Qatar territory area. Qatar is the country of the richest people
Qatar is a state with an impressive modern history. That is why many are interested in where Qatar is located and how it lives. In this article, we will thoroughly get acquainted with the amazing features of this country.
Where is Qatar, on what continent?
The State of Qatar is located on the peninsula of the same name - Qatar. It is located in southwest Asia, in the northeast of the Arabian Peninsula. Therefore, to the question of where the country of Qatar is located, on which mainland, the answer is unequivocal: in Eurasia, in the Middle East.
The state of Qatar is surrounded by the Persian Gulf on three sides of the world, only in the south is its land border with Saudi Arabia. The country has maritime border lines with the United Arab Emirates and the islands of Bahrain.
Let's mention where the country of Qatar is located according to geographical coordinates: 25 ° 30' north latitude, 51 ° 15' east longitude.
Geography and climate
Here is a brief infogram-table. It should be of interest to those who want to know where Qatar is located, as well as other detailed information about this country.
Total area of the state | 11 437 m 2 (of which water spaces 0 m 2) |
Border length | 60 km |
Climatic conditions | Summer is stuffy, high humidity, in other seasons - droughts, high temperatures |
Landscape | Sandy, gravel deserts, poor in terms of agriculture |
Natural resources | Oil, gas, fish |
Irrigated land areas | 130 m 2 (2002 figure), which is 1.64% of the total area |
Typical natural disasters | Storms: normal, dust, sand, and fog |
Ecological features | Limited natural supplies of drinking fresh water, which forces the construction of large desalination plants near the Persian Gulf |
Demographics
We present basic information about the Qataris also in the form of a table.
National language | Arabic, English (used as an alternative to the first) |
Religious composition | For 2004: 77.5% Muslims, 8.55% Christians, 14% - representatives of other religions |
Ethnic composition | 40% Arabs, 18% Pakistanis and the same number of Indians, 10% Iranians, 14% other ethnic groups |
average life expectancy | For 2010: 75.35 years (female population - 77.14 years; male population - 73.66 years) |
Migration rates | In 2010: 3.58 migrants/1000 locals |
Birth rates | In 2010: 15.61/1000 (population growth rate - 0.957%) |
Mortality rates | In 2010: 2.47/1000 |
Average age of residents | 2010 data: 30.8 years (women - 25.4 years, men - 32.9 years) |
Population | July 2010: 833,285 people |
Political system
In the local dialect, the state is referred to by the full name Dawlat Qatar. Qatar is a short name (pronounced almost like English cutter, gutter).
The system of governance of the country is determined by where Qatar is located - in the Middle East. More detailed information about the state system is in the table below.
State flag | Maroon cloth with a wide scalloped (9 teeth) white stripe on the left side |
executive branch | From 06/25/2013 the head of Qatar is Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (Emir) |
Legislature | Majlis al-Shura - unicameral Advisory Council |
Legal systems | Absolute monarchy (emirate) Civil and Islamic law Compulsory ICJ jurisdiction in Qatar not listed |
Constitution | The current version came into force on 06/09/2005 |
State independence | Recognized as independent on 09/03/1971 (before that it existed under the control of the English kingdom) |
Capital | Doha. For those interested in where the city is located (Qatar is the country of which it is the capital) - 25 17'N, 51 32'E |
Timezone | +3 from Greenwich |
Administrative division | 10 regions (municipalities) |
Economy of Qatar
The economic performance of such a small state in the desert is striking. This is due to the location of the state of Qatar - in a territory rich in oil reserves.
Currency | Qatari rial (QAR) |
The official value of the gross domestic product | $116.9 billion for 2008 |
GDP growth rate | For 2009 - 9.5% (fourth place in the world) |
GDP per capita | For 2009 - $ 119.5 thousand (second place in the world) |
Shares of GDP | Industry: 68.4% Services: 31.5% Agriculture: 0.1% |
Unemployment | For 2009: 0.5% |
Inflation | In 2008 - 15.2% |
Industry | Extraction, crude oil refining, petrochemical plants, fertilizer, cement, reinforced steel production |
Oil production | 1.125 million barrels daily (as of 2007). Proven reserves for 2008 - 15.21 billion barrels |
Natural gas production | 59.8 billion m 3 (for 2007). Proven reserves for 2008 - 25.63 trillion m 3 |
Oil export | 1.026 million barrels daily |
Gas export | 39.3 bcm (for 2007) |
Export income | $62.44 billion (to USA, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, India) |
History of Qatar
Where Qatar is now, from the 3rd millennium BC. ancient civilizations developed. In the past, these territories were part of the prosperous ancient state of Dilmunt, but their distinguishing feature was exceptional poverty.
In the XII century, the lands of the future Qatar were under the rule of the Arab Caliphate, until the XV century they were under the rule of the rulers of Bahrain. Then it was their turn to become a colony of Portugal and the Ottoman Porte.
Since the 18th century, the Hamad dynasty has been at the helm of Qatar. According to the laws of the country, no one except its representatives has the right to supreme power. But this did not cancel the protectorate of England from the 20th century. The country gained full independence only in 1971. The monarchy in the country has been preserved to this day, but Qatar is considered one of the most liberal among the eastern states (even despite the fact that the majority of the population are right-wing Shiites).
The heyday of Qatar falls on the thirties of the XX century - it was then that the richest oil reserves were discovered on its lands. But it took decades to achieve today's prosperity after foreign "patronage". At the same time, a qualitative leap in development, according to experts, took place in the last twenty years.
