                                                                       
  TRAVEL AND BUSINESS INFORMATION                                             
  The U.S. Department of State's Consular Information Program advises Americans
  traveling and residing abroad through Consular Information Sheets, Public   
  Announcements, and Travel Warnings. Consular Information Sheets exist for all
  countries and include information on entry and exit requirements, currency  
  regulations, health conditions, safety and security, crime, political       
  disturbances, and the addresses of the U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.
  Public Announcements are issued to disseminate information quickly about    
  terrorist threats and other relatively short-term conditions overseas that  
  pose significant risks to the security of American travelers. Travel Warnings
  are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid travel 
  to a certain country because the situation is dangerous or unstable.        
                                                                       
  For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad  
  should regularly monitor the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet
  web site at http://www.travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution,
  Public Announcements, and Travel Warnings can be found. Consular Affairs    
  Publications, which contain information on obtaining passports and planning a
  safe trip abroad, are also available at http://www.travel.state.gov. For    
  additional information on international travel, see http://www.usa.gov/     
  Citizen/Topics/Travel/International.shtml.                                  
                                                                       
  The Department of State encourages all U.S citizens traveling or residing   
  abroad to register via the State Department's travel registration website or
  at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Registration will make your
  presence and whereabouts known in case it is necessary to contact you in an 
  emergency and will enable you to receive up-to-date information on security 
  conditions.                                                                 
                                                                       
  Emergency information concerning Americans traveling abroad may be obtained 
  by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada or the regular   
  toll line 1-202-501-4444 for callers outside the U.S. and Canada.           
                                                                       
  The National Passport Information Center (NPIC) is the U.S. Department of   
  State's single, centralized public contact center for U.S. passport         
  information. Telephone: 1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778). Customer service   
  representatives and operators for TDD/TTY are available Monday-Friday, 7:00 
  a.m. to 12:00 midnight, Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.           
                                                                       
  Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for 
  Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. A hotline at 877-FYI-TRIP
  (877-394-8747) and a web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm give the
  most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations or requirements,
  and advice on food and drinking water safety for regions and countries. A   
  booklet entitled "Health Information for International Travel" (HHS         
  publication number CDC-95-8280) is available from the U.S. Government       
  Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, tel. (202) 512-1800.                 
                                                                       
  Further Electronic Information                                              
  Department of State Web Site. Available on the Internet at http://          
  www.state.gov, the Department of State web site provides timely, global     
  access to official U.S. foreign policy information, including Background    
  Notes and daily press briefings along with the directory of key officers of 
  Foreign Service posts and more. The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)
  provides security information and regional news that impact U.S. companies  
  working abroad through its website http://www.osac.gov                      
                                                                       
  Export.gov provides a portal to all export-related assistance and market    
  information offered by the federal government and provides trade leads, free
  export counseling, help with the export process, and more.                  
  STAT-USA/Internet, a service of the U.S. Department of Commerce, provides   
  authoritative economic, business, and international trade information from  
  the Federal government. The site includes current and historical            
  trade-related releases, international market research, trade opportunities, 
  and country analysis and provides access to the National Trade Data Bank.   

 

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