LOCATION
The State of Qatar is a peninsula located between 24°27N and 26°10N in latitude and 50°45E and 51°40E in longitude.
Qatar is a peninsula located halfway down the west coast of The Gulf. Its territory comprises a number of islands including Halul, Sheraouh, Al-Ashat and others.
Its borders only Saudi Arabia by land, while sharing maritime borders with Bahrain and the UAE as well as Saudi Arabia.

TOPOGRAPHIC FEATURES
The terrain is flat and rocky with some low-rising limestone outcrops in Dukhan area in the west and Jabal Fiwairit in the north. It is characterized by a variety of geographical phenomena including many coves, inlets, depressions and surface rainwater-draining basins known as riyadh (the gardens), which are found mainly in the north and central part of the peninsula. These areas have the most fertile soil and are rich in vegetation.

LAND AREA
The total land area of Qatar is 11,437 km² (4,416 sq. miles).
It is about 180 km long and 85 km wide.

POPULATION
The population of Qatar is over 1,600,000 inhabitants (of which less than 25% are native Qataris).
Over 80% of inhabitants reside in Doha and its metropolitan area of Al-Rayyan.

OFFICIAL NAME
State of Qatar

CAPITAL CITY
Doha (Ad Dawhah)

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
Arabic is the official language in Qatar, and English is widely spoken.

RELIGION
Islam is the official religion of the country.

CLIMATE
Qatar has a moderate desert climate with long hot summers and short mild winters and little rain in winter.
(Current Weather) 

MAJOR TOWNS
Doha, Wakrah, Al Khor, Dukhan, Al Shamal, Mesaieed, Ras Lafan amongst others.

CURRENCY
The official currency is the Qatari Riyal (QAR or QR), which is divided into 100 dirhams.
The Exchange parity has been set at the fixed rate of USD 1 = QAR 3.65
(Curreny Converter)
 

INDEPENDENCE
Qatar gained independence from the United Kingdom on September 3^rd 1971.

JUNE 27^TH
On the 27^th of June 1995, His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani assumed the rule of the State of Qatar supported by the ruling family and the Qatari people. The Al Thani came to power in Qatar on December 18^th, 1878. 

QATAR 2022
The World's largest sporting event, the FIFA Worldcup in 2022 will be held in Qatar; the first Middle Eastern country, the first Muslim country and the first Arab country to have such an honour.

QATAR 2030
His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar, has commissioned the "Qatar National Vision 2030" designed to transform Qatar into an advanced country, capable of sustaining its own development and providing a high standard of living for generations to come. The government is therefore diversifying the economy and fostering Qatar as a knowledge-driven economy and society.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

NATIONAL FLAG
The national flag is maroon colour with a broad vertical white stripe at the pole, the two colours being separated with a nine-point serrated line.
The white colour reflects the internationally recognized symbol of peace.
The maroon colour symbolizes the bloodshed during the several wars Qatar had undergone, particularly in the second half of the 19th century.
The nine-point serrated line indicates that Qatar is the 9th member of the "reconciled Emirates" of the Arabian Gulf in the wake of concluding the Qatari-British treaty in 1916.
This information on design and colour of Qatar flag was mentioned in the Archives of the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1931.

WORK HOURS

LOCAL TIME
AST (GMT/ + 3 Hours)
No Dayllight savings time observed
(World Time)

ELECTRICAL CURRENT
240 Volts / 50 Hertz