Where is Qatar in which country. Qatar is the country of the richest people

More recently, Qatar was a forgotten country in the Persian Gulf. However, as it turned out, Kater has very large deposits of oil and gas, and therefore the country has been actively developing in recent decades, including in terms of tourism. Tourists in Qatar are waiting for desert safaris, Bedouin villages, rich markets, ancient mosques with minarets, camel races, and, of course, excellent long sandy beaches on the Persian Gulf coast.

Geography of Qatar

Qatar is located on the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. In the south, Qatar borders on Saudi Arabia (this is its only land border). A strait in the Persian Gulf separates Qatar from the neighboring island state of Bahrain. The total area of Qatar is 11,586 sq. km., and the total length of the state land border is only 60 km.

Most of Qatar's territory is desert. In the south of Qatar there are high hills, and in the north there is a sandy plain with oases. The highest point in the country is Qurayn Abu al Bawl (103 meters).

Capital

The capital of Qatar is Doha, which is now home to more than 600 thousand people. Doha was built in 1825 (then it was called Al-Bida).

Official language

The official language of the population of Qatar is Arabic, which belongs to the Semitic group of the Afrasian language family.

Religion

More than 77% of the population of Qatar is Muslim (72% are Sunnis, 5% are Shiites). Another 8.5% are Christians.

State structure

According to the current Constitution of 2003, Qatar is an absolute monarchy, headed by an Emir from the al-Thani dynasty. By the way, the al-Thani dynasty has ruled Qatar since 1825, i.e. since the formation of this state.

The power of the Emir in Qatar is absolute, and he is guided by the principles of Sharia in governing the country. It is the Emir who appoints the Prime Minister, ministers and members of the Advisory Council (35 people), which has legislative power. All laws in Qatar are approved by the Emir.

Climate and weather

Winters in Qatar are mild and summers are very hot. In January, the air temperature drops to + 7C, and in August rises to + 45C. Average annual precipitation is 80 mm. The best time to visit Qatar is from October to May.

Sea in Qatar

Qatar is washed from all sides except the south by the Persian Gulf. The total coastline is 563 km. The coast in Qatar is sandy with numerous small islets, sandbars and reefs.

History

People on the territory of modern Qatar lived, according to archaeologists, as early as 7.5 thousand years ago. Around 178 BC. the inhabitants of Qatar traded with the ancient Greeks and Romans (they were intermediaries in the trade of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome with India).

In the 7th century A.D. Islam begins to spread on the territory of modern Qatar, and the country is part of the Arab Caliphate.

At the beginning of the 16th century, Portugal was very influential in the Persian Gulf, including Qatar. Portuguese traders buy gold, silver, silk, pearls and horses in the Gulf countries.

In 1783, Qatar came under the rule of Bahrain, and this continued until 1868. In 1871 Qatar became part of the Ottoman Empire. In 1916, Qatar seceded from the Ottoman Empire, but fell under the protectorate of Great Britain.

Only in 1971 did Qatar gain independence from Great Britain.

Qatar culture

The culture and traditions in Qatar have been shaped by the influence of Islam, and everyday life in this country is in accordance with Sharia law. Qatar has two main religious holidays - Eid al-Fitr, which lasts three days in honor of the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha (we know it as Eid al-Adha). Eid al-Adha is celebrated 70 days after Eid al-Fitr.

Kitchen

Traditional Qatari cuisine has been strongly influenced by immigrants from Iran and India, and more recently from North Africa.

Many traditional Qatari dishes are based on seafood (especially lobster, crab, shrimp, tuna and perch). All meat in the boat is "halal", that is, conforms to Muslim laws.

One of the most popular traditional dishes in Qatar is machbous, which is a stew with rice or seafood. Also in Qatar, tourists are advised to try Hummus (chickpea puree with sesame seeds), Waraq enab (grape leaves stuffed with rice), Taboulleh (chopped wheat seasoned with parsley and mint), Koussa mahshi (stuffed zucchini), Biriani (rice with chicken or lamb), Ghuzi (lamb with rice and nuts).

As far as desserts in Qatar are concerned, it is worth highlighting pistachio pudding, bread pudding with nuts and raisins, and cheesecake with cream.

Traditional soft drinks in Qatar are coffee, fruit waters and herbal teas. The people of this country prefer Arabic coffee, flavored with cardamom or slightly sweetened, or thickly brewed Turkish coffee. Sometimes sweet coffee "qahwa helw" (with saffron, cardamom and sugar) is served.

Fruit water and herbal teas are sold directly on the streets in all cities in Qatar.

You can only drink alcohol in restaurants and hotels that have a special license.

