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Qatar
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{{Infobox_Country
|native_name = دولة قطر
''Dawlat Qatar''
|conventional_long_name = State of Qatar
|common_name = Qatar
|image_flag = Flag of Qatar.svg
|image_coat =Qatar coa.png
|image_map =LocationQatar.png
|national_motto =n/a
|national_anthem =''
As Salam al Amiri''
|official_languages =
Arabic language Arabic
|capital =
Doha
|latd=25 |latm=18 |latNS=N |longd=51 |longm=31 |longEW=E
|largest_city =
Doha
|government_type =
Traditional monarchy
|leader_titles =
List of emirs of Qatar EmirList of prime ministers of Qatar Prime Minister
|leader_names =Sheikh
Hamad bin Khalifa Al-ThaniSheikh
Abdullah bin Khalifah Al Thani
|area_rank = 158th
|area_magnitude = 1 E10
|area=11,437
|areami²=4,416
|percent_water =Negligible
|population_estimate = 863,051
|population_estimate_rank =154th
|population_estimate_year = July 2005
|population_census =
|population_census_year =
|population_density =75
|population_densitymi² = 194
|population_density_rank =94th
|GDP_PPP = $22.47 billion
|GDP_PPP_rank =109th
|GDP_PPP_year=2005
|GDP_PPP_per_capita =$26,000
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank =37th
|sovereignty_type =
Independence 1
|established_events =
from United Kingdom UK protectorate
|established_dates =
September 3,
1971
|HDI =0.849
|HDI_rank =40th
|HDI_year =2003
|HDI_category =
high
|currency =
Qatari riyal Riyal
|currency_code =QAR
|country_code =
|time_zone =
|utc_offset =+3
|time_zone_DST =
|utc_offset_DST =
|cctld =
.qa
|calling_code =974
|footnotes = 1.) Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s
}}
The '''State of Qatar''' (
Arabic language Arabic: ''' قطر'''
IPA /ˈqɑ̱.tË?ɑ̱r/{{ref|pronunciation}}), an
emirate in the
Middle East, occupies the small
Qatar Peninsula which is part of the larger
Arabian Peninsula. It borders
Saudi Arabia to the south; otherwise the
Persian Gulf surrounds the country.
History
{{main|History of Qatar}}
Qatar forms one of the newer
emirate emirates in the
Arabian Peninsula. After domination by
Persian Empire Persians for thousands of years and more recently by
Bahrain, by the
Ottoman Turks, and by the
United Kingdom British, Qatar became an independent
state on
September 3 1971. Unlike most nearby emirates, Qatar declined to become part of either the
United Arab Emirates or of
Saudi Arabia.
Although the peninsular land mass that makes up Qatar has sustained humans for thousands of years, for the bulk of its history the arid climate fostered only short-term settlements by nomadic tribes. Clans such as the
Al Khalifa and the
House of Saud Al Saud (which would later ascend the thrones of
Bahrain and of
Saudi Arabia respectively) swept through the Arabian peninsula and camped on the coasts within small fishing and pearling villages. The clans battled each other for lucrative oyster beds and lands, frequently forming and breaking coalitions with one another in their attempts to establish territorial supremacy.
The British initially sought out Qatar and the Persian Gulf as an intermediary vantage point ''en route'' to their colonial interests in
India, although the discovery of
Petroleum oil and hydrocarbons in the early 20th century would re-invigorate their interest. During the 19th century (the time of Britain’s formative ventures into the region) the
Al Khalifa clan reigned over the Northern Qatari peninsula from the off-shore island of
Bahrain to the west. Although Qatar legally had the status of a dependency, resentment festered against the Bahraini Al Khalifas along the eastern seaboard in the fishing villages of Doha and Wakrah. In
1867 the Al Khalifas launched a successful effort to quash the Qatari rebels by sending a massive naval force to Wakrah. Bahraini aggression however violated an
1820 Anglo-Bahraini Treaty, and the diplomatic response of the British Protectorate set into motion the political forces that would eventuate in the founding of the state of Qatar. In addition to censuring Bahrain for its breach of agreement, the British Protectorate (per Colonel
Lewis Pelly) asked to negotiate with a representative from Qatar. The request carried with it a tacit recognition of Qatar’s status as distinct from Bahrain. To negotiate with Colonel Pelly the Qataris chose a respected entrepreneur and long-time resident of
Doha,
Muhammed bin Thani. His clan, the
Al Thanis, had taken relatively little part in Persian Gulf politics, but the diplomatic foray ensured their future participation and dominion as the ruling family, a dynasty that continues to this day. The negotiation results left Qatar with a new-found sense of political selfhood, although it did not gain official standing as a British
protectorate until
1916.