In terms of oil production, Qatar is now in 6th place in the world. In addition, another expensive natural resource, gas, is being extracted on the territory of the country. Only Russia overtakes Qatar in terms of volumes. Developed in the country and steel production. However, due to the peculiarities of the climate, food here is imported. Deliveries of industrial equipment and vehicles are carried out.
Qatar today
Despite the prejudice against absolute monarchy, the citizens of Qatar live much more prosperously than the population of some democratic countries. Electricity throughout the state is supplied to the population absolutely free of charge. Also, the vast majority of citizens practically do not work here, so the state shares with them the profits from oil and gas exports in the form of regular payments of generous benefits. Immigrants work at the enterprises, receiving, however, quite good salaries.
Today, the Qataris are trying to catch up and overtake the UAE, and the capital Doha is the brilliant Dubai in terms of luxury and magnificence. The country has been open to tourists since 1989, so today any traveler can see how a small, little-known state can be transformed by the production of large volumes of "black gold" and natural gas.
Doha (Qatar)
Where is the capital of this impressive petrostate, we found out. Let's get to know her better now. This city with a total area of 132 m 2 is the largest business center - offices of many world-class corporations are located here. And it is here that the famous Arab TV channel Al Jazeera is based.
But the plans of the rulers are to make Doha an attractive tourist center. Although today, according to tourists, it is noticeably inferior to Dubai, and brand new skyscrapers adorned the modest city quite recently, everything is going smoothly according to plan.
Many note here much more adequate prices in comparison with the UAE, beautiful beaches, first-class hotels and excellent oriental cuisine. The friendliness and friendliness of the townspeople is noticeable, most of whom are fluent in English. However, a trip to Doha for the purpose of employment is full of difficulties, it is extremely difficult to obtain the necessary permission.
Among the attractions of Doha, the most impressive are:
- "cultural village" of Qatar;
- National Museum;
- ethnographical museum;
- Barzan tower;
- Fort Al Kut;
- Great Mosque;
- Vagif market;
- shopping center Villagio;
- Pearl Qatar, built on a man-made island.
The "culprit" of the well-being of little Qatar and its transformed capital, Doha, is largely oil. Because of her, more and more tourists are interested in where Qatar is. But it should also be noted that the government of the state cares about the well-being of the population, striving to make the life of its citizens prosperous and happy.
State of Qatar, in the South West. Asia, on the peninsula of Qatar, is washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf. According to the Arab, historians, the state military and peninsula of Qatar were named after the village of Kadaru, which existed in ancient times on this peninsula. Geographical names of the world... Geographic Encyclopedia
Disease, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose, throat, stomach, etc.; the affected area usually turns red and discharges pus or mucus. A complete dictionary of foreign words that have come into use in the Russian language. Popov M., 1907. QATAR inflammation ... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language
Star Observational data (Epoch J2000.0) Type Single star Right ascension ... Wikipedia
Full name Qatar Sports Club Nicknames Kings Founded 1959 Qatar SC Stadium Capacity ... Wikipedia
The State of Qatar, a state in Southwest Asia, on the Qatar Peninsula. 11 thousand km². population approx. 521 thousand people (1993). The urban population of St. 90% (1990), mostly Arabs. The official language is Arabic. The state religion is Islam. Capital… … Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
QATAR- QATAR, State of Qatar, in the South West. Asia, on the Qatar Peninsula, on the Eastern Arabian Peninsula. Pl. 11 tons km2. US. 270 t. h. (1982). Capital Doha (c. 200 vol., 1982). Until independence was declared in 1971, British protectorate was the basis of the economy ... ... Demographic Encyclopedic Dictionary
Qatar- a, m. catarrhe m., pol. katar gr. katarrhoos runoff, flow. Inflammation of the mucous membrane of a l. organ, eg. throat, nose, lungs, stomach, etc. ALS 1. The most severe frosts have come here, and I, despite the fact that I have a catarrh, are forced ... ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language
Inflammation of the mucous membrane Dictionary of Russian synonyms. qatar n., number of synonyms: 12 blenmetrite (1) ... Synonym dictionary
- (from the Greek katarrheo to drain, expire), an outdated name for inflammation of the mucous membranes, characterized by abundant exudate (serous, purulent, etc.) and its flow over the surface of the mucous membrane ... Modern Encyclopedia
QATAR, a, husband. Inflammation of the mucous membrane of a organ. K. upper respiratory tract. K. stomach (the former name of gastritis). | adj. catarrhal, oh, oh. Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 ... Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov
Books
- Qatar in the XXI century: current trends and forecasts of economic development. Monograph, Kasaev Eldar Osmanovich. The monograph by E. O. Kasaev, a specialist in the Middle East, is the first work in Russian and foreign science that is entirely devoted to the modern economy of Qatar. The author considers...
In my mind, the richest country in the world, tiny Qatar, was one of the last places on the list of places I would like to go. Well, imagine a kind of stubby appendix of lifeless sand protruding into the Persian Gulf for a hundred and fifty kilometers. Add the absence of any decent history and architecture, but then the crazy oil that fell on the heads of the poor and illiterate Bedouins, and then thanks to the British. Let's dilute what has been said with a difficult climate for life with dusty winds from Arabia and temperatures well over +40 most of the year. We must pay tribute to Emir Al Thani, a very advanced person with huge ambitions: he set himself the goal of turning his endlessly dull kingdom into a world political, financial and cultural center. He created the Al Jazeera television company, he hosts international sports competitions in Qatar, he is trying to create universities in the country. Astronomical amounts are invested in this idea, but as everything revolved around oil, it revolves. Apart from the fact that by taking up the practice of interfering with its generous dollar in all conflicts in the Middle East, Qatar has spoiled relations with its neighbors and found itself isolated. Did the story interest you so much that you dropped everything and went looking for tickets to Qatar? Not? Here I am not. And yet I ended up in this strange and unattractive state.