Sights of Qatar

Despite the fact that Qatar has a very ancient history, there are not very many attractions in this country. This is due to the geographical location of Qatar, which has many deserts. However, the Top 10 best attractions in Qatar, in our opinion, may include the following:

Fort Umm Salal Mohammed
Mounds of Umm-Salal-Ali
Doha Weapon Museum
Fort at Al-Zubar
Ancient fortifications in Al-Zubar
Fort Al-Waibah
Abdullah bin Mohammed palace
State Mosque in Doha
Fort al-Rakiyat
Al-Rayyan Mosque

Cities and resorts

The largest cities in Qatar are Doha, Ar-Rayyan, Al-Wakrah, Al-Khor and Umm-Salal.

As we have already said, Qatar is washed by the Persian Gulf from all sides except the south. The total coastline is 563 km. The coast in Qatar is sandy with numerous small islets, sandbars and reefs. You can swim in the sea wherever you want, the main thing is not to leave trash behind.

The best beaches (i.e. resorts) in Qatar, in our opinion, are as follows:

Al Ghariya Beach (80 km north of Doha)
- Dukhan (80 km west of Doha)
- Fuwairit Beach (80 km north of Doha)
- Khor Al Adaid (80 km south of Doha)
- Maroona (80 km north of Doha) - also known as French Beach
- Ras Abrouq (Bir Zekreet) (70 km west of Doha)

Souvenirs / shopping

Tourists from Qatar usually bring handicrafts, Korans, gold jewelry, daggers, Dal-la coffee pot, bronze figurines, wooden boxes, henna, Arabic lamps, hookahs, rugs, scrolls with Arabic script, rosary.

Opening hours of institutions

The working week in Qatar runs from Sunday to Thursday. The days off are Friday and Saturday. The official working day starts at 07:00 and ends at 15:30.

In my opinion, the richest country in the world, tiny Qatar, was in one of the last lines in the list of places where I would like to go. Well, imagine a kind of scanty appendix of lifeless sand protruding into the Persian Gulf for one and a half hundred kilometers. Add the absence of any worthy history and architecture, but the crazy oil that fell on the head of the poor and illiterate Bedouins, and that is thanks to the British. Let's dilute what has been said with a difficult climate for life with dusty winds from Arabia and temperatures far beyond +40 most of the year. We must pay tribute to Emir Al Thani, a very advanced man with enormous ambitions: he set himself the goal of turning his infinitely dull kingdom into a world political, financial and cultural center. He created the Al-Jazeera television company, he hosts international sports competitions in Qatar, he is trying to establish universities in the country. Astronomical sums are being invested in this idea, but as everything revolved around oil, it revolves. Apart from the fact that by taking the practice of interfering with its generous dollar in all conflicts in the Middle East, Qatar spoiled relations with its neighbors and found itself isolated. Did the story interest you so much that you dropped everything and went to look for tickets to Qatar? No? So I am gone. And yet I found myself in this strange and unattractive state.

All thanks to Qatar Airways, which offers low-cost flights to Asia with connections in Doha. Moreover, you can choose a long connection up to 96 hours for the price of a regular ticket, and even get a free 24-hour stay in a good hotel from the airline. To do this, you go to the Discover Qatar website, where you enter your reservation number for the mentioned airline (this feature does not apply to other air carriers) and make a reservation. Some hotels offer free transfer from and to the airport. Others don't. Some include breakfast, others do not. Look, choose. It is thanks to this that I ended up in a country where I would never have flown on my own.

Looking back, I ask the question, was I disappointed by the days I spent in Qatar en route from California to India? No, I was not. Due to the fact that I did not expect anything. Everything was fine and there was nothing to complain about: the shuttle from the hotel was met in the arrivals hall, they were taken away, they were extremely polite and helpful. The breakfasts are excellent, the hotel has a pool and gym. The hotel was a Holiday Inn 4 * half an hour walk from the waterfront and the city center. My number -

Arrived at night and immediately went to bed. Waking up in the morning, went to the window and saw such a picture -

Everything was in light brown dusty colors and nature itself signaled that it was better for me to spend the day in the room. It would be hard there without a pleasant air conditioner, I had no doubt about that. Suspicions about the trials awaiting me were heightened thanks to the ubiquitous Google when it entered a request for the weather in Doha -

I cannot be surprised by the heat, because for more than 25 years I have lived in not cold Israel at all, where in summer temperatures regularly go off scale for +35 or more. In such weather, I was usually either at home or in the office under air conditioning. But quite often he also visited the street and even walked calmly for hours in a cap and with a bottle of water. It's hot, you sweat, you get tired. But on the whole it is tolerable. But the heat that is now in Qatar is beyond words. This is some kind of horror. Firstly, in Israel +42 degrees is nonsense that happens for several days a year somewhere in Eilat on the Red Sea, where it is hottest. And here such a temperature is the norm, it happens even higher, up to +50 in the shade. It feels like you are in a very hot dry sauna. You greedily grab the hot air in your mouth like a fish. But I know how to properly resist the heat. Do not strain and protect yourself. Yes, here it is no less important than not here. A cap, light and loose clothing, always a lot of water. And at the slightest sensation of discomfort, make a stop. If so, then go ahead!

