Official name : Qatar

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.

Location : Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

Area intotal: 11,437 sq km land: 11,437 sq km water: 0 sq kmArea - comparative slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries :total: 60 km

Border countries : Saudi Arabia 60 km

Coastline : 563 km

Maritime claims : Territorial sea: 12 nm

Contiguous zone : 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line

Climate : Arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

Population : 863,051 (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate : 2.61% (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups :Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%

Religions : Muslim 95%

Languages : Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language

Government type : Traditional monarchy

Capital : Doha

Independence : 3 September 1971 (from UK)