All thanks to Qatar Airways, which offers cheap tickets to Asian countries with a transfer in Doha. What's more, you can choose a long-term connection of up to 96 hours for the price of a regular ticket and even get free 24-hour accommodation in a good hotel from the airline. To do this, you go to the Discover Qatar website, where you enter your reservation number of the mentioned airline (this feature does not apply to other air carriers) and make a reservation. Some hotels offer a free shuttle service from and to the airport. Others do not offer. Some include breakfast, others do not. See, choose. It was thanks to this that I ended up in a country where I would never have flown of my own free will.
Looking back, I wonder if I was disappointed with the days spent in Qatar on the way from California to India? No wasn `t. Because I didn't expect anything. Everything was fine and there is nothing to complain about: the shuttle from the hotel met in the arrivals hall, took us, were extremely polite and helpful. The breakfasts are excellent, the hotel has a swimming pool and a gym. The hotel was a Holiday Inn 4 * half an hour walk from the waterfront and the city center. My number -
Arrived at night and immediately went to bed. Waking up in the morning, I went to the window and saw this picture -
Everything was in light brown dusty colors and nature itself signaled that it was better for me to spend the day in the room. It would be hard there without a pleasant air conditioner, I had no doubt about that. Suspicions of the tests that awaited me increased thanks to the ubiquitous Google when I entered a query for the weather in Doha -
The heat does not surprise me, because for more than 25 years I have lived in Israel, which is not at all cold, where in summer the temperatures regularly go off scale for +35 and more. In such weather, I was usually either at home or in an air-conditioned office. But he also often went out on the street and even calmly walked for hours in a cap and with a bottle of water. It's hot, you sweat, you get tired. But in general, tolerable. But the heat that is now in Qatar is beyond words. This is some kind of horror. Firstly, in Israel +42 degrees is nonsense, happening for several days a year somewhere in Eilat on the Red Sea, where it is the hottest. And here such a temperature is the norm, it can be higher, up to +50 in the shade. It feels like you are in a highly overheated dry sauna. Eagerly gasping for hot air with your mouth like a fish. But I know how to properly withstand the heat. Don't stress and protect yourself. Yes, it is just as important here as it is not here. Cap, light and loose clothing, be sure to drink plenty of water. And at the slightest feeling of discomfort, stop. If so, then go ahead!
I go out into the street and fly into the wall with my forehead. Not into a stone wall, but into a wall of heavy and hot air. Here, with all the cells of your skin, you feel as if you are swimming in boiling glycerin. Even I, exhausted by the Israeli heat, was shocked. It's not too late to get back to the hotel. But no, real heroes don't give up. I was not able to rent a car because I have an Israeli driver's license, which will never be given a car here. As you know, Qatar does not recognize Israel, following the all-Arab policy of intercession for the "Palestinian brothers." I do not want to go into the intricacies of relations between Qatar and Israel, because everything is not easy there. They do not recognize and at the same time they are spinning business and almost officially meet with the Israeli leadership, and Israeli citizens can visit Qatar by applying for a visa online on the website of the Qatar Foreign Ministry. But yes, backstage is one thing, but my driver's license is another. What then? Take a taxi? It's so expensive.
The only thing left is to walk.
I honestly walked around Doha for about 16 kilometers. Along the empty streets, where you will not meet anyone except rare Indians. Local Arabs hide in buildings and do not leave the air conditioners. So, I made stops every half an hour approximately. I find a shadow, for example, under a palm tree and literally lie down on the grass. I lie like this for about ten minutes and then I get up and move on. Everything is according to the rules, like a good Bedouin.
The city is deserted. The Qataris travel through it exclusively by private transport, they prefer to spend time in offices and at home under air conditioning, and in half a day I met a few indigenous people of this state.
Qatar is a new state that gained independence from the British only in 1971. Doha was until recently a dusty village, but over the past four decades has developed into a two-million metropolis -
Contrary to Qatar's image as an exceptional wealthy state, much of Doha looks like this, not unlike the average bedroom communities of Amman, or Cairo. The Israelis will see in this development the most typical Tel Aviv (see my article ""). In a word, I walk here as if at home, and perhaps the absence of signs in Hebrew and the portraits of the Emir remind me that this is not Israel -
Doha is also one big construction site. They build absolutely everywhere, a real construction boom. Moreover, it is obvious that the boom was provoked by colossal injections from oil revenues and does not rest on anything else. Take away oil tomorrow and the country will be empty. It's no secret that out of 2.5 million people in Qatar, 88% are disenfranchised foreign workers living here on annual visas and praying to Allah that the visa be extended for another year -
Actually, you will meet only foreigners on the street in such heat -
How these lucky people plow at plus fifty - I don't know. It was hard for me not only to plow, but even just to walk. And they are dragging bags of cement on themselves, digging, drilling, and nailing something. The city is under construction
And yet, Doha is more about such views than chic office towers made of glass and concrete -
And even such, very poor areas are still enough. Workers from India and Pakistan live here -
Draining water after washing (!) in a public place will pay 300 rials -
Leaving an old car for eternal parking on the street - 1000 rials and so on -
It is interesting to read the advertisements of the Indo-Pakistani workers. Please note that the offered rooms and apartments for rent require you to have an education. At least a bachelor's degree. Only the lucky owner of the crust will be able to claim a bed in a room for ten. It's almost no joke
Someone Katmal will save you from bed bugs and at the same time tighten your health -
In vain I didn’t take a diploma with me, I could apply for a bed in the company of the same professors and artists of large and small theaters, that is, construction laborers -
I move slowly to the embankment, winding through the quarters -
The heat begins to press seriously. First, stop and let yourself catch your breath a little, it helps.