I go out into the street and fly my forehead into the wall. Not into a stone wall, but into a wall of heavy and hot air. With all your skin cells, you feel as if you are floating in boiling glycerin. Even me, exhausted by the Israeli heat, was shocked. It is not too late to return to the hotel. But no, real heroes don't give up. I could not rent a car because I have an Israeli driver's license, which will never be given a car here. As you know, Qatar does not recognize Israel, following the all-Arab policy of intercession for the "Palestinian brothers". I don’t want to go into the intricacies of relations between Qatar and Israel, because everything is not easy there. They do not recognize and, at the same time, run the business and almost officially meet with the Israeli leadership, and Israeli citizens can visit Qatar by applying for a visa online on the website of the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But yes, backstage is one thing, and my driver's license is another. What then? Take a taxi? So expensive.

There is only one thing left - to walk.

I honestly walked about 16 kilometers in Doha. Along the empty streets, where you will not meet anyone except rare Indians. Local Arabs hide in buildings and do not move away from air conditioners. So, I made stops every half hour approximately. I find a shade, for example, under a palm tree and literally lie down on the grass. I lie there for about ten minutes and then I get up and walk on. Everything is according to the rules, like a good Bedouin.

The city is deserted. Qataris move through it exclusively by personal transport, prefer to spend time in offices and at home under air conditioning, and in half a day I met a few of the indigenous people of this state.

Qatar is a new state that gained independence from the British only in 1971. Doha was until recently a dusty village, but over the past four decades has developed into a two million metropolis -

Contrary to Qatar's image as an exceptionally wealthy state, much of Doha looks like this, not unlike the middle sleeping areas of Amman, or Cairo. The Israelis will see in this building the most typical Tel Aviv (see my article ""). In a word, I walk here as if at home, and perhaps the absence of signs in Hebrew and the portraits of the Emir remind me that this is not Israel -

Doha is also one big construction site. They build absolutely everywhere, a real construction boom. Moreover, it is obvious that the boom was provoked by colossal infusions from oil revenues and is not supported by anything else. Take the oil tomorrow and the country will be empty. It is no secret that out of 2.5 million Qatari residents, 88% are disenfranchised foreign workers who live here on annual visas and pray to Allah to extend their visa for another year -

Actually, only foreigners will you meet on the street in this heat -

I don’t know how these uncomfortable people plow at plus fifty. It was hard for me not only to plow, but at least just to walk. And they are carrying bags of cement, digging, drilling, nailing something. The city is actively being built -

And yet, Doha is more such views than chic office towers made of glass and concrete -

And even such very poor areas are still enough. Workers from India and Pakistan live here -

One who drains water after washing (!) In a public place will pay 300 riyals -

Leaving an old car forever parked on the street - 1000 riyals and so on -

It is interesting to read the announcements of the Indo-Pakistani workers. Please note that the offered rooms and apartments for rent require you to have an education. At least a bachelor's degree. Only the lucky owner of the crust will be able to claim a bed in a room for ten. This is almost no joke -

Someone Katmal will relieve you of bed bugs and at the same time improve your health -

In vain I did not take my diploma with me, I could apply for a bed in the company of the same professors and artists of large and small theaters, that is, construction laborers -

I move slowly to the embankment, winding through the blocks -

The heat begins to crush seriously. First, they stop and allow themselves to catch their breath a little, it helps.

Around is deserted -

Actually, five of these Bedouin fortresses of the last century built these are the historical monuments of Qatar -

They built something from scratch, and rebuilt something. Now you can see the semblance of an old city -

A little more, the business district is already visible on the horizon -

Doha is not a city for backpackers. There are very few pedestrian crossings, and even fewer sidewalks. To cross the expressway running along the embankment, you either have to stomp for a kilometer to a traffic light, or run across, risking your life -

The skyscrapers of the business part of the Qatari capital are visible in the haze. This is not a photomontage, everything is really in a dusty brown haze -

I feel that the body really works equally well. The oppressive heat and the sun at its zenith, beating in the head, even in spite of the cap. I make a stop, listen to the pulse - however, 110 beats per minute while walking calmly. Water does not help anymore, rest under the palm trees lowers the heart rate to 100, but still does not go down below. Overheat. It is hard for an average person to walk for half a day in the heat reaching +50 in the shade. Once again I lie under a palm tree -

