QATAR Location: Southwest Asia Borders: East, North and West: The Arabian/Persian Gulf Study of a Nation Population: About 2.13 Millions South West: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Government Geography Natural Hazards History Qatar is an absolute monarchy State that had  Qatar is in south west Qatar faces the lowest risk of natural hazards or  20000-9500 BC: Evidence of early habitation in been under the rule of the Al-Thani family since Asia. It is a small desert disasters in Qatar was traced as far back as the Mesolithic or the mid – 1800s. Direct popular elections are Peninsula surrounded by the the world, according to Middle Stone Age era. confined to selecting 30 of the 45 member Arabian Gulf (563 km) a new United Nations 8000 – 5000 BC: Artifacts found clearly indicate report that examines unicameral Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura) except in the south-west group dwelling in Qatar. Some of these artifacts 173 countries. based on the 2003 constitutional referendum. bordering Saudi Arabia for a included inscriptions, rock carvings, flint • Sand & dust storms: The Emir is not subjected to any election cycle 60 km (45 miles) land access. Qatar experiences 2 spearheads and examples of pottery and because his position is hereditary. Area: 11,586 sq km, slightly sandstorms on average domestic tools. Emir Tamim bin Hamad smaller than Connecticut. per year. Every about  2500 - 500 BC: Small towns and burial mounds al-Thani (Since 25 June 2013)  Land Boundaries: 60 km with Saudi Arabia. 5 years a massive sandstorm covers the had been found dating back to about 500 B.C. at At age 33 became the  Maritime Claim: 12 nautical miles entire country. Caution for asthmatic Wusail, twenty kilometers north of Doha. The youngest ruler of a State in  Climate: Harsh, dry desert with high people should be taken very seriously due to Qatar Peninsula was close enough to the Dilmun extremely fine dust particles that linger in the air civilization (ca. 4000 to 2000 B.C.) in Bahrain to the world. Was handed temperature extremes. Very hot and humid costal for up to 3 days or more. have felt its influence power by his father. lines. Very mild and pleasant winters. • Sun-strokes: About 15 people die a year due to  300 BC – 1500 AD: The peninsula was used Conventional Long Name: State of Qatar – Dawlat  Annual Rainfall: Very little rain falls in Qatar, major cases of dehydration that is usually caused almost continuously as rangeland for nomadic .(annual accumulation is about 7.63 cm (3.1 inches دولة قطر Qatar by exposure to tribes from today’s Saudi Arabia, with seasonal Local Short Name: Qatar Language: Arabic . Temperature AVGs: lengthy periods under encampments around sources of water. In Capital: Doha (Population: 250 Thousands) Summer: 109°F Fall & Spring: 74°F Winter: 50°F the intense sun rays. addition, fishing and pearling settlements were Between JUN & SEP the Doha municipality is the largest, about 450K.  Terrain: Mostly desert plateau. Highest point established on those parts of the coast near a Administrative Divisions: 10 Baladiyaat (sing. temperature could is Tuwayyir al Hamir 103 m (338 ft) & the lowest major well. Baladiyah) or municipalities make up the State of exceed 130ᵒ F under the point is at 0 m straddling most of the costal  629 – 1258 AD: In 629 AD, the king of Qatar Qatar. sun. Even camels seek boundaries. shelter during such days. (Al-Munthir bin Sawi) received a letter from the Municipalities  Agriculture: The region known as Qatar today Extreme caution is advised. Avoid direct sun Prophet Muhammad and he accepted Islam and 1 Ad-Dawhah had been placing a great importance on exposure & drink lots of water. so did most of his people. The Islamic Abbasid State out of Baghdad ruled over Qatar until 1258. 2 Al-Ghuwayriah agriculture and fishing for centuries. Politics: 3 Al-Jumayliyah Qatar is a member of:  1258 – 1517 AD: Qatar was governed by Long before the late different Muslim rulers until the Portuguese 4 Al-Khawr •Arab League of Nations •Arab Organization discovery of oil and occupied portion of it in 1517. 