Qatar - Country facts
Location
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Background
Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by the amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. His son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, overthrew him in a bloodless coup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Oil and natural gas revenues enable Qatar to have one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.
Climate
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain
mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Population
863,051 (July 2005 est.)
Ethnic Groups
Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Religions
Muslim 95%
Languages
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Map of Qatar
| back | top |