QATAR
Table of contents
GEOGRAPHY
Qatar is a peninsula in the east of Arabia, bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia, in a strategic location near major petroleum deposits. Qatar occupies 11,437 km2 (4,416 sq mi) on a peninsula that extends approximately to 160 km (99 mi) north into the Persian Gulf from the Arabian Peninsula.
Varying in width between 55 and 90 km (34 and 56 mi), the land is mainly flat (the highest point is 103 m (338 ft)) and rocky. Notable features include coastal salt pans, elevated limestone formations (the Dukhan anticline) along the west coast under which lies the Dukhan oil field, and massive sand dunes surrounding Khawr al Udayd, an inlet of the Persian Gulf in the southeast known to local English speakers as the Inland Sea.
HISTORY
Qatar is one of several emirates that emerged in the 20th century on the Arabian peninsula. After being dominated for thousands of years by the Persians and, more recently, by Bahrain, the Ottomans and the British, it became independent on 3 September 1971. One of the most important moments in the history of Qatar in this period was that of March 1893 with the Battle of Al Wajbah: although Qatar did not achieve full independence from the Ottoman Empire, the result of the battle is considered a decisive moment in the creation of Qatar as a modern state and a salient period for the end of Ottoman rule in the country. And, obviously, another important moment of this period, is the unification of Qatar on December 18, 1878 under the sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed al-Thani, founder of Qatar: today the event is celebrated with the national day of Qatar.
INDEPENDENCE
Unlike most of the neighboring emirates, Qatar has refused to become part of Saudi Arabia despite the common Wahabbite orientation of their Islamic faith or the United Arab Emirates.
DIPLOMATIC CRISIS WITH THE MONARCHIES OF THE GULF
On 5 June 2017, in a coordinated move, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and other Muslim countries such as the Maldives, broke relations with Qatar, accusing him of supporting fundamentalist groups such as Hamas, of supporting Iranian destabilization of the region, and of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. The isolation of Qatar involves the application of economic sanctions and the expulsion of Qatari citizens from the Gulf countries.
SOCIAL CULTURE AND RELIGION
Qatar is a country that has managed to harmoniously combine tradition and modernity. For several years it has been experiencing a situation of political and economic equilibrium that has allowed civil society to make great progress in the field of economics and human rights. The Emirate of Qatar has now initiated a progressive process of political openness and modernization of culture and policies related to women’s emancipation.
The 85% of the population are Muslims. Qatar’s new national museum: Inspired by the desert rose. The Arabian desert state opened its spectacular new Jean Nouvel-designed national museum in Doha this week. It’s part of an extensive plan to transform the small Gulf nation into a cultural superpower.
The country has given special attention on the education and their young generation is getting more and more education. Public health services and education are provided free by the state through the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, which also provides help to orphans, widows, and other Qatari nationals in need of assistance.Both law and Islamic customs closely restrict the activities of Qatari women, who are largely limited to roles within the home. Women are not allowed to obtain a driver’s license without the permission of her husband. Shari’ah law governs inheritance and child custody matters and favors men. However, growing numbers of woman are receiving government scholarships to study abroad, and some women work in education, medicine, and the media. Women comprise two-thirds of the student body at Qatar University. Although domestic violence occurs, it is not a widespread problem. Non-Muslims and Shi’a Muslims experience discrimination in employment and education. They are also unable to bring suits as plaintiffs in Shari’ah courts. Noncitizens make up 75% of the workforce yet are discriminated against and sometimes mistreated. A constitutional committee convened in 1999 to draft a permanent constitution that would allow for parliamentary elections. Corporal punishment is allowed by law, although amputation is not. In 1995, an American received 90 lashes for alleged homosexual activities.
POLITICS
Qatar has an emirate -type government. Qatar claims that it is developing into a constitutional monarchy but it doesnt allow political parties nor hold elections on a national level yet.Suffrage is currently limited to municipal elections (for both males and females aged 18 years or more). Expatriate residents are excluded, as are the vast number of residents who are prevented from applying for citizenship. The elected Municipal Council has no executive powers but may offer advice to the Minister.