Desert all around
Actually, five of these Bedouin fortresses of the last century built are the historical monuments of Qatar -
They built something from scratch, and restored something. Now you can see the semblance of the old city -
A little more, the business district is already visible on the horizon -
Doha is not a city for backpackers. There are very few pedestrian crossings, and even fewer sidewalks. To cross the expressway running along the embankment, you either have to stomp a kilometer to the traffic light, or run across, risking your life -
The skyscrapers of the business part of the Qatari capital are visible in the haze. This is not a photomontage, everything is really in a dusty brown haze -
I feel like my body is working really hard. Pressing heat and the sun at its zenith, beating in the head, even despite the cap. I make a stop, listen to the pulse - however, 110 beats per minute with a calm walk. Water no longer helps, resting under palm trees lowers the pulse to 100, but it still does not fall below. Overheat. It is hard for the average person to walk for half a day in the heat reaching +50 in the shade. Once again I lie down under a palm tree -
An old port for "dhows" - wooden longboats used in previous years for fishing, searching for pearls and simply for delivering goods from neighboring Iran. Today it is largely a tourist attraction -
The Emir's Palace, which cannot be photographed. The stern soldier saw that I was obviously going to take down his master's palace and blew his whistle. But I still managed to pull the trigger. What kind of threat does a picture of the palace, taken from five hundred meters away - I don’t know, but I traditionally call it "Arab stupidity" and don't try to argue -
Water no longer helps, resting under palm trees lowers the pulse to 100, but it still does not fall below. It is not right. The body signals that it needs a serious rest and further walking under the scorching sun will lead to unpleasant consequences, up to fainting. In the end, almost exhausted, I go down to the underground parking and for half an hour I literally fall down the stairs there. I lean back against the concrete wall, which brings a pleasant coolness. I'm getting back to normal. It becomes obvious that it is time to return to the hotel.
The last argument that made me stop walking was the camera - it got so hot that it stopped working. Caught a taxi and drove the remaining four kilometers to the hotel. I go in and the guard asks if I'm all right. Yes, quite, but what? He says that I am very pale. I entered the room, where the air conditioner maintains a comfortable +22 degrees, lay down in bed and returned to normal half an hour later. The camera also recovered and is now normal. Uff...
There is one truly heavenly place. This is a small but amazing country called Qatar. The standard of living here is very high. Tourists can visit beautiful and unique places. Impressions, which will be very much after visiting the sights of the country, will last for many years.
Where is the state of Qatar located?
On the northeastern outskirts of Arabia, on a small peninsula of the same name, is the small country of Qatar. The state is a monarchy of the Islamic world - an emirate. On the mainland border, it is adjacent to Saudi Arabia, and the rest of the state has access to the capital of Qatar - Doha. Where is the city? Qatar, like its capital, is located in the Middle East. The area is mostly desert. Naturally, such a geographical location directly affects many factors, such as climate, flora, fauna, etc.
Briefly about the state and its history
Despite the small area of Qatar (11,500 sq. km), the state is considered the richest. Qatar receives such benefits thanks to the largest reserves of oil and gas. The emirate is a member of the Organization of Petroleum and Gas Exporting Countries.
The history of the Emirate of Qatar begins in the period BC. Records of the people who lived in these territories were left by Herodotus and Pliny. The peninsula became a state in the 7th century AD, when Islam came to this territory. Of course, this was influenced by where Qatar is located, and to be more precise, neighboring states.
The formation of Islam is under the influence of the neighbor For a long time, Qatar was in the Ottoman Empire. After its collapse, the state became a protectorate of Great Britain. In 1971, the country gained independence and became officially known as the State of Qatar.
Relief
In order to correctly characterize the relief of this area, it is necessary to pay attention to where Qatar is located. According to the physical and geographical characteristics, its entire territory is a desert. Only in the north occasionally appears flat terrain and a few oases. The southern region is slightly elevated and is represented by high sandy hills.
Climate
The climate of these places also directly depends on where Qatar is located. It is tropical, continental type and very dry. There is no winter in these territories, and in summer the temperature can rise up to 50°C with a plus sign. Average temperatures in January reach +16°С, in July - +32°С. In this regard, the flora and fauna of the country is very scarce. Mostly reptiles and rodents live here.
Inland waters
Of course, if you understand where Qatar is located, it immediately becomes clear that there are practically no rivers on the peninsula. There are also streams that dry up in the summer. However, the inhabitants of the country have learned to extract drinking water by desalination of sea water. There are underground sources in the oases, but they are not enough for the whole country. Thanks to them, only the northern regions are provided.
Governing body
According to the state structure, Qatar is, however, in the Islamic world, this word means something else. The fact is that the emirate is a non-hereditary type of monarchy. That is, all power (executive, legislative, judicial and military) may not necessarily be inherited. Due to the state structure in Qatar, it is forbidden to create political parties or trade unions, as well as to hold various kinds of political demonstrations. For consultation on diplomatic and state affairs in the country there is an Advisory Council. It includes 35 people.