The imperial reach of the
British Empire diminished after the
Second World War, more so after
India became independent in
1947. Momentum for a British withdrawal from the Persian Gulf Arab emirates increased during the
1950s, and the British welcomed
Kuwait’s declaration of independence in
1961. Seven years later, when Britain officially announced that it would disengage (politically, not economically) from the Persian Gulf in three years time, Qatar joined Bahrain and seven other
Trucial States in a federation. Regional disputes however quickly compelled Qatar to resign and declare independence from the coalition that would evolve into the seven-
imarat United Arab Emirates. Thus
1971 marked the inauguration of Qatar as an independent sovereign state.
As of 2005 Since 1995, Emir
Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani has ruled Qatar: he seized control of the country from his father
Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani while the latter vacationed in
Switzerland. Under Emir Hamad, Qatar has experienced a notable amount of sociopolitical liberalization, including the enfranchisement of women, a new constitution and the launch of
Al Jazeera, the controversial
Arabic language Arabic satellite television news channel.
Qatar served as the headquarters and one of the main launching sites of the
US invasion of Iraq [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5437.htm] in
2003.
In
2005 a suicide-bombing that killed a British teacher at the Doha Players Theatre shocked the country, which had not previously experienced acts of terrorism. It is not clear that the bombing was from organized terrorist sources, and although the investigation is ongoing there are indications that the attack was the work of an individual, not a group.
The
United States Armed Forces Unified Combatant Command unit for the
Middle East theater (military) theater, known as
United States Central Command CENTCOM (US Central Command), has its headquarters in Qatar. Qatar also hosts a large
United States Air Force base.
Qatar held the West Asian Games in 2005. Qatar will host the 15th
Asian Games in
2006.
Politics
{{main|Politics of Qatar}}
To
Western culture Western eyes, the Qatari authorities seem to keep a relatively tight rein on freedom of expression and moves for equality; but when compared to neighbors like Saudi Arabia, Qatar boasts one of the best standards-of-living and quality-of-life in its region.
In Qatar, the ruling Al Thani (الثاني) family continued to hold power following the declaration of independence in 1971. The Emir functions as head of state, and the right to rule Qatar resides within the Al Thani family. Politically, Qatar has started to evolve from a traditional society in the direction of a modern welfare state. In order to meet the requirements of social and economic progress, the authorities have established Government departments.
The Basic Law of Qatar (1970) institutionalized local customs rooted in Qatar's conservative
Wahhabi heritage, granting the Emir pre-eminent power. Continuing traditions of consultation, rule by consensus, and the citizen's right to appeal personally to the Emir all influence the Emir's role. The Emir, while directly accountable to no one, cannot violate the
Sharia Shari’a (Islamic law) and, in practice, must consider the opinions of leading notables and of the religious establishment. The Advisory Council, an appointed body that assists the Emir in formulating policy, has institutionalized the position of such influential groups. Qatar has no electoral system, and imposes a ban on political parties.
The influx of expatriate Arabs has introduced ideas that call into question the tenets of Qatar's traditional society, but no serious challenge to Al Thani rule has emerged.
In February 1972, the Deputy Ruler and Prime Minister, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad, deposed his cousin, Emir Ahmad, and assumed power. The key members of Al Thani 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. Increased freedom of the press followed, and the Qatar-based
Al Jazeera Al-Jazeera television channel (founded in late 1996) has acquired a unique reputation as a free and uncensored source of news in Arab countries.
