Qatar

 

Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs                                                
June 2007                                                                     
                                                                       
  Background Note: Qatar                                                      
                                               
  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--Umm Said, Al-Khor, 
  Dukhan, Ruwais.                                                             
  Terrain: Mostly desert, flat, barren.                                       
  Climate: Hot and humid, with a dryer winter.                                
                                                                       
  People                                                                      
  Nationality: Noun and adjective--Qatari(s).                                 
  Population (July 2007 est.): 907,229.                                       
  Population growth (July 2007 est.): 2.386%.                                 
  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 (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 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 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) 7.1%.                                               
  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%,
  and 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%, UK 7.1%, Italy 6.6%, South Korea    
  5.6%, and the UAE 4.9%.                                                     
                                                                       
  PEOPLE                                                                      
  Natives of the Arabian Peninsula, most Qataris are descended from a number of
  migratory tribes that came to Qatar in the 18th century to escape the harsh 
  conditions of the neighboring areas of Nejd and Al-Hasa. Some are descended 
  from Omani tribes. Most of Qatar's 885,359 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   
  Asians, Egyptians, Palestinians, Jordanians, and Iranians. About 6,000 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 "Wahhabi" Muslims. Islam is the official       
  religion, and Islamic jurisprudence is the basis of Qatar's legal system.   
  Arabic is the official language, and English is the lingua franca. 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 Deputy Ruler and Prime Minister, Sheikh Khalifa bin   
  Hamad, deposed his cousin, Emir 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 Ruler, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa, deposed his   
  father Emir Khalifa in a bloodless coup. Emir Hamad and his father reconciled
  in 1996. The Emir 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, now expected in 2008. 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 Emir, 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 Emir's   
  role is influenced by continuing traditions of consultation, rule by        
  consensus, and the citizen's right to appeal personally to the Emir. The    
  Emir, while directly accountable to no one, cannot violate the Shari'a      
  (Islamic law) and, in practice, must consider the opinions of leading       
  notables and the religious establishment.                                   
                                                                       
  The opinions of the people are institutionalized in the Advisory Council, an
  appointed body that assists the Emir in formulating policy. However, it is  
  likely that the first elections for this body will occur in 2008. Elections 
  in 1999 in which 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.    
                                                                       
  The influx of expatriate Arabs has introduced ideas that call into question 
  the tenets of Qatar's traditional society, but 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                                              
  Emir, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, and Minister of Defense--HH   
  Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani                                           
  Deputy Ruler, 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--Abdullahal-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 (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 60% 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 more than $61,000 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 850,000 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 has
  the largest single non-associated gas field in the world, the North Field.  
  Qatar is the world's largest producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), with a
  capacity of more than 30 million metric tons per annum (mmta), and it expects
  to reach 77 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 asses its  
  plans for future exploitation of the field.                                 
                                                                       
  Qatar's heavy industrial base, located in Umm Said, include a refinery with a
  140,000 bpd capacity, a fertilizer plant for urea and ammonia, a steel plant,
  and a petrochemical plant. In keeping with the goal of economic             
  diversification, 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.                               
                                                                       
  For years, both Qatar and Bahrain claimed ownership of the Hawar Islands. The
  case was eventually referred to the International Court of Justice 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 and marked by frequent senior-level
  consultations in Doha and Washington. Emir Hamad 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 newly inaugurated "Education City"     
  complex.                                                                    
                                                                       
  Principal U.S. Officials                                                    
  Ambassador--Chase Untermeyer                                                
  Deputy Chief of Mission--Michael Ratney                                     
  Political/Economic Counselor--Rob Pyott                                     
  Senior Commercial Officer--Robert Peaslee                                   
  Consular Officer--Timothy Ponce                                             
  Public Affairs Officer--Mirembe Nantongo                                    
                                                                       
  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 who 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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