Administrative division and population
Qatar consists of 7 regions - municipalities. Population - 1,900,000 people. More than 90% of the population lives in the capital Doha and the suburbs of the capital. According to the national composition, about 40% of the population are Arabs (this is understandable, given where Qatar is located), 18% are Pakistanis and Indians, 10% are Iranians and 14% are representatives of other nationalities. About 80% of the population are Muslims, 9% are Christians. Other religions are also prevalent.
Economy
The economy of the state is mainly focused on oil and gas production. 85% of the produced gas and oil products are exported, replenishing the country's budget by 70%.
The country has developed many industries. 25% falls on the service sector, but agriculture in the country is not developing at all. Only some northern regions, due to their close proximity to oases, have the opportunity to engage in gardening and growing date palms. From animal husbandry, nomadic tribes are engaged in breeding goats, sheep and camels.
Qatar is also developing in the military sphere. Officially, he has been cooperating with the United States in this regard since 1992. One of the major foreign centers of the United States Army is stationed here.
The number of armed troops of Qatar is more than 12 thousand people. Of these, 8.5 thousand are ground, air forces - 2.1 thousand, marines - 1.8 thousand.
Terrorism
The Republic of Qatar (where the state is located, described above) has been repeatedly accused of interacting with various planets. The reason for this was the presence of the popular television channel Al Jazeera in Doha. There were speeches and messages of well-known terrorists, such as Osama bin Laden.
Tourism
In terms of tourism, the state is also gradually developing. People say that Qatar is 10 years ago. Rest on the ocean goes well with shopping and diving in the Persian Gulf.
The official name is the State of Qatar (Daulyat Qatar, State of Qatar). It is located in Southwest Asia, in the northeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, extended far into the Persian Gulf. The territory of the country includes the Qatar Peninsula and a number of small adjacent islands with a total area of 11,437 thousand km2. The population of St. 800 thousand people (2003 estimate). The official language is Arabic. The capital is Doha (313 thousand people, 1998). Public holiday - Independence Day September 3 (since 1971). The monetary unit is the Qatari rial (contains 100 dirhams).
Member of the UN (since 1971), Arab League (since 1971), IMF, IBRD, OPEC, OIC, OAPEC, GCC (since 1981), etc.
Sights of Qatar
Geography of Qatar
Located between 50°45' and 51°35' East longitudes and 24°45' and 26°10' North latitudes. From the north, west and east it is washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf. The coast is a rugged coastline with a length of 563 km. A large number of coral reefs (sometimes up to 4 km wide) makes it difficult to access. Qatar borders on the south with Saudi Arabia, on the sea - with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (Emirate of Abu Dhabi). The relief of the territory is simple and is located on the low desert plateau of the Arabian Peninsula descending to the sea. Deposits of minerals - oil and natural gas - are of world importance. Soils are mostly sandy and limestone. Nature is distinguished by a hot and arid climate, the absence of constantly flowing rivers and natural reservoirs. During the rainy season (December - January), water accumulates in dry channels (wadis), the largest of which is the Mashrib near the capital. In summer (May-October), the temperature at noon rises to 45 ° C with an air humidity of 85-90%. At this time, sandstorms are frequent. Winter (December-March) is moderately warm, +15–25°С during the day, up to +10°С at night. Due to the difficult climatic conditions, the flora and fauna of Qatar is extremely scarce. Locust distribution centers are located in this area. More than 70 species of commercial fish are found in the waters of Qatar: tuna, horse mackerel, mackerel, sardine. Pearls have been mined in the area of coral reefs for a long time.
Population of Qatar
Before the discovery of oil fields, the number of inhabitants did not exceed 20 thousand people. Birth rate 15.6%, mortality 4.43%, infant mortality 20 people. per 1000 newborns, life expectancy 73.14 years (women 75.76, men 70.65 years) (2003). Age structure of the population: 0-14 years old - 24.7% of all residents of the country, 15-64 years old - 72.4%, 65 years and older - 2.9%. The bulk of the population (more than 90%) is concentrated in the capital and other large cities.
The demographic situation of Qatar is characterized by a small proportion of the indigenous population (1/6) in the total mass of people who arrived from other countries as hired labor and service personnel. This gives rise to many problems related to ensuring national security and preserving the Qatari identity. The ethnic composition of the country is very heterogeneous: Arabs 40%, Pakistanis 18%, Indians 18%, Iranians 10%, others - 14%. Languages: Arabic, English as a second language.
The state religion of China is Islam, which was adopted in 628. Its canons permeate the entire life of the local population. The indigenous inhabitants of Kazakhstan profess the Sunnism of the Hanbali "madhhab" - the religious and legal school, which is considered the most rigid. Some of them are followers of the teachings of Sheikh Ibn Al-Wahhab (Hanbalism in its extreme form). A small part of the population are Shiites. Currently, due to the influx of foreign workers, about half of the country's population adheres to Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity.