An old port for "dhow" - wooden longboats used in previous years for fishing, searching for pearls and simply for the delivery of goods from neighboring Iran. Today it is largely a tourist attraction -

Emir's palace, which cannot be photographed. The stern soldier saw that I was clearly going to take pictures of his master's palace and blew his whistle. But I still managed to pull the trigger. What threat is the picture of the palace taken from five hundred meters away - I do not know, but traditionally I call it "Arab fucking" and I do not try to argue -

Water does not help anymore, rest under the palm trees lowers the heart rate to 100, but still does not go down below. It is not right. The body signals that it needs serious rest and further walking under the scorching sun will lead to unpleasant consequences, including fainting. At the end, almost exhausted, I go down to the underground parking and literally fall down the stairs there for half an hour. I lean back against the concrete wall, which carries a pleasant coolness. I'm getting back to normal. It becomes obvious that it is time to return to the hotel.

The last reason that made me stop walking was the camera - it got so hot that it stopped working. I caught a taxi and drove the remaining four kilometers to the hotel. I enter, and the guard asks if everything is all right with me. Yes, quite, but what? Says that I am very pale. I entered the room where the air conditioner maintains a comfortable +22 degrees, lay down in bed and returned to normal half an hour later. The camera also came to its senses and is now normal. Ufff ...

- a state on the Qatar Peninsula, protruding into the Persian Gulf from the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. In the south, Qatar borders Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. However, the borders of the state are undefined.

The name of the country comes from the name of the ancient village of Kadaru.

General information about Qatar

Official name: State of Qatar

Capital:

The area of the land: 11.4 thousand sq. km

Total population: 1.7 million people

Administrative division: 9 cities of central subordination: Al-Ryan, al-Shamal, Jarayan al-Batina, Um-Sa-lal, Ed-Doha, El-Wakrah, El-Jamaliya, Khaur, Khuvayr.

Form of government: Absolute monarchy.

Head of State: Emir.

Population composition: 40% are Arabs, 18% are Pakistanis, 18% are Indians, 10% are Iranians.

Official language: Arabic, English is widely spoken.

Religion: 95% are Muslims.

Internet domain: .qa

Mains voltage: ~ 240 V, 50 Hz

Country dialing code: +974

Climate

The climate is subtropical arid. Summers are very hot (average temperature of the warmest month, July, 35 ° C) with frequent dust and sand storms. Winter is warm (average temperature of the coldest month, January, 22 ° С). Average annual rainfall from November to May (with a maximum in February) ranges from 55 mm in the south to 125 mm in the north. Dry northern winds are characteristic, carrying masses of sand from the Arabian deserts.

Geography

Qatar is a small country located on the peninsula of the same name in the southeastern tip of Arabia. On three sides it is washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf. The area, together with small islands scattered along the coast, is 11.4 thousand square meters. km.

The northern part of the Qatar Peninsula is a low-lying desert plain, almost entirely covered with sand, forming moving dunes. To the south, the sandy desert gives way to rocky (even more lifeless), with extensive areas of salt marshes. In the south of the country, towering sandy hills rise; here is the highest point of the country - 103 m. The coastline of Qatar is weakly indented and forms only a few convenient bays, however, they are difficult to access, since almost the entire coast is framed by a belt of coral reefs and islands reaching 4 km in width.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world

Almost the entire territory of Qatar is a barren desert. Only in the period of winter rains does a thin cover of stiff-leaved grasses appear and leaves and flowers bloom on xerophilous shrubs and shrubs. The deserts of Qatar are characterized by wormwood, camel thorn, kermek, astragalus, acacia, and comb (tamariks). In some places, in conditions of shallow groundwater, oases are common.

Animal world

Because of the heat, many animals are nocturnal or are active only in the morning. More than 70 species of commercial fish, crustaceans (including shrimps), mollusks (including pearl mussels), and sponges are found in the waters of the Persian Gulf. There are sea turtles.

sights

Due to its natural and climatic characteristics, Qatar is not rich in historical and natural monuments. The main attraction of the country is its rich history, as evidenced by the ever-expanding archaeological excavations, which reveal more and more traces of ancient civilizations on the territory of Qatar. Also attractive are softer than in neighboring countries, Islamic traditions, original culture and excellent products of local artisans.

Banks and currency

Qatari rial (QR, actually pegged to the US dollar) equal to 100 dirhams. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1 rial, as well as coins in denominations of 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 dirhams (however, only coins of 50 and 25 dirhams are in wide circulation, minting the rest discontinued in the 70s of the XX century, although they are still found in circulation in the markets in the inner regions of the country).

