The State of Qatar:

The State of Qatar gained its independence in 1971.  Shortly afterwares, the country joined both The League of Arab States and The United Nations.  The Capital City of Qatar is Doha.  Local time is: +3 hours (GMT)

Location and Topography:

Qatar is a peninsula located in the Arabian Gulf region, halfway down the west coast of the Arabian Gulf. Its terrain is flat and rocky and is characterized by a variety of geographical phenomena, including many coves, inlets, depressions and surface rainwater-draining basins known as �the gardens.�  The total land area of Qatar is approximately 11,521 square kilometers.

Climate and Weather:

The best time to visit Qatar is October through April.  During this time temperatures are at their mildest.  September and May are tolerable, but can be hot.  Most rain falls in the winter months in sudden, short but heavy cloudbursts.  Take a sweater for evenings year-round.

Population:

The population of Qatar (2007) is estimated at approximately 948,000, compared to 522,000 inhabitants registered in the census conducted in 1997.  82% of inhabitants reside in Doha and its suburbs.

Life in Qatar:

Life in Qatar has always been associated with the sea and the desert.  Both were the source of livelihood for Qataris since  ancient times when life was all hardship.  Today, the desert and the sea still remain the source of livelihood, but also of pleasure and entertainment.

The sea and the desert are the backbone of tourism in Qatar: the sea with its warm waters and cozy beaches and the desert with its mystique and natural and man-made grandeur. 

In recent years, the government began to give increased attention to tourism and as a result, the Tourism Authority was set up.  The hotel and convention industry has undergone a huge boom, and Qatar has come to host a number of international conferences.

Economy:

Qatar enjoys one of the most active economies in the Middle East.  The cornerstone of Qatar�s economy is the exploitation of its hydrocarbon resources.  Since the mid 1980�s, there has been a major breakthrough in the economic situation, with the discovery of the world�s largest known non-associated offshore gas field in Qatar territory.  This has placed the country Third in terms of world natural gas reserves.

In addition to being a major oil and gas producer and exporter, Qatar also boasts a diversified and fast-expanding industrial sector with a variety of heavy, medium and light industries concentrated in the country�s main industrial areas.

More recently, new economic and market liberalization policies have been adopted to consolidate and expand foreign and private sector involvement in the economy.  A number of new measures and laws have been introduced, including the setting up of the Doha Securities Market.