Qatar is divided into ten municipalities,also occasionally or rarely translated as governorates or provinces:
- Ad Dawhah
- Al Ghuwariyah
- Al Jumaliyah
- Al Khawr
- Al Wakrah
- Ar Rayyan
- Jariyan al Batnah
- Ash Shamal
- Umm Salal
- Mesaieed
- Politics and diplomacy
Qatar is an emirate (absolute hereditary monarchy de facto), governed by the Al Thani royal family, which has ruled the state since 1825. Having become independent of the United Kingdom in 1971, it launched a provisional constitution the following year. After the 2003 constitutional referendum, it became formally a constitutional monarchy that provides for the direct election of 30 of the 45 members of the Consultative Assembly while 15 are chosen by the Emir. The first elections have been postponed several times; in fact, power is concentrated in the hands of the Emir. Political parties are not permitted. Executive power is exercised by the Council of Ministers (Shura), whose members are appointed by the head of state, the Emir, who also acts as head of the government. The judicial system is composed of civil and criminal courts; the courts, administered according to Shari’a Islamic law, have limited jurisdiction. Around a quarter of the state budget is allocated for military expenses. The largest US air base in the Middle East, in Al Udeid, is located in the country, with around 8,000 military personnel; from here the American airplanes that attack the Islamic state installed between Syria and Iraq depart. This says a lot about training with the US.
ECONOMY
- GDP: US$167.6 billion
- Annual Growth: 3,10%
- Inflation: 0,23%
- Major Industries:
- Petrochemicals,
- Financial Services,
- Construction
- Major trading partners: Japan, US, UK, Singapore, South Korea, Italy, Germany, UAE, France, Saudi Arabia
- Exchange rate: 1 rial qatariano uguale a 0,25 euro
The economy of the country is strong as it is rich with natural oil and gas. This country is peaceful, so there are enough chances for the industrialists and entrepreneurs to develop their businesses. It is going to become the big business hub in coming years. The government is focusing its attention on setting up of Qatar Science and technology park, Qatar airways and growth of Doha. Global construction sector currently driven by infrastructure spending as commercial property undergoes correction.Demand outlook for Qatar’s construction sector shows signs of improvement with increasing optimism on new orders.Profitability levels are expected to stay muted due to higher raw material costs.While income from oil, currently produced at around 800,000 barrels per day, accounts for most of the government’s revenue, Qatar’s future economy will depend increasingly on gas.
The main economic resource is represented by the oil on which the wealth of the country is based. The first deposits were discovered in the 40s and the marketing of crude began ten years later. In 1974, the government founded Qatar General Petroleum Corporation, a body that controls oil resources, previously managed by western companies. The Qatari member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), but announced its intention to leave the organization as of January 2019. A further resource is also made up of natural gas deposits; in fact, in the North West Dome are the largest deposits of natural gas not associated with oil in the world. The agricultural sector has relevance only at the local level and employs about 3% of the workforce. Projects are being studied to improve irrigation systems and increase agricultural production to ensure food self-sufficiency, achieved at the end of the 1990s only for fruit and vegetables. The most important sector remains that of sheep farming (mostly goats, sheep, dromedaries and cattle are bred). Also noteworthy is the fishing that is able to completely satisfy the internal needs, also guaranteeing excess for export. The government uses currency revenues to obtain oil concessions to finance the country’s industrial development. In addition to refining oil, the most important manufacturing industries produce cement, fertilizers and steel. The monetary unit is the Qatar Riyal (QAR), subdivided into 100 dirhams and linked to the US dollar at a fixed rate ($ 1 = 3.64 QAR). The central issuing institution is the Qatar Monetary Agency. Foreign trade is mainly carried out with Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany and for about 90% it concerns oil and products derived from them.
The emirate has had its own stock market since 1997, the Doha Securities Market.