Capital: Doha
Currency: Qatari Rial (QAR)
Borders: Saudi Arabia 60 km
The state of Qatar is located in the Middle East and occupies a
peninsula that juts out northwards into the Persian Gulf. The only
bordering country is Saudi Arabia to the south. The landmass is
11,437 sq km and includes the Howar Islands. The coastline of Qatar
measures 563 km. The terrain is mostly barren desert, scattered with
loose gravel and sand deposits. The land is extremely flat, with the
tallest point of elevation, Qurayn Abu al Bawl, reaching just 103m.
As Qatar is mainly desert, there is very little in the way of flora
or fauna. Qatar has been infamous in the past as having been a
cut-off state, although visas are now available to tourists.
Qatar has been ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s and
was once a British protectorate. Independence was declared from the
British in 1971. The capital city is Doha. Other important cities
include Al Salwa, Umm Sa'id, Dukhan and Umm Salal Ali. The
population of Qatar includes 40% Arabs, 18% Pakistanis, 18% Indians
and 10% Iranians. Arabic is the official language although English
is recognised as the second language. Islam is the dominant
religion. The national unit of currency is the Qatari Rial.
The economy has been successful thanks to the oil industry as it
accounts for 30% of the GDP and over 80% of the country's export
earnings. The largest oil reserves can be found at the Durkhan field
in western Qatar. It is responsible for 39% of Qatar's crude oil
reserves. Qatar also has the third largest reserves of natural gas
in the world. Other industries include fertilizers, petrochemicals,
steel reinforcing bars and cement. The transport network of Qatar
consists of 1230 km of highways and the important ports of Doha,
Halul Island and Umm Sa'id.
The climate of Qatar is hot and arid with mild winters and
sweltering summers. The highest recorded temperature in Doha was
45°C. During the hazy summer months between May and September, dust
and sandstorms lash the land. |