5 Al-Wakrah of Petroleum Exporting Countries (AOPEC) Natural gas, different  1517 -1532 AD: Qataris were in constant 6 Ash-Shamal • Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) •International Governments and rebellions against the Portuguese until the 7 Ar-Rayyan tribes promoted Court of Justice (ICJ) • IMF Ottoman Islamic State out of Istanbul Turkey 8 Jaryan Al-Batinah self sufficiency for •Organization Islamic Cooperation (OIC) helped defeat and drive the Portuguese out. 9 Umm Saīd their population •Organization of Petroleum Exporting by supporting small-scale farming close to the Countries (OPEC) •World Bank (WB) •WHO Recent History 10 Umm Salal  1868: Qatar under Sheikh Mohammed Bin centers of activity. About 50% of tomatoes ,  Strong U.S. Qatari Relations: Qatar was a Executive Branch: The Emir is the absolute ruler lettuce & greens are produced domestically. Qatar Thani chose to sever relation with the Ottoman member of the U.S. lead Coalition to oust the of Qatar. His Cabinet acts as an advisory body on has become self sufficient in producing eggs and Islamic State and commit itself to a British Iraqi forces out of Kuwait in Operation Desert domestic & international affairs. has reached 80% in poultry. Recently, Qatar has protection arrangement. Cabinet: Consists of Council of Ministers embarked on achieving dairy products self- Shield & Desert Storm. 1916: Qatar & Britain concluded signing a appointed by the monarch with no term limits. sufficiency particularly milk.  Active member in the Global War On Terrorism protection treaty that was finally ratified on the (GWOT) joining with the U.S. efforts. Elections: First semi legislature elections held for  Water: Water sources are limited to rainfall 23 of March 1918 by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Jassim  Active member in supporting Syrian rebels the first time in 2013. and aquifers in most of Qatar. A new 36 million making Qatar a British protectorate. against Syrian regime dictatorship. Legislative Branch: Has very limited authority, all gallons of daily fresh water desalination plant is  1949: 10 years after the discovery of oil, in  Al Udeid Air Force base and other facilities in laws must be approved by the Emir. 15 of the 45 scheduled to be on line in mid to late 2015. 1949 oil started to flow in commercial amounts, members are appointed by the Emir. Qatar serve as logistics, command, and basing and in December in the same year the first ship hubs for the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Judicial Branch: Courts of dispute & commerce, Arable Land: Irrigated Land left the shores of Qatar. Court of cassation, Supreme Constitutional Court area of operations to include operations in  1971: September 3rd Qatar became 1.21% 130 sq km & Judicial Supreme Council (est. in 1999). Afghanistan and other areas of the Middle East. independent State from the British control. QATAR Location: Southwest Asia Borders: East, North and West: The Arabian/Persian Gulf Study of a Nation Population: 2.13 Millions South West: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Religion Regional & Int’l Affairs Greetings: English  Arabic: Numbers Islam is the religion of the State of Qatar, the 2001 – Current: Active participant in OEF and Initiating: Hello  Mar-Ha-ba (informal) 1  WaHad Holy Quran officially is its constitution. Religious was very active in OIF. Member of the GWOR. tolerance of expatriates and respect is expected Response: Hello  Mar-Hab-tain. 2  Ithnain 2011 – Current: Active in supporting Arab by all residents in Qatar. Although churches are 3  Thalatha Spring revolutions where Qatar had been Initiating: Hello  Assalamu ‘Alaikum (formal) allowed in Qatar, proselytization is prohibited 4  Arba’Aa backing the demands of the people in MENA. Response: Hello  Wa ‘Alaikum assalaam. and it could be grounds for deportation. 