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Executive
branch:
chief
of state:
Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani (since 27 June 1995 when, as
crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad al-Thani,
in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince TAMIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa
al-Thani, third son of the monarch (selected Heir Apparent by
the monarch on 5 August 2003); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the
positions of Minister of Defense and Commander-in-chief of the
Armed Forces
head of government: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa
al-Thani, brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996); Deputy
Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani, brother of the
monarch (since 20 January 1998); First Deputy Prime Minister
HAMAD bin JASIM bin JABIR al-Thani (since 16 September 2003;
also Foreign Minister since 1992); Second Deputy Prime Minister
Abdallah bin Hamad al-ATTIYAH (since 16 September 2003; also
Energy Minister since NA 1992)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
note: in April 2003, Qatar held nationwide elections for
a 29-member Central Municipal Council (CMC), which has
consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of
municipal services; the first election for the CMC was held in
March 1999
Capital:
Doha
Population:
863,051
(July 2007 est.)
Languages:
Arabic
(official), English commonly used as a second language
Location:
Middle
East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Climate:
arid;
mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Land
boundaries:
total:
60 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km
Background:
Ruled
by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed
itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for
pearling into an independent state with significant oil and
natural gas revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the
Qatari economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of
petroleum revenues by the amir, who had ruled the country since
1972. His son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani,
overthrew him in a bloodless coup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar
resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and
Saudi Arabia. Oil and natural gas revenues enable Qatar to have
one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.
Administrative divisions:
10 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad
Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar
Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Sa'id, Umm
Salal
International
organization participation:
ABEDA,
AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB,
IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA,
NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
GDP
(purchasing power parity):
$22.47 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing
power parity - $26,000 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by
sector:
agriculture:
0.2%
industry: 81%
services: 18.8% (2007 est.)
Agriculture
- products:
fruits,
vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish
Industries:
crude
oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers,
petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship
repair
By
the
Courtesy of World
Fact Book - Qatar and
Wikipedia
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