Banks are open from Saturday to Thursday from 7.30 am to 1.30 pm. Exchange offices are open on the same days from 8.00-9.00 to 13.00 hours, and from 15.00 to 20.00 (some work until 21.00 and later). Friday is a non-working day in all organizations.

Currency exchange is possible in almost any bank and shop, as well as in numerous private exchange offices, which provide a slightly better exchange rate than banks.

Credit cards and traveller's checks are accepted for payment in almost all large shopping centers, hotels and transport (the exchange rate of checks of different systems is somewhat different from one another and constantly changes). USD and GBP checks are generally preferred. ATM machines operate in almost every bank, hotel or shop.

Useful information for tourists

The best time to relax in Qatar is September - January and March - May. Beautiful hotels and sandy beaches await you. On many beaches, the pools are interconnected and equipped with water slides. The Persian Gulf is considered to be an excellent diving destination. One of the most popular activities offered to tourists in Qatar is the safari.

Payment for services in a restaurant is usually added to the bill, local traditions do not require that you leave an additional tip, however, for good service it is possible to leave any amount at the discretion of the guest to the service staff.

State of Qatar, in the Southwest. Asia, on the Qatar Peninsula, washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf. According to the Arab, historians, the state and peninsula of Qatar were named after the village of Kadar, which existed in ancient times on this peninsula. Geographical names of the world ... Geographical encyclopedia

Disease, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose, throat, stomach, etc .; the affected area usually turns red and loose pus or mucus. A complete dictionary of foreign words that have come into use in the Russian language. Popov M., 1907. CATAR inflammation ... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

Star Observational data (Epoch J2000.0) Type Single star Right ascension ... Wikipedia

Full name Qatar Sports Club Nicknames Kings Founded 1959 Qatar SC Stadium Capacity ... Wikipedia

State of Qatar, a state in Southwest Asia, on the Qatar Peninsula. 11 thousand km & sup2. population approx. 521 thousand people (1993). The urban population of St. 90% (1990), mostly Arabs. The official language is Arabic. The state religion is Islam. The capital ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

QATAR- QATAR, State of Qatar, in the South West. Asia, on the Qatar Peninsula, on the V. Arabian Peninsula. Pl. 11 t. Km2. US. 270 tons (1982). Capital Doha (c. 200 t., 1982). Before the proclamation of independence in 1971, Britain was a protectorate of Great Britain. The basis of the economy ... ... Demographic Encyclopedic Dictionary

Qatar- a, m. catarrhe m., floor. katar c. katarrhoos dripping, flowing. Inflammation of the mucous membrane of what l. body, for example. throat, nose, lungs, stomach, etc. ALS 1. Here severe frosts came, and I, in spite of the fact that I have catarrh, is forced ... ... Historical Dictionary of Russian Gallicisms

Inflammation of the mucous membrane Dictionary of Russian synonyms. Qatar n., number of synonyms: 12 blenmetrite (1) ... Synonym dictionary

- (from the Greek katarrheo to drain, to drain), an outdated name for inflammation of the mucous membranes, characterized by abundant exudate (serous, purulent, etc.) and its drainage over the surface of the mucous membrane ... Modern encyclopedia

QATAR, ah, husband. Inflammation of the mucous membrane of what N. organ. K. upper respiratory tract. K. stomach (formerly called gastritis). | adj. catarrhal, oh, oh. Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 ... Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

Books

Qatar in the XXI century: current trends and forecasts of economic development. Monograph, Kasaev Eldar Osmanovich. The monograph by E.O. Kasaev, a specialist in Middle East problems, is the first work in Russian and foreign science, completely devoted to the modern economy of Qatar. The author considers ...

The Qatar Peninsula is a flat plain. In the center rises a low limestone plateau, weakly dissected by the channels of temporary streams - wadi, gently declining in the eastern direction and forming a cliff coast in the extreme northeast. A strip of sandy hills stretches along the western coast, reaching a height of 40 m. Along the southeastern coast, there is a chain of closed drainless depressions with flat saline bottoms (sebha). In the north, sandy deserts with mobile dunes prevail, in the central part there are rocky deserts with spots of salt marshes, in the south, a hilly relief is composed of aeolian sands. The highest point of Aba el-Baul (105 m above sea level) is located in the southeast of the country. The peninsula is bordered by coral reefs and coral islands.

Large reserves of oil (900 million tons) and natural gas (20 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world's resources) have been explored in the depths of Qatar and the adjacent shelf. In addition, deposits of phosphates, sulfur, asbestos, gypsum and manganese ore were found.