History of Qatar
The lands of modern Qatar have been inhabited since ancient times. The earliest archaeological finds date back to the end of the 4th millennium BC. e. and confirm the existence of a developed and prosperous civilization here. After the adoption in the 7th c. Islam, along with the rest of the inhabitants of the Persian Gulf, the territory of Qatar became part of the Arab Caliphate - the Umayyads, later the Abassids. In the beginning. 16th century the first European colonialists appeared on the shores of the Persian Gulf, among which Portugal and especially Great Britain turned out to be the most active. After a long resistance, the Sheikh of Qatar in 1868 was forced to conclude a "Treaty of Perpetual Peace" with Great Britain, which actually consolidated her colonial rule. Since 1871, Qatar was again occupied by the Ottoman Empire, which appointed its own governor there. But in reality, the country was ruled by Sheikh Qassem bin Mohammed, who founded the dynasty of the Al Thani family (since 1878), now ruling in Qatar. According to official data, the Al Thani family came from the Tamim tribe (modern Saudi Arabia) and emigrated to the peninsula in the beginning. 18th century Taking advantage of World War I, Great Britain forced Turkey to give up its claims to Qatar, and in 1916 the new ruler of Qatar, Sheikh Abdullah ibn Qasem Al Thani, signed an agreement establishing an English protectorate. In 1935, the rulers of Qatar were forced to conclude a concession agreement with the British Petroleum Development of Qatar, which gave it practically unlimited and uncontrolled rights to explore, produce and sell oil and gas, build industrial facilities, and import foreign workers for 75 years. The entire traditional way of the country's economy that had been developing for centuries was disrupted, which led to a sharp impoverishment of the local population. To con. 1960s the crisis of the British colonial policy became obvious. Its attempt to maintain its influence in the region by creating a federation of nine emirates: Bahrain, Qatar and the seven emirates of Treaty Oman failed. The countries could not agree among themselves and, following Bahrain, on September 3, 1971, Qatar declared its independence. The next step for the already independent Qatar was the entry in September 1971 into the Arab League and the UN. On February 22, 1972, the Prime Minister of the country, Sheikh Khalifa, with the consent of the Council of Elders, appointed himself Emir of Qatar, declaring the ruling Sheikh Ahmed, who was abroad, deposed. The new government continued the initiated reforms, paying special attention to the modernization of the economy. In 1995, the throne was inherited by the son of Emir Khalifa - Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The young emir managed to resolve years of border disputes with neighboring Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The aggravation of relations with Bahrain occurred in March 1982 due to the territorial affiliation of the Hawar Islands and the Fasht ad-Dibal region. After hearings in the Hague court in March 2001, a verdict was adopted, according to which the Khawar Islands were ceded to Bahrain, and the Fasht ad-Dibal shoals were transferred to Qatar. In 1992, due to events in the border area, a conflict arose between Qatar and Saudi Arabia. After a lengthy settlement, Qatar in March 2001 signed maps with a demarcation line between the two countries, where the delimitation of sea and land borders was finally approved.
State structure and political system of Qatar
Officially, Qatar is a sovereign Arab state with an absolute monarchy. The country has a provisional Constitution adopted on April 2, 1970. All power in the country belongs to the emirs from the Al Thani dynasty and can only be inherited by sheikhs from this family. According to the administrative division, the country consists of 10 municipalities (baladiyat): Ad-Dawwa, Al-Juwariya, Al-Jumaliya, Al-Khor, Al-Wakra, Ar-Rayan, Jarayan al-Batna, Ash-Shamal, Umm Said, Umm Salal . All state institutions and departments are subordinated to the head of the municipality on its territory, and its functions include the conduct of all administrative affairs. The ruler of Qatar is Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (since June 1995). The executive power in the country is the Council of Ministers (17 people since September 1992), which is also headed by the Emir. He appoints and removes the ministers who are personally responsible to him for the policy of the state and the work of the ministries. In addition, the emir is the supreme commander of the country. In 1972, the emir Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, in accordance with the adopted provisional Constitution, created a special Consultative Council (Shura). Since 1988, this body has been composed of 35 people, elected for a term of 4 years and appointed by the Emir from among the representatives chosen under limited suffrage. According to the Constitution, they have the right to discuss and make recommendations on the adoption of laws developed by the Council of Ministers, to request ministries on foreign and domestic political issues, including draft budgets. Their functions include consideration of state and civil cases, after which they are submitted for the approval of the ministers and the emir. However, by law, the Advisory Council cannot have real or legislative power.
In March 1999, Qatar held its first elections of 29 members to the Central Municipal Council, the next elections were held in April 2003. In July 1999, the emir created a special committee of 32 people to draft a permanent constitution for the country. In July 2002, the project was submitted to the emir for consideration, after which it was fully approved in a referendum in April 2003. The country banned the activities of any political parties and trade unions. Discrimination on racial, ethnic or religious grounds is also prohibited and punishable by law. The highest court of the country is the Court of Appeal, whose decisions are approved by the Emir and are not subject to revision.
The leading business organizations include the largest banks and industrial companies in the country: Qatar Petroleum Company (QP), Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO), QATARGAS, Qatar Steel Company (QASCO), Qatar Industrial Company (QIMCO), etc. Currently, domestic policy The country is aimed at diversifying the industrial base, using local natural resources, reducing dependence on imported goods, and increasing the types of export products. The nationalization of the oil industry in 1973, after which the country's income increased sharply, allowed the government to carry out a number of significant changes in the social sphere as well. Reforms were carried out in the field of health care, housing construction, utilities, pensions and benefits. In the beginning. 1980s a new major program was implemented to improve the social life of the population, all services for medical care and education became free. In May 1989, at the direction of the emir, a Planning Council was formed to improve the coordination of plans for the socio-economic development of Qatar. The goal was announced - to reduce dependence on the oil sector, but even now the economy of Qatar remains completely focused on the export of oil and natural gas.
In the field of foreign policy, Qatar adheres to the principles of the non-aligned movement, of which it has been a member since 1971. Qatar advocates a dialogue between countries based on the principles of mutual trust and non-interference in the affairs of sovereign states. Of great importance for the foreign policy of Qatar are its relations with the Arab countries. Qatar has the closest ties with neighboring Saudi Arabia. In 1992, Qatar signed a defense pact with the United States. A similar agreement was concluded with the UK (1993) and France (1994). The ever-strengthening ties of Qatar with the United States and France show the desire of the authorities to gain broad military support from the leading world powers. During the 2nd Gulf War (March-April 2003), Qatar provided the United States with its military bases and took a pro-American position.
