Information Manual
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0 INDEX I. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATE OF QATAR (2) II. NATIONAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (13) III. MILITARY AIDES-DE-CAMP , DIPLOMATIC & VOLUNTEERS (18) IV. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PREPERATION (20) V. ACCOMMODATION (23) VI TRANSPORTATION (24) VII. ACCREDITATION (25) VIII. SECURITY (28) IX. COMMUNICATIONS AND COMPUTER SERVICES (31) X. THE PRESS (32) XI. HEALTHCARE SERVICES (35) DIRECTORY PLAN Appendix I FORMS AND APPLICATIONS Appendix II 1 I. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATE OF QATAR Location The State of Qatar is located in the middle of the western coast of the Arabian Gulf, east of the Arabian Peninsula, between latitudes (27-24 and 10-26 degrees north) and longitudes (45-50 and 40-51 degrees east).The State of Qatar is a peninsula that extends northward and covers an area of 11,521 square kilometers. Topography The State of Qatar consists generally of flat rocky surfaces. However, some hills and sand dunes which reach an altitude of 40 meters above sea level can be found in the areas of Dukhan and Jebel Fuwairit in the western and the northern parts of the country. The surface of Qatar includes a number of geographical features to the west coast of the Arabian Gulf. Mainly found in the north and central parts of the State, such phenomenon include coves and inlets together with depressions and surface rainwater-draining basins known as Al-Riyadh. The northern and central regions of the country are considered the most suitable areas for agricultural enterprises because of the fertile land and the natural and seasonal vegetation. Climate The State of Qatar has a desert climate consisting of a hot summer and relatively warm winter. Summer temperatures range between 25 and 46 degrees centigrade. Rainfall in the winter is minimal and rarely exceeds 75.2mm per year. Ancestry The people of Qatar are the descendents of ancient Arabian tribes which migrated from remote areas at different times starting from the 7th century until 19th century AD. Population The current population of Qatar is estimated at about 743,000 people with an expected annual increase of 3.5% and approximately 83% of them live in the capital city Doha and its suburb Al Rayan. 2 Religion & Language Islam is the official religion of Qatar. The official language of the country is Arabic but English is also widely used. National Anthem Swearing by God who erected the sky Swearing by God who spread the light Qatar will always be free Sublimed by the souls of the sincere Proceed thou on the manners of the ascendants And advance on the Prophet’s guidance In my heart, Qatar is an epic of glory and dignity Qatar is the land of the early men Who protect us at time of distress, Doves they can be in times of peace, Warriors they are in times of sacrifice. Meaning of the words of the Qatari National Anthem: The new Anthem for the State of Qatar was adopted on December 7th 1996, upon the accession to the throne of H.H. the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The first part of the Anthem starts with an oath and urges citizens of Qatar to remain committed to tread the path of their forefathers who were honorable, respectable, knowledgeable, religious and empowered by wisdom and vision. They are also urged to follow the guidance of the prophets and their preaching about righteousness, good deeds and beauty. In the second and final part, the anthem affirms that the Qatari men of today are the defenders of its land and dignity, that they are the descendants of the ancestors who defended their country in the past. The anthem closes by reaffirming that Qatar will remain free, dignified, glorious and noble. Flag of the State of Qatar The national flag of the State of Qatar is a vertically divided maroon and white flag with a 9 point serrated line where the two colors meet. 3 The Al Thani Family The Al Thani family’s presence in the Qatar peninsular dates from the eighteenth century when they arrived from the Gerbin oasis in the south of Nejd. The family is named after Sheikh Thani bin Mohamed, the father of Sheikh Mohamed bin Al Thani who was first to rule the peninsula in the middle of the nineteenth century. The Al Thani family is a branch of the Arab tribe of Beni Tameem who descend from Mudhar bin Nizar. Al Thani Rulers - Sheikh Mohamed bin Thani (1850 - 1878) - Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed Al Thani (1878 - 1913) - Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani (1913 - 1940) - Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani (1940 - 1948) - Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani * (1948 - 1949) - Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani (1949 - 1960) - Sheikh Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani (1960 - 1972) - Sheikh Khalifah bin Hamad Al Thani (1972 - 995) - Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifah Al Thani (1995 - present) * Note: Although Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani sidestepped in favor of his son, Hamad bin Abdulla, he became Emir again in 1948 after his son died, and continued until his death in 1949. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifah Al Thani came to power in Qatar on the 27th of June 1995 after a pledge of allegiance and support by the ruling Al Thani family and the noble people of Qatar. Profile of H.H. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifah Al Thani Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani became the new Emir of the State of Qatar on June 27th 1995, continuing the rule of the Al Thani’s which had begun nearly two centuries earlier. Sheikh Hamad was born in Doha in 1952 where he attended primary and secondary schools. He graduated in July 1971 from the British Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He then joined the Qatari Armed Forces and went through several military ranks until he was promoted to the rank of Major-General and was appointed Commander-In-Chief of 4 the Armed Forces. He oversaw an extensive program to modernize Qatar’s military, increasing manpower, creating new units, updating weaponry and improving training. His Highness the Emir, himself a keen sportsman and accomplished diver, is the sponsor of civilian sports in Qatar. He has given a lot of support to the youth and sports sector out of his belief in the significance of the role played by this vital sector in the process of building and developing a prosperous society. His Highness plays a very important role in putting forward and implementing many successful policies which have resulted in cooperation and friendly relations with most countries of the world. He has sponsored many conferences on a variety of subjects, taken part in numerous Arab and Gulf conferences and has paid visits to many countries. He continues to work hard to develop the countries wealth and to achieve welfare and prosperity for the Qatari people. Throughout his relatively short term of office, the country has achieved a number of goals in the development of political, economic, social and cultural standards which enable the State of Qatar to proceed with confidence in their shared future. Important Cities & Villages City of Doha Doha is the capital city and is located in the middle of the eastern coast of the Qatar Peninsula. Doha constitutes an important cultural and commercial center and includes a large commercial sea port and a modern international airport connecting it with all the destinations of the world. More than half of Qatar’s population live in Doha. The focus of the semi circular shaped city is undoubtedly the Corniche, a 7 km costal path along which many of the key buildings are located, including the Emiri Diwan (Royal Palace), several ministries and three of the main hotels. City of Mesaieed Mesaieed Industrial City is about 40 km south of Doha and was established in 1996. MIC contains a varied base of industries including crude oil, hydrocarbon products, petrochemicals, iron and steel as well as light and support industries. Mesaieed Port serves the import and export needs of various products 24 hours a day. City of Ras Laffan Ras Laffan is the most recent industrial city in Qatar. It is approximately 80 km north of Doha and covers an area of 106 square km. About 6500 officials and workers are employed there, making it one of the largest industrial cities in the world. 5 Al Khor Al Khor is a small costal town 57 km north of Doha. It is best known as a fishing town and for its ancient mosques and wind towers. It also has a regional museum which exhibits the antique and historical artifacts of Al Khor. Al Wakrah Al Wakrah is a small town located halfway between Doha and Mesaieed. It has an old fishing port which is still in use today and is famous for its fine mosques and many houses which reflect the old Islamic architectural style. There is also a museum displaying among other things traditional Arabic style doors. Dukhan Dukhan is located on the western coast of the State of Qatar. It has gained special attention since the discovery of oil in the surrounding fields. The city is characterized by its fascinating seashore. The city is about 84 km away from Doha. Madinat Al Shamal Madinat Al Shamal is located on the coast in the far west of the country and functions as an administrative center for a number of costal villages. Al Zubarah Al Zubarah is situated 100 km west of Doha. It is an important archeological site famous for its old fort. This fort turned museum was constructed in 1938 on the ruins of a neighboring fort. Qatar throughout History Ancient Times The first signs of human habitation in the Qatar peninsula date from 4000 BC.