General Profile

Location: Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia Area: total: 11,437 sq km land: 11,437 sq km water: 0 sq km Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers Terrain: mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel Capital: Doha 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 Population: 863,051 (2005 est.) Ethnic groups: Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14% Nationality: noun: Qatari(s) adjective: Qatari Languages: Arabic (official), English commonly used Religions: Muslim 95%, other 5% Literacy: 89.0%

Political Profile

Government type: traditional monarchy Executive branch: • chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani (since June 1995) • head of government: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa al-Thani (since October 1996) • cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch • elections: none; the monarch is hereditary National Holiday: 3 September (1971) ACD Member: ACD Member since 2002 Prime Mover (PM) on Working Group: None Co-Prime Mover on Working Group: Energy Security, Enviromental Education Qatar government official web site : www.mofa.gov.qa

Economical Profile

Currency (code): Qatari rial (QAR) GDP: $22.47 billion (2005 est.) GDP per capita: $26,000 (2005 est.) Exports - commodities: liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel Exports - partners: Japan , South Korea , Singapore , India Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals Imports - partners: France , US , Saudi Arabia , UAE , Germany , Japan , UK Agriculture - products: fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish Industrires: crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers Source: The World Fact Book 2005 (www.cia.gov)


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