The ever-increasing political tension in the region forced the government of China to pay close attention to the creation of an effective system of self-defense. The armed forces of the country consist of the army, naval and air forces. Their total number as of August 2001 is 12.33 thousand people. The country has compulsory military service for all men between the ages of 18 and 35. The term of military service is 12-24 months. In 2000/01, defense spending increased to $723 million, representing 10% of GDP. The main supplier of weapons to Qatar is France (tanks, aircraft), the UK has a smaller share (warships).
Qatar has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR in 1988).
Economy of Qatar
The oil found in Qatar (1939) and its industrial production (since 1949) radically changed the situation in the country, making it possible to achieve unprecedented rates of economic growth. Today, oil accounts for more than 55% of GDP, 85% of export earnings and 70% of all government revenue. Proved oil reserves 14.5 billion barrels. (2002). Thanks to oil production, GDP per capita in Qatar is comparable to the leading Western industrial countries. In addition to oil, the production and export of natural gas is becoming increasingly important, the reserves of which, according to various estimates, exceed 21 trillion m3 (2nd place in the world in terms of volume after the Russian Federation). The reserves found in the giant North Field field will allow the gas industry to continue to grow at an accelerated pace and provide the necessary amount of gas to pass through the planned gas pipelines to Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Gas production in Qatar increased from 19.6 bcm in 1998 to 32.5 bcm in 2001.
In 2000, Qatar's foreign trade surplus amounted to $7 billion. This was mainly due to high world oil prices and a gradual increase in gas exports. This surplus remained in 2001.
Qatar has maintained a high rate of GDP growth since the day it declared its independence. On average, they are 8-10% per year. Qatar's GDP increased from $510 million (1972) to $7.17 billion (1995), i.e. more than 14 times. The dynamics of GDP growth depends entirely on the state of the world energy market and oil prices. For Qatar, the period of a general recession in the world economy and, as a result, a noticeable reduction in oil consumption coincided with a fall in the volume of GDP within the country (4930 million US dollars in 1985 against 5773 million US dollars in 1979). Similarly, GDP fluctuated in the growth of national income per capita: in 1982 it reached 19 thousand US dollars, which allowed the country to take one of the first places in the world in this indicator; in 1995, due to a downturn in the fuel market, it was $12,000. As of 2002, the GDP is 17.2 billion US dollars, the GDP growth rate is 3.4%; GDP per capita 21.5 thousand US dollars. Inflation 1.9% (2002), unemployment 2.7% (2001).
Sectoral structure of the economy: by contribution to GDP (%, 1996): agriculture 1, industry 49, services 50. GDP structure by employment (%, 2000): agriculture 0.4, industry 67.6, services 32.
In addition to the oil and gas industry, which is the basis of the country's economic well-being, the energy industry has been widely developed. The total capacity of power plants was estimated at 1863 MW (2000), electricity generation amounted to 9.264 billion kWh (2001). Qatar provides electricity for the domestic needs of its citizens free of charge. For Qatar, desalination is a major challenge (over 113 million gallons per day in 2000). The construction business, the production of building materials and cement are successfully developing. There are three industrial zones in Qatar: Umm Said (oil refining and petrochemicals, more recently also metallurgical and gas industries); Doha (SMEs, repair shops, consumer services, food production); new zone in Ras Laffan (gas processing and transportation).
Unfavorable climatic conditions and the presence in the country of only desert and semi-desert lands led to a very limited use of the agro-industrial complex.
The total area of cultivated land is approx. 7.6 thousand hectares, or 3% of the total area, the share of absolutely unsuitable land is 91.6% of the entire territory of the country. According to the FAO, in 2000 Qatar produced 4,100 tons of barley, 1,800 tons of corn, 53,400 tons of vegetables and gourds, 18,000 tons of fruits and dates; in animal husbandry: 35,900 tons of milk, 4,100 tons of poultry meat, 7,400 tons of lamb meat. The most traditional and successful branch of agriculture is fishing - 4207 tons (2000).
There are no railways in Qatar. The total length of highways is 1230 km, of which 1107 km are paved. The total length of pipelines is more than 892 km (1997), incl. St. 187 km - for pumping oil and more than 700 km - for gas supply. Maritime transport plays a dominant role in the transport of goods, accounting for over 70% of import cargo and 100% of oil and gas exports. Commercial shipping has only 25 large vessels with a total tonnage of 679,081, including 10 bulk carriers, 6 oil tankers, 7 container ships, 2 oil and ore carriers (2002). The main port of the country is Doha (in the mid-1990s, the total length of the berths was 1699 m) and the port of Umm Said, which has undergone a complete reconstruction. Qatar has 4 airports. The largest international airport is located near the capital (in 2000 it received 2.6 million passengers), the rest are used only for domestic transportation. In 2001, Qatar Airways had 15 aircraft. The Qatari authorities plan to increase the volume of cargo transportation and bring the number of aircraft to 22 (2006). In 1998 the country was visited by approx. 451 thousand tourists, but the industry itself is small due to underdeveloped infrastructure.