Water, both drinking and for irrigation, is taken from artesian wells or wells. However, most of the fresh water is produced from seawater by desalination. In the northern regions, where groundwater approaches or overflows the surface, small areas of soil suitable for agriculture have formed.

The fauna is poor. Reptiles (monitor lizards, agamas, snakes, roundheads, geckos) and rodents (gerbils, jerboas) predominate. There are jackals, foxes, hyenas, gazelles are very rare. Among the birds, there are such large predators as eagles, kites, many sparrows, sea gulls, flamingos, herons, geese are found on the coast. Arachnids such as scorpions, phalanges, spiders are characteristic. Because of the heat, many animals are nocturnal or are active only in the morning. More than 70 species of commercial fish, crustaceans (including shrimps), mollusks (including pearl mussels), and sponges are found in the waters of the Persian Gulf. There are sea turtles.

Population.

The population has grown at a rapid pace in the past half century, mainly due to the influx of immigrants to work in the oil and oil refining industries. So, in 1949 there were 20 thousand people in the country, in July 2004 the number of inhabitants was, according to an estimate, 840,290 people, of which about half lived in the capital, Doha.

In 2009, 427 thousand people lived in the capital.

The population in July 2013 was estimated at 2 million 042 thousand 444 people. Of these, 96% live in cities.

The age structure of the population: under 15 years old - 12.5%, from 15 to 65 years old - 86.7%, over 65 years old - 0.8%. The average age is 31.4 years.

The birth rate is estimated at 10.8 per 1000 population, mortality - 1.54 per 1000, immigration - 33.3 per 1000, population growth - 4.19%. The infant mortality rate is 6.6 per 1000.

Average long life is 78.24 years.

The population is Arabs (40%), there are a large number of immigrants from Pakistan (18%), India (18%) and Iran (10%). The official language is Arabic, English is widely spoken. The state religion is Islam. It is professed by approx. 95% of the population. Most Qataris are followers of the Sunni direction in Islam; Iranians are Shiites.

Education in Qatar at all levels is free. An estimated 83% of the population over the age of 15 can read and write. There are public and private primary and secondary schools. Doha has a university since 1973, currently including 7 colleges. The education of boys and girls is separate. Many Qataris study overseas, mainly in the United States.

State structure.

Qatar is a traditional hereditary monarchy, led by an emir from the Al Thani dynasty. On September 1, 1971, it became an independent state and on April 19, 1972, an interim constitution was introduced in the country. In July 1999, the emir ordered the formation of a committee, which was called upon to develop a permanent constitution, and on April 29, 2003, it was approved in a referendum.

The head of state is the emir. Since June 27, 1995, the throne is occupied by Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. He also holds the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Minister of Defense. The Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch. Most of the members of the government belong to the ruling family. In 1996, the brother of the emir, Abdallah bin Khalifa Al Thani, was appointed prime minister.

There is a unicameral Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura), established in 1972. Its 35 members were not elected. The new constitution stipulates that of the 45 councilors, two-thirds must be elected by universal suffrage and one-third appointed by the emir. The functions of the council include issues of foreign and domestic policy of the country, making appropriate recommendations for the consideration of the emir and the government.

The judicial system consists of the Court of Appeal, civil and Sharia courts.

Administratively, Qatar is divided into 10 municipal districts (baladiyya).

The activities of political parties in the country are prohibited.

The Armed Forces are composed of ground, naval and air forces. Military spending in 2000 amounted to US $ 723 million (10% of GDP).

Qatar is a member of the UN and its specialized organizations, the League of Arab States, the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Maintains diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR in 1988). In 2001, Qatar resolved its perennial border disputes with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Economy.

The traditional occupations of the Qataris are pearl hunting, fishing, raising camels and sheep, and partly farming. At present, less than 10% of the labor force is employed in all these sectors of the economy. The economy of Qatar is based on oil and gas production. This industry accounts for over 55% of GDP, approx. 85% of export earnings and 70% of government revenue. Profits from the oil and gas industry have allowed Qatar to become a wealthy country with a modern, well-developed economic infrastructure and per capita income levels that are almost equal to those of Western Europe. Discovered oil reserves are estimated at 14.5 billion barrels, and natural gas at 17.9 trillion cubic meters. m (the third largest gas reserves in the world).

According to 2003 estimates, Qatar's GDP was $ 17.54 billion, which corresponds to $ 21.5 thousand per capita. The structure of GDP for 2002: industry - 64.7%, services - 34.9%, agriculture - 0.4%. In 2003, GDP grew by 8.5%. The inflation rate in 2003 was 2%. Unemployment in 2001 was 2.7% of the labor force.

