Qatar Facts and Figures1 Location: Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia Area: 11,586 sq km (4,473 sq mi) Border Countries: Saudi Arabia, 60 km (37 mi) Natural Hazards: Haze, dust storms, sandstorms common Climate Arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers Environment—Current Issues: Limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities. Population: 840,296 (July 2010 est.) Median Age: 30.8 years (2010 est.) Population Growth Rate: 0.957% (2010 est.) Life Expectancy at Birth: 75.51 years (2010 est.) HIV/AIDS (people living with): NA 1 Information in this section comes from the following source: Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook. “Qatar.” 29 September 2010. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/qa.html 1 © Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center Nationality: Noun: Qatari(s) Adjective: Qatari Sex Ratio: At birth: 1.056 male(s)/female Under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 2.44 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.36 male(s)/female Total population: 1.999 male(s)/female (2010 est.) Ethnic Groups: Arab 40%, Indian 18%, Pakistani 18%, Iranian 10%, Other 14% Religions: Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, Other 14% (2004 census) Languages: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language Literacy: Definition: Persons age 15 and over who can read and write Total population: 89% Male: 89.1% Female: 88.6% (2004 census) Country Name: Conventional long form: State of Qatar Conventional short form: Qatar Local long form: Dawlat Qatar Local short form: Qatar Note: Closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between “cutter” and “gutter,” but not like “guitar.” Government Type: Emirate Capital: Name: Doha Administrative Divisions: 10 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah (Doha), Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Sa'id, Umm Salal Independence: 3 September 1971 (from the United Kingdom) 2 © Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center National Holiday: 3 September 1971, Independence Day18 December, National Day (anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne) Constitution: Ratified by public referendum 29 April 2003, endorsed by Emir 8 June 2004, effective 9 June 2005 Legal System: Based on Islamic and civil law codes; discretionary system of law controlled by Emir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters; has not accepted compulsory International Court of Justice jurisdiction. Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Government: Chief of State: Emir Hamad bin Kalifa Al-Thani (since 27 June 1995 when, as Heir Apparent, ousted father, Emir Khalifa bin Hamad Al- Thani, in a bloodless coup); Heir Apparent Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, fourth son of Emir (selected as Heir Apparent Emir 5 August 2003; note – Emir Hamad also holds the positions of Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces) Head of Government: Prime Minister Hamad bin Jasim bin Jabir Al- Thani (since 3 April 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah bin Hamad al-Atiyah (since 3 April 2007) Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the Emir. Elections: The Emir is hereditary. Note: In April 2007, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council (CMC), which has limited consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services; the first election for the CMC was held in March 1999. Legislative Branch: Unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed) Note: No legislative elections have been held since 1970, when there were partial elections to the body. Council members have had their terms extended every year since the new constitution came into force 9 June 2005. The constitution provides for a new 45-member Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura: 30 to be elected by the public, and 15 to be appointed by the Emir. In June 2010, the Emir extended the terms of the current Advisory Council members to 20 June 2013. Judicial Branch: Courts of First Instance, Appeal, and Cassation; an Administrative Court and a Constitutional Court were established in 2007; note - all judges are appointed to renewable three-year terms by Emiri decree based on the recommendation of the Supreme Judiciary Council . 3 © Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center International Organization Participation: Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development , Arab Monetary Fund, Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (observer), Food and Agriculture Organization , Group of 77, Gulf Cooperation Council, International Atomic Energy Agency, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Civil Aviation Organization, International Chamber of Commerce, International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, International Development Association, Islamic Development Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development, International Finance Corporation, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International Hydrographic Organization, International Labor Organization, International Monetary Fund, International Maritime Organization, International Mobil Satellite Organization, International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), International Olympic Committee, International Organization for Migration (observer), Inter-parliamentary Union, International Organization for Standardization, International Telecommunications Satellites Organization, International Telecommunication Union, League of Arab States, Multilateral Investment Geographic Agency, Nonaligned Movement, Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, Organization of American States (observer), Organization of the Islamic Conference, Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Permanent Court of Arbitration, United Nations, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, World Tourism Organization, Universal Postal Union, World Customs Organization, World Federation of Trade Unions, World Health Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization, World Meteorological Organization, World Trade Organization. GDP—Real Growth Rate: 9.5% (2009 est.) GDP—Composition by Sector: Agriculture: 0.1% Industry: 68.41% Services: 31.5% (2009 est.) Telephones: Main Lines in Use: 263,400 (2008) Mobile Cellular:1.683 million (2008) Broadcast Media: Television and radio broadcast media are state controlled. Home of the satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera, originally owned and financed by the Qatari Government. Al-Jazeera claims editorial independence in broadcasting; transmissions of several international broadcasters are accessible on FM in Doha (2007). Internet Users: 436,000 (2008) Airports: 6 (2010) 4 © Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center Airports—With Paved Runways: Total: 4 Over 3,047 m (1.89 mi): 3 1,524 to 2,437 m (0.95 to 1.51 mi): 1 Airports—With Unpaved Runways: Total: 2 914 to 1,523 m (0.57 to 0.95 mi): 1 Under 914 m (0.57 mi): 1 (2010) Military Branches: Qatari Emiri Land Force (QALF); Qatari Emiri Navy (QAN); Qatari Emiri Air Force (QAAF) (2009) Military Service Age and Obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010) International Disputes: None Trafficking in Persons: Current situation: Qatar is a destination country for men and women from South and Southeast Asia who migrate willingly, but are subsequently trafficked into involuntary servitude as domestic workers, laborers, and, to a lesser extent, commercial sexual exploitation. The most common offense was forcing workers to accept worse contract terms than those under which they were recruited. Other conditions include bonded labor, withholding of pay, restrictions on movement, arbitrary detention, and physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - The Government of Qatar does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. In February 2009, Qatar enacted a new migrant worker sponsorship law that criminalizes some practices commonly used by trafficking offenders, and announced plans to use that law effectively to prevent human trafficking. Punishment for offenses related to trafficking in persons remains lower than that for crimes such as rape and kidnapping, and the Qatari government has yet to take significant action to investigate, prosecute, and punish trafficking offenses. The government continues to lack formal victim identification procedures and, as a result, victims of trafficking are likely punished for acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked (2009). 5 © Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center .