Governorates
{{main|Governorates of Qatar}}
Qatar is divided into 10
governorates or
provinces (Arabic: ''muhafazat'', singular - ''muhafadhah''):
*
Ad Dawhah
*
Al Ghuwariyah
*
Al Jumaliyah
*
Al Khawr
*
Al Wakrah
*
Ar Rayyan
*
Jariyan al Batnah
*
Madinat ash Shamal
*
Umm Sa'id
*
Umm Salal
Economy
{{main|Economy of Qatar}}
Image:Modern Doha.jpg left|thumbnail|250px|Qatar's great wealth is most visible in its capital Doha
Before the discovery of oil the economy of the Qatari region focused on
fishing and
pearling. After the introduction of the Japanese cultured pearl onto the world market in the
1920s and
1930s, Qatar's pearling industry faltered. But the discovery of oil reserves, beginning in the
1940s, completely transformed the nation's economy. Now, the country has a high
standard of living, with many social services offered to its citizens and all the amenities of any modern nation.
Qatar's national income primarily derives from
Petroleum oil and
natural gas exports. The country has
oil reserves estimated at 15 billion barrels (2.4 km³). Qataris'
wealth and
standard of living compare well with those of
Western European nations. Qatar has the highest
Gross domestic product GDP per capita in the developing world ($39,607 as of
2005). Qatar is also one of the two least taxed sovereign states in the world with no income tax[http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/content_pages/record.asp?recordid=46672],
Bahrain is the other.
While oil and gas will probably remain the backbone of Qatar's economy for some time to come, the country seeks to stimulate the private sector and develop a "
knowledge economy". In
2004 it established the
Qatar Science & Technology Park to attract and serve technology-based companies and entrepreneurs, from overseas and within Qatar.
Geography
Image:Qa-map.PNG right|thumbnail|Map of Qatar
Image:00850008.JPG right|thumbnail|Qatari desert
{{main|Geography of Qatar}}
The Qatari
peninsula juts 100 miles (160 km) into the
Persian Gulf from
Saudi Arabia. Much of the country consists of a low, barren plain, covered with sand. To the southeast lies the spectacular Khor al Adaid or 'Inland Sea', an area of rolling sand dunes surrounding an inlet of the Gulf.
The highest point in Qatar occurs in the Jebel Dukhan to the west, a range of low limestone outcrops running north-south from Zikrit through
Umm Bab to the southern border, and reaching about 295
foot (unit of length) feet (90 m)
Above mean sea level ASL. This area also contains Qatar's main onshore oil deposits, while the natural gas fields lie offshore, to the northwest of the peninsula.
Demographics
{{main|Demographics of Qatar}}
Nearly all Qataris profess
Islam. Besides ethnic
Arabs, much of the population migrated from various nations to work in the country's oil industry.
Arabic language Arabic serves as the official language, but many residents understand
English language English.
Expatriate Expats form the majority of Qatar's residents. The petrochemical industry has attracted people from all around the world. Most of the expats come from South Asia and from surrounding non-oil-rich Arab nations. Because the expats are overwhelmingly male, Qatar has the most heavily skewed sex ratio in the world, with 1.88 males per female (as of 2006, source: [http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2018.html CIA Factbook]). This is true to a lesser extent in the other Gulf Arab countries as well.
Culture
{{main|Culture of Qatar}}
Qatar explicitly uses
Wahhabi law as the basis of its government, and the vast majority of its citizens follow this specific Islamic doctrine.
Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab founded Wahhabism, a puritanical version of Islam which takes a literal interpretation of the
Koran (also known as the Qu'ran) and the
Sunnah. In the 18th century Abd Al-Wahhab formed a compact with the al-Saud family, the founders of
Saudi Arabia, and purged the "idolatrous" practices of
Sufism and
Shi'a Islam Shiism from their domains.
In the early 20th century, when the Al-Thanis realized that converting to the doctrine of their larger neighbor might bode well for the survival of their régime, they imported Wahhabi Islam from
Saudi Arabia to Qatar. Perhaps as an effect of the importation, Wahhabism takes a less strict form in Qatar than in Saudi Arabia, though it still governs a large portion of Qatari mores and rituals. For example, almost all Qatari women wear the black
abaya (also donned in
Saudi Arabia) - however, Qataris do not universally impose the style on foreigners.
See also:
*
Music of Qatar
Qatari law
In comparison to other
Arab states such as
Saudi Arabia or
Kuwait, Qatar has quite liberal laws. Women can drive in Qatar, whereas they may not legally drive in Saudi Arabia.