In 2012, the economic situation in the country was as follows:
GDP (purchasing power parity): $ 189 billion GDP (official rate) - $ 184.6 billion; real GDP growth rate - 6.3%.

GDP per capita in 2012 was US $ 102,800.

GDP structure: agriculture occupies 0.1%; industry - 77.8%; service sector - 22.1%.
The economically active population in 2012 was 1.43 million people. The unemployment rate is 0.5%.

Control over oil and gas production has been held by the state since the 1970s. Oil refining has also been established, and two oil refineries are operating in Umm Said. Branches are developing - the production of fertilizers, metallurgical, cement, petrochemical, chemical and flour-grinding industries. A large steelmaking complex in Umm Said uses imported raw materials. Since Qatar is experiencing a shortage of fresh water, almost all of its needs are met by industrial-scale seawater desalination, with desalination plants powered by energy from the combustion of natural gas. Qatar produces 9.3 billion kWh of electricity annually with a consumption of 8.6 billion. Most of the industrial enterprises and services are owned by the state.

Agriculture is poorly developed. Includes nomadic pastoralism and hotspots of agriculture and horticulture in oases. They grow vegetables, fruits, dates, corn, millet. They produce chicken, beef, dairy products. The population is also engaged in fishing and pearl mining. Own agricultural production provides only about 10% of food needs.

In 2003, the value of exports amounted to 12.36 billion US dollars, imports - 5.71 billion. The world's largest exporter of liquefied gas, exported oil and oil products (accounting for about 80% of exports), liquefied gas, fertilizers, steel, cement, shrimp, pearls. The main export partners are Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and the USA. Qatar imports machinery, vehicles, foodstuffs, chemical products, raw materials for the metallurgical industry. The main import partners are France, Japan, USA, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, South Korea.

In 2002-2003, government revenues amounted to $ 5 billion, government spending - $ 5.5 billion. External debt reaches $ 16.2 billion. The monetary unit is the Qatari rial (in 2003 the exchange rate was 3.64 rials per 1 USD)

The length of motor roads is 1230 km (of which 1107 are hard-surfaced). They link Qatar with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The total length of oil and gas pipelines reaches 2,050 km.

Most of the cargo transportation is carried out by the merchant fleet, numbering 22 vessels of various types (with a displacement of more than 1000 gross register tons each) with a total displacement of 525 thousand gross register tons. The main ports are Umm Said and Doha. There are four airports (including 2 with paved lanes), of which one is international in Doha. There is also 1 helicopter airport.

Qatar is one of the countries with modern communications. 176.5 thousand telephone lines and 267.2 thousand mobile phones are in use. Its own satellite system allows receiving radio and television programs from abroad, there is an automatic international telex communication system. There are 12 radio stations and 1 television station (Qatar Television Service), the population owns 260 thousand radios and 230 thousand televisions. There is an Internet service with approx. 70 thousand users.

Several daily and weekly newspapers are published, mostly in Arabic. The largest circulations are in Al-Sharq (Vostok, 40,000 copies), Ar-Raya (Banner, 25,000), Al-Arab (20,000), Gulf Times ”(In English, 15 thousand),“ Al-Uroba ”(“ Arabism ”, 12 thousand).

History.

The territory of Qatar has been inhabited since ancient times. The country was mentioned by the ancient Roman historian Pliny the Elder (1st century). Archaeological finds in the region show that in 4–2 millennia BC. these lands were under the influence of the kingdoms of Dilmun, whose center was in Bahrain, and Magan (presumably in the area of modern Oman). The inhabitants were engaged in the cultivation of grain crops, smelting copper and intensive trade exchange with Sumer, Akkad, Babylonia and Assyria. In the 6th century. BC. Qatar and the surrounding territories were seized by the Persian state; in the following centuries, the states that ruled modern Iraq and Iran alternately established their domination over them. In the 4th century. small principalities of the Persian Gulf became dependent on Sassanian Iran. In the 7th century. Islam spread in the region, and Qatar became part of the Arab Caliphate. As a result of the collapse of the caliphate at the end of the 10th century. the Ismaili state of the Carmatians with its capital in Bahrain arose, but already in the 11th century. it fell. Qatar became the target of a fierce struggle between the Baghdad Caliphate and Oman, and the region was severely devastated. In the 13th century. Qatar was torn apart by the internecine wars of the Arab rulers, and in 1320 was conquered by Sheikh Hormuz. In the 1470s, he regained de facto independence, but had to pay a small tribute to the Ottoman Empire.

In the 1510s, the Portuguese took possession of Qatar, but in 1536 they were expelled by the Turkish fleet. Other European powers - England and Holland - tried to interfere in the struggle for power in the region. In 1623, Anglo-Persian forces forced Portugal to leave Hormuz, and then all territories in the Persian Gulf. In the 17th and 18th centuries. the area was under the rule of Oman, who expelled the Persians.