5  Khamsa 2013 : International Trade Union Confederation Initiating: Good morning  Sabaa-Hil Khair Shahadah: Accepting that Allah is 6  Sit-ta claims the death toll could reach 600 annually Response: Good morning  Sabaa-Hil Khair. the only God and Prophet in preparation for the 2022 World Cup 7  Sab-’aa Muhammad is his messenger. (Soccer) unless Qatar makes urgent reforms. Initiating: Good evening  Massa-il Khair 8  Thaman-ya Qatar contested these claims & assertions. Response: Good evening Massa-inn-noor. 9  Tiss-’aa Salaah (Five daily prayers ): The act 2014: A rift developed between Qatar and 3 Initiating: How are you?  Keef al-Haal? 10  ‘Aasha-ra where a Muslim performs the GCC members States (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain & Response: I’m fine, thanks Ana be-khair, shuk-run. ritual of praying facing Makkah. UAE) where Qatar is accused of supporting Colors peoples’ human and civil rights in other Arab Initiating: Goodbye  Salaam Black: Aswad Blue: Azraq Zakaah (Obligatory Charity): It’s countries. Response: Goodbye  Salaam, or, Allah wee-yaak. Brown: Bonnee Green: Akhdar the act of giving 2.5% of the net Expectations: Self Introduction, English  Arabic: annual savings. About 1.4 million expatriates live in Qatar Pink: Zahree Red: AHmar from about 85 different countries. Majority of My name is CPT Miller  Iss-me in-naqeeb Miller White: AbyaD Yellow: Asfar Ramadaan: Is the name of the the expatriates practice other faiths besides You are welcomed  Ahlan wa sah-lan be-ka Islamic fasting month. Fasting Islam. Tolerance of other faiths is strictly Thanks a lot  Shukran jazeelan Directions starts at early dawn until sunset. enforced and violators could be deported or Please have a seat  Tafa-Dull ijliss imprisoned. Qatar authorities take these North: Shamal South: Janoob Hajj (Pilgrimage): Every able violations very seriously and sometimes they Happy to meet you  Ta-shar-ruff-na East: Sharq West: Gharb Muslim male or female must classify them as National Security threats. See you later  Ilal-lee-qaa perform Hajj once in a lifetime. DOs & DON’Ts Enlisted Ranks: Key Islamic Religious Terms: DOs Vice SGT: Wakeel Raqeeb Quran/Koran: Islam’s Holy book, Allah’s / • Respect the law & values of the locals. • Dress very conservatively. PVT/PV2: God’s revelation to Prophet Muhammad. Jundee SGT: Raqeeb Sunnah: Collective sayings & behavior of • Bring prescriptions for any pain killers. • Expect long & warm hand shakes. the Prophet Muhammed. PFC: 1SG: Raqeeb Aw-well Hadith/Hadeeth: Authentic sayings & • Place hand over heart after shaking. Jundee Aw-well behavior of the Prophet Muhammad. • Handle food & drinks with the right hand. • Give/receive gifts with the right hand. CPL/SPC: Qatar’s Emiri Coat of Arms Shari’ah: Islamic law of jurisprudence. MSG: Ra-ees Roqaba Mosque/Masjid: Muslim house of • Accept coffee/tea (Kahwa/shayy) offerings. ‘Aa-reef Armed Forces Coat of Arms worship. • Remove shoes upon entering a home. [Get your clue from host]. Imam/Imaam: Leader of prayers in a MILITARY OFFICERS RANKS: mosque. Also a notable scholarly jurist. • Remove dark shades when shaking hands. Fatwā: An Islamic legal pronouncement. DON’Ts 2LT: Molaazim 1LT: Molaazim CPT: Naqeeb Madrasah: School, religious or secular. • Use or deal drugs, the penalty is DEATH. Aw-well Jihaad: Exertion of effort for the best. InshaAllah: God willing. Mostly used to • Drink and drive, ZERO tolerance. show intent of doing future actions. • Use the “F” word or cussing. Al-Hamdu-liLaah: All praises are due to • Photograph people before asking. MAJ: Raa-ed LTC: Moqadam COL: ‘Aa-qeed Qatari police God. Mostly used after eating or • Eat, drinking or chew gum in public during ranks mirror drinking. day hours in the month Ramadaan. Yarham-kal-Laah: An expression used • Talk to or approach women. BG: ‘Aameed MG: Lee-waa those of the when someone sneezes, similar to “God • Pass in front of people while praying in Higest Rank military. Bless You.” parks or on the side of a road. in Qatar