The country has undergone a period of liberalization and modernization after the current Emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, came to power after overthrowing his father. For example, women can dress pretty much as they please in public (although in practice local Qatari women generally don the black
abaya). The laws of Qatar tolerate
alcoholic beverage alcohol to a certain extent. However, public bars in Qatar operate only in expensive hotels (whereas the emirates of
Dubai and
Bahrain allow the establishment of nightclubs and other venues). A further liberalization may take place in order to accommodate the 15th
Asian Games in
2006.
Education
{{main|Education in Qatar}}
In recent years Qatar has placed great emphasis on education. Along with the country’s free healthcare to every citizen, every child has free education from kindergarten through
college. The country has a university, the
University of Qatar, and a number of higher educational institutions. Additionally, with the support of the
Qatar Foundation, major
United States American universities have opened branch campuses in
Education City, Qatar. These include
Carnegie Mellon University,
Georgetown University,
Texas A&M University,
Virginia Commonwealth University and
Cornell University's
Weill Cornell Medical College Weill Medical College. In 2004 Qatar established the
Qatar Science & Technology Park at Education City to link those universities with industry.
In November of
2002 the Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani created, by decree number 37, the [http://www.english.education.gov.qa/section/sec/ Supreme Education Council], which includes among its council members the Emir's wife, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missnad. The Council directs and controls education for all ages from the pre-school level through the university level, including the [http://www.english.education.gov.qa/ "Education for a New Era"] reform initiative.
Notes
*{{note|pronunciation}} The pronunciation of ''Qatar'' in
English language English varies; see
list of words of disputed pronunciation for details. In terms of English phonemics, the vowels sound halfway between short
u IPA /ʌ/ and broad
a i IPA|/É‘/]]. The
q and the
t have no direct counterparts, but are closest to the unaspirated allophones of English
k and
t. However, since these allophones can not occur in these positions in English, in this context they will sound more like English
g and
d. So the closest pronunciation, according to English phonemics, to the original Arabic is
IPA /ˈɡɑd.ɚ/ or
IPA /ˈɡʌd.ɚ/. Note that English phonemics necessitate the weakening of the unstressed vowel to
IPA /É™/.
Miscellaneous topics
*
Al Jazeera television broadcaster
*
ASPIRE sports academy
*
Communications in Qatar
*
Foreign relations of Qatar
*
List of cities in Qatar
*
Military of Qatar
*
Public holidays in Qatar
*
Transportation in Qatar
External links
{{sisterlinks|Qatar}}
'''Government'''
-
Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs
-
Ministry of Education (Arabic)
-
Supreme Education Council - "Education for a New Era" Reform Initiative (Arabic) [http://www.english.education.gov.qa/ (English)]
-
Ministry of Interior
-
Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affair
-
The Planning Council
'''News'''
-
Al-Jazeera Arabic broadcaster's English language version
-
Al Watan Arabic Newspaper
-
Gulf Times newspaper
-
The Peninsula newspaper
'''Overviews'''
-
Main Portal of the State of Qatar
-
BBC Country Profile - ''Qatar''
-
CIA World Factbook - ''Qatar''
-
US State Department - ''Qatar'' includes Background Notes, Country Study and major reports
'''Directories'''
-
Arab Gateway - ''Qatar''
-
Open Directory Project - ''Qatar'' directory category
-
Qatar Links directory category
-
Yahoo! - ''Qatar'' directory category
'''Tourism'''
*{{wikitravel}}
-
Qatar Airways Qatar's Official Airline
-
Qatar Tourism Authority Official government tourism site
'''Other'''
-
The Doha Debates
-
Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA)
-
Qatar Living Everything you need to know about living in Qatar
-
Al Hannah Practical Guide to Living in Doha Wiki hosted at CMU Qatar with useful information for expatriates in the region
{{Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf}}
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{| id="toc" style="margin: 0 2em 0 2em;"
! style="background:#ccccff" align="center" width="100%" | Governorates of Qatar Governorates of Qatar .html">Image:Flag of Qatar.svg 50px|Flag of Qatar
|-
| align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" colspan="2" | Ad Dawhah .html">Al Ghuwariyah Al Jumaliyah | Al Khawr .html">Al Wakrah Ar Rayyan | Jariyan al Batnah .html">Madinat ash Shamal Umm Salal
|}
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