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries. power over Qatar passed to the tribes ruled by the Al-Khalifa dynasty. Its sheikhs managed to conquer Bahrain. In the future, they had to cede control of Qatar to the Al-Thani family, but they did not abandon their intention to regain the peninsula. In turn, al-Thani adopted a new radical version of Islam - Wahhabism.

The spread of Wahhabism in Arabia prompted new interventions by Great Britain and the Ottoman Empire. In 1818-1820 Great Britain managed to establish its presence in the region, and in 1868, taking advantage of the conflict between Bahrain and Qatar, the British authorities dictated an unequal treaty to Qatar. However, in 1871 the country was captured by the Ottoman Empire and came under the rule of the Turkish governor.

Sheikh Qasem of the Al-Thani clan (since 1878) managed to unite the warring tribes and pursue a relatively independent policy. At the beginning of the 20th century. The Qataris managed to repel the threat from the Wahhabi Nej only thanks to British support. In July 1913, Great Britain finally succeeded in getting the Ottoman Empire to agree to neutralize Qatar, and during the First World War, on November 3, 1916, she forced the ruler of Qatar to sign a treaty establishing a British protectorate. In 1934 the treaty was renewed.

Great Britain exercised military control over Qatar, was in charge of foreign relations, and benefited from the extraction of pearls and sponges. In 1940, oil production began, interrupted during the Second World War. Since 1947, oil production has been carried out by the Petroleum Development Company of Qatar, and since 1952 by the subsidiary Qatar Petroleum Company. In 1960, the British company Shell-Kata, which had a long-term concession in the territorial waters of Qatar, began developing an offshore oil field.

In the 1930s, tribes of the interior regions of Qatar revolted. In the 1950s – 1960s, anti-colonial sentiments began to grow in the region. Since 1964, an underground Organization for National Struggle has been operating in Qatar, and in the early 1970s, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman and the Arabian Gulf. In an effort to change the methods of its influence, Great Britain went in 1961 to transfer a third of the Qatar Petroleum concession area to the country's ruler, Sheikh Ahmed Al Thani (1960-1971). In 1968, the British authorities prompted the rulers of Bahrain, Qatar and the future UAE to agree on the creation of a federation of principalities, but negotiations between them in 1968-1969 revealed deep divisions between Qatar and Abu Dhabi. September 1, 1971 Qatar proclaimed its independence. Sheikh Ahmed became the first emir (1971-1972).

In February 1972, as a result of a bloodless coup, power was seized by the monarch's cousin, Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani (1972-1995). In 1974, the State General Petroleum Corporation was created to exploit oil and gas fields and control the activities of foreign firms engaged in the oil and gas production and oil and gas processing industries. In 1975 the government of Qatar bought out the capital of the concessionaires. Oil refining has been carried out in the country since 1974.

In domestic politics, all power in the state was concentrated in the hands of the emir and the ruling dynasty. Foreign policy Qatar was oriented, first of all, towards cooperation with the states of the region. During the Iranian-Iraqi war of 1980-1988, he supported Iraq, and during the Gulf War in 1990-1991 (after the Iraqi seizure of Kuwait) he took an active part in the US-led coalition. Plays an active role in expanding Arab-Israeli economic ties, organizing meetings as part of the Arab-Israeli peace process and exchanging small trade missions with Israel.

Qatar in the late 20th century - early 21st century

In June 1995, as a result of another bloodless coup, the Emir Khalifa was replaced by his son Hamad Al Thani. Under him, the country began to play an important role both at the regional level and in the international arena.

The new monarch as a whole retained the previous system of government, but took some measures to renew it. He expanded the composition of the Advisory Council and created a commission to draft a permanent constitution. In 1996, the post of Prime Minister was established, in March 1999 and April 2003, popular elections were held to the Central Municipal Council with deliberative functions, whose activities are aimed at improving governance at the municipal level. In 2001, Qatar settled border disputes with Bahrain about the maritime border and ownership of Hawar Island (the International Court in The Hague recognized it as Bahrain) and with Saudi Arabia.

In 1996 the influential TV network Al Jazeera was created with several channels. This allowed Qatar to become one of the media leaders.

On April 29, 2003, a referendum was held in Qatar on the draft of the country's permanent constitution. 96.6% of Qatari voters voted for the new constitution.

Qatar is a political ally of the United States.

In June 2013, Emir Hamad Al Thani announced his abdication of the throne in favor of his son, Prince Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, a decision that could be based on several reasons: health problems and a political course that caused discontent both outside and inside the country.