Qatar | Research & Encyclopedia Articles

Qatar, with its capital Doha, is located in the Middle East. It occupies 11,437 square miles (4,415 square miles) on a peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia. Qatar's population numbers some 817,052 people, most of whom live in the cities. Ninety-five percent of the population is Muslim. Foreigners outnumber Qatari nationals. The Qatar Peninsula is hot and dry desert land, with very warm summers and mild winters.

Qatar has been ruled as an emirate since the mid-1800s by the al-Thani family, who settled in the region after coming from Najd, Saudi Arabia. It came under British protection in the early twentieth century. After failed negotiations to form a federation with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, Qatar became independent on September 3, 1971. The emir at independence was Ahmad bin Ali al-Thani (1917–1977), who was ousted in a bloodless coup in 1972 by Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani (b. 1932). On January 27, 1995, while out of the country, Sheikh Khalifa was deposed by his son Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (b. 1952) in another bloodless coup that was supported by the ruling family and the Qatari people. In 2003, his son Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifah al-Thani (b. 1979) was designated the heir apparent.

Qatar is a traditional monarchy. The emir is the head of state, minister of defense, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Emir Hamad oversaw several reforms to the Qatari political system by convening a constitutional committee to draft a permanent constitution in 1999. After almost 97 percent of Qatari voters approved it, the first permanent constitution was adopted in 2003—replacing the provisional constitution of 1972. It provides for the separation of executive, legislative, and judicial powers. Executive power lies in the hands of the emir and his cabinet (which he appoints). Members of the al-Thani family occupy a large number of seats in the cabinet. Legislative power resides with a unicameral Shura (Consultative) Council made up of forty-five members serving four-year terms, two-thirds of whom are elected by universal direct vote with the rest appointed by the emir. The judiciary is nominally independent, but judges hold their positions at the government's pleasure. Its jurisdiction is unlikely to confront the ruler's exercise of power. The legal system consists of both secular and Shari'a courts (those based on Islamic law).

Qatar has significant oil and natural gas revenues (85% of the country's total income), which enables the nation to rank among the world's wealthiest countries per capita, not far below the leading industrial nations of Western Europe. The per-capita gross national product (GDP) is $20,800. Although attempts to diversify the economy have had limited success, the revenues from oil and natural gas allowed for the creation of a welfare state with free and subsidized services. Life expectancy for the total population averages seventy-three years and the literacy rate is 83 percent.

Opposition and dissent are not tolerated in Qatar. The government limits the rights of assembly and association, bans political parties, restricts freedom of religion, and imposes some restrictions on freedom of speech and freedom of the press. However, since 1995, the press has remained somewhat free of government interference. Internet use is encouraged, although websites are monitored for political or religious content. Citizens have limited participation in the political system—but can raise questions in the majlis, which is a system of consultation open to the public.

Shari'a.

Country Report: Qatar. London: Economic Intelligence Unit, 2001.

"Qatar." CIA World Factbook 2004. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2004. <http://www.cia.gov/cia/publicat ions/factbook/geos/ng.html>.

U.S. Department of State. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of State, 2003. <http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/ hrrpt/2003/27936.htm>.

Zahlan, Rosemarie S. The Creation of Qatar. London: Crom Helm, 1979.

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