State of Qatar
QATAR. State of Qatar
A country located in Southwest Asia in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula on the coast of the Persian Gulf.
Area - 11.4 thousand km². Capital - Doha. About 90% of the country's population is concentrated in the capital and its suburbs.
Population - 744 thousand (2004), of which about 20% are indigenous people, the rest are migrants from other Arab countries, India (170 thousand), Pakistan (80), Bangladesh (50), Iran (40), the Philippines (35), and others. The official language is Arabic.
The state religion is Islam. The currency is the Qatari riyal = 100 dirhams.
It has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR on August 1, 1988).
National holiday - September 3 - Independence Day (1971).
Qatar is an absolute monarchy. All power belongs to Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (came to power on June 28, 1995, after deposing his father Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani). On April 2, 1970, a temporary constitution was proclaimed, based on which a Consultative Council was formed, consisting of 35 members appointed by the emir. In April 2003, a draft of a new constitution was adopted in a referendum, which came into force in June 2005. Elections for the Consultative Council are to be held (45 members: 30 are elected by direct and secret ballot with the participation of women, 15 are appointed by the emir).
The date of future elections has not been determined. The new constitution establishes the transfer of power in Qatar through inheritance by the ruling clan Al Thani. The Crown Prince is Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (since August 2003). The Prime Minister is the emir's half-brother Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 1996). The ruling Al Thani family has about 3,500 members. Organized opposition is absent, and the activities of political parties in the country are prohibited. Since October 2004, a new judicial system has been in place. Sharia courts have been abolished.
Since the 7th century, Qatar was part of the Arab Caliphate. At different times, it was under the domination of the Portuguese, Persians, and Turks. In 1756, it was captured by the Arab clan Al Khalifa, which also subdued Bahrain in 1783. Subsequently, power passed to Sheikh Muhammad of the Al Thani clan, the founder of the ruling dynasty in Qatar. From 1871 to 1913, Qatar was under Turkish domination, then (since 1916) became a protectorate of Great Britain. On September 3, 1971, Qatar was proclaimed an independent state.
Qatar's economy is based on the extraction and processing of oil and gas. The income per capita is $29,000 (2004). GDP is $28 billion (2004), with a growth rate of 21%. External debt is $16 billion. The share of the oil and gas industry in GDP reaches 60%. Revenues from oil and gas sales account for 90% of total exports. Proven oil reserves are 14.6 billion barrels. Oil extraction and sales are carried out by the state-owned General Petroleum Corporation. A promising source of income is natural gas, with proven reserves of 25.5 trillion m³ (2nd place in the world). A fertilizer production plant and a petrochemical complex have been built. A metallurgical plant in Umm Said has been commissioned. The light industry sectors are also developing.
Agriculture is poorly developed and is mainly represented by oasis farming and horticulture. The area suitable for agriculture is small. Vegetables, dates, fruits, corn, and millet are grown. Domestic fish resources are actively utilized.
Exports are mainly represented by oil and petroleum products, liquefied gas, and chemical fertilizers.
The main consumers are Japan, Italy, South Korea, India, Singapore, Thailand, and the USA. Steel, cement, shrimp, and pearls are also exported. The main suppliers of goods are Japan, the UK, the USA, Germany, and Italy.
Qatar's foreign assets are estimated at $14 billion.
The volume of foreign investments in the energy sector reached $40 billion in 2004 (over 50% from the USA). In 2004, international credit rating agencies raised Qatar's credit rating to A+ level.
A pressing problem for the country is the shortage of labor. Among the working population, less than 20% belong to the indigenous population, the rest are migrants from other countries. Given that the indigenous Qatari population has become a national minority, a strict entry regime for foreigners has been introduced, and a "Qatarization" program for the government apparatus and the economy is being implemented.
The length of roads is about 2,600 km, half of which are paved. In the south, Qatar's roads are connected to the road network of Saudi Arabia. The port economy of Doha and Umm Said is developing. The capital has a large international airport.
Education for Qatari citizens at all levels is free. Higher education is obtained by Qatari residents at the university and pedagogical institute in Doha, as well as at foreign higher educational institutions. More than 60% of Qatari students studying abroad are in Western countries.
Qatar has one of the most advanced telecommunications systems in the Persian Gulf region.
There is a satellite system built by Japanese specialists, which provides reception of radio and television programs from abroad. An automatic international telex communication system is in operation. The postal service is well developed.
Daily newspapers: "Al-Watan," "Al-Raya," "Ash-Sharq" (in Arabic); "Gulf Times" and "Peninsula" (in English).
The Qatari Government Information Agency (QIA) has been operating since 1975. There are government radio and television services. Qatar is home to the headquarters of the popular pan-Arab satellite television channel "Al Jazeera."