In Qatar, along with traditional communication systems, in addition to ordinary telephone (167,400 users, 2001), mobile communications (178,800, 2001) and the Internet (40,000 users in 2001) have been successfully developing recently. Qatari radio has existed since 1968, the number of radio receivers in 1997 was 256,000 - one of the first figures in the Arab East. National television appeared in 1970, broadcasts its programs on 3 channels and has 520,000 viewers (2000). The country has its own satellite communications, and Al-Jazeera is a well-known satellite TV channel.
Features of the modern economy of Qatar - the availability of cheap energy, large investments and a shortage of local labor resources. This makes Qatar's economy energy- and capital-intensive, but labor-saving. The country is narrowly focused on petrochemistry, oil refining, the development of the gas sector, and banking. Since Qatar is an absolute monarchy, the emir, together with advisers and the cabinet of ministers, is personally involved in the state regulation of the main proportions of economic development, stimulates the development of the private sector, and monitors the participation of the state in industrial and financial activities. In the field of social policy, Qatar provides its citizens with a number of privileges and material benefits, the right to free education, health care, vocational training, etc.
The national financial system was born in 1971 immediately after Qatar declared its independence. Prior to this, all financial activities were controlled by British banks. Currently, 16 banks and 8 insurance companies are successfully operating in the country. The Qatari Central Bank controls all economic and financial activities in the country, regulates money circulation, issues new banknotes. The bank has existed since 1966 (the capital is 1.14 billion cat. rials). Other major banks include the National Bank of Qatar (founded in 1965) with a capital of 1.038 billion kat. rials. The exchange rate of the Qatari rial against the US dollar has been stable over the past years and is equal to 3.64.
The budget of Qatar is closely linked to the level of oil prices and the level of production. The sharp rise in oil revenues in the 1970s caused a large budget surplus, allowing Qatar to launch significant industrial programs and new infrastructure projects. In 2001/02 the budget provided a revenue of 18.057 billion cat. rials, expenditure of 17.560 billion, surplus of 497 million cat. Rials (with an average oil price of $16.5 per barrel).
Qatar's external debt is due to loans to cover the state budget deficit. To con. In 2001, external debt rose to $13.223 billion, of which $7.305 billion was directly public debt. According to Western estimates, debt payments should rise to $1.435 billion in 2002 (twice as much as in 1998), but a gradual decrease to $380 million by 2005 is planned.
The standard of living of the people of Qatar has increased immeasurably in recent years thanks to the increase in the growth of oil and gas exports. Total industrial wages in 2000 were $240 million. The average wage of an industrial worker, respectively, was $7,571 a year.
Qatar's economy is almost entirely dependent on the state of its foreign trade. Qatar is forced to import almost the entire range of goods - from food, consumer goods to machinery and equipment. Despite the uneven growth of exports and imports, in 1972-95 Qatar's foreign trade turnover increased 8.1 times (exports grew 6 times, imports 17 times). Imports increased from $2.9 billion (2000) to $3.9 billion (2002). Main import partners: France (18%), Italy (9%), USA (9%), Japan (8%), UK (7%) (2001). Exports of 11.594 billion dollars, including 6.859 billion dollars from crude oil and 3.300 billion dollars from natural gas (2000), according to data for 2002, exports of 10.9 billion dollars. Qatar also exports chemical products, fertilizers, with the introduction of metallurgical enterprises - metal and metal structures. Main export partners: Japan (42%), South Korea (18%), Singapore (5%), United Arab Emirates (4%) (2001).
Science and culture of Qatar
At present, the authorities, concerned about the huge influx of foreign labor, pay much attention to education and the creation of their own national personnel. In 1995/96 there were 174 primary schools in the country with 53,600 pupils. The only university in Qatar was founded in 1977 in the capital city of Doha on the basis of the former teacher training college and has 7 faculties. Educational and research work at the university is carried out under the patronage of the Emir of Qatar, who in 1980 issued a decree establishing a special Center for Scientific and Applied Research. In 1998, 8.5 thousand students studied at the university, of which 85% were native Qataris, the number of Qatari teachers accounted for 38% of all teaching rates. The state regularly sends young people to study at foreign universities. The total number of students in Qatar in the 1999/2000 academic year was 75 thousand people, the total number of teachers in the 1998/99 academic year was 13.1 thousand people. In the budget for 2002/03, the government provided 418 million kat. rials for education and social benefits for youth.
In the "pre-oil" period, the population was engaged in traditional crafts for the entire region: cattle breeding, pearl fishing, handicraft production, maritime trade, and, to a lesser extent, agriculture. Today, despite the competition from cheap industrial goods, the products of local jewelers, wood carvers, and manufacturers of national clothes are still popular among the people.
Among the most interesting cultural sites in Qatar are the archaeological excavations of mounds and mounds at Umm Salal Ali, which testify to the oldest period in the history of civilizations. The coastal town of Al-Khor is also of interest. The main part of the museums is concentrated in the capital of the country: the National Museum (founded in 1901) with a huge two-level aquarium, the Ethnographic Museum. The Weapons Museum contains rare specimens of ancient small arms, a collection of gold and silver swords and daggers, some of which date back to the 16th century. There is a famous nature reserve in the country, where a rare antelope lives in natural conditions - the oryx, the national animal of Qatar.
Among the cultural traditions of Qatar are camel racing, horse racing, hunting with the help of specially trained falcons and Arabian Saluki hounds. A small part of the richest residents of the country can afford to keep world-famous Arabian horses, which have long been bred in this region. Unique examples of this breed of horses are in the stables of the Emir. On special farms, racing camels are grown, the cost of which reaches up to 250 thousand US dollars.
Despite the active intervention of the West, Sharia (Islamic law) is still mandatory for the inhabitants of the country and completely determines their culture and daily life.