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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Qatar
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![[JPEG]](/images/frd/cs/jpeg.gif)
General Norman H. Schwarzkopf, commander in chief, United
States Central Command, with Brigadier General Muhammad ibn Abd
Allah Al Attiyah of Qatar, whom he presented with the Legion of
Merit for his role in Operation Desert Storm
Courtesy United States Air Force
General Norman H. Schwarzkopf speaks with Lieutenant
General Khamis ibn Humaid ibn Salim al Kilbani, chief of staff,
Royal Oman Land Forces, while touring As Sib Air Base during
Operation Desert Storm.
Courtesy United States Air Force
The numerous treaties that Britain concluded with the
several
gulf amirates in the nineteenth century provided, inter
alia,
that the British were responsible for foreign relations
and
protection from attack by sea. Until the early 1950s, the
principal military presence in the Trucial Coast states
(sometimes referred to as Trucial Oman) consisted of
British-led
Arab security forces and the personal bodyguard units of
the
ruling shaykhs. In 1951 the British formed the Trucial
Oman
Levies (later called the Trucial Oman Scouts) under a
British
commander who reported to the British political agent of
the
gulf. By the time the United Arab Emirates (UAE) became
independent on December 2, 1971, the scouts had become a
mobile
force of about 1,600 men, trained and led by about thirty
British
officers assisted by Jordanian noncommissioned officers
(NCOs).
Arabs from the Trucial Coast made up only about 40 percent
of the
strength; Omanis, Iranians, Pakistanis, and Indians made
up the
remainder. Organized as light armored cavalry, the scouts
used
British weapons, trucks, and armored cars in carrying out
police
functions and in keeping peace among the tribes of the
various
amirates. During its approximately two decades of
existence, the
unit was respected for its impartial role in maintaining
public
order on the coast.
At the time of independence and federation, the Trucial
Oman
Scouts became the nucleus of the Union Defense Force
(UDF),
responsible to the federal minister of defense, the
Supreme
Council of the Union, and--ultimately--to the president of
the
federation, Shaykh Zayid ibn Sultan Al Nuhayyan, ruler of
Abu
Dhabi, who continued to fill this office in 1993. Separate
amirate forces are also authorized by the provisional
constitution, and the separate entities of the
union--especially
Abu Dhabi--have made clear that they intend to maintain
their own
forces. Drawing on tremendous oil wealth accumulated in
the early
1960s, the amir of Abu Dhabi gave high priority to the
development of the Abu Dhabi Defense Force (ADDF) when the
British withdrawal from the gulf was announced. The
ADDF--with
15,000 men and primarily British and Jordanian officers--
consisted of three army battalions, an artillery battery,
twelve
Hawker Hunter fighter-bombers, and a sea defense wing of
four
fast patrol boats. Dubayy had a much smaller force of
2,000, Ras
al Khaymah had 900, and Sharjah had even fewer.
Personnel for the UDF and separate amirate forces were
recruited from several countries of the region, but soon
after
independence enlistments from Dhofar region in Oman and
from the
People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY, also seen as
South
Yemen) were curtailed out of fear that personnel from
these areas
might spread dangerous revolutionary doctrines. As the
largest in
territory, the most populous, and by far the richest of
the
amirates, Abu Dhabi has borne the brunt of funding the
federation's military establishment. A major step toward
unification of forces occurred in 1976 when Abu Dhabi,
Dubayy,
and Ras al Khaymah announced the merger of their separate
armed
forces with the UDF. Sharjah had previously merged its
police and
small military units into the UDF.
Despite the promises and pledges of 1976, true
integration
and unification of the UAE armed forces has not occurred.
The UDF
is seen by some, particularly the amir of Dubayy, as
merely an
extension of Abu Dhabi power. Individual amirs view their
forces
as symbols of sovereignty no matter the size or combat
readiness
of the units. The separate forces therefore continue as
they had
earlier, but they are called regional commands, only
nominally
part of the UDF. Shaykh Zayid ibn Sultan's attempt to
install his
eighteen-year-old son as commander in chief in 1978 shook
the
fragile unity of the UDF. Although the appointment was
rescinded,
Dubayy's resolve strengthened to maintain the autonomy of
the
Central Military Command, its own regional military
command.
As of 1992, the commander in chief of the UDF was Zayid
ibn
Sultan. The crown prince, Lieutenant General Khalifa ibn
Zayid Al
Nuhayyan, held immediate command as deputy commander in
chief.
The chief of staff with operational responsibilities was
Major
General Muhammad Said al Badi, a UAE national who replaced
a
Jordanian general in the post in the early 1980s. His
headquarters is in Abu Dhabi. The minister of defense is
Shaykh
Muhammad ibn Rashid Al Maktum, son of the ruler of Dubayy.
The
ministry, located in Dubayy, concerns itself primarily
with
administrative, personnel, and logistic matters and
apparently
has little influence on operational aspects of the UDF.
In data published by the Department of State in
mid-1991, the
total strength of the UDF with responsibility for defense
of six
of the seven amirates was estimated at 60,000. Dubayy
forces of
the Central Military Command with responsibility for the
defense
of Dubayy were given as 12,000. The Department of State
estimated
that there were 1,800 in the UDF air force and 1,000 in
the navy.
Estimates of ground forces given in The Military
Balance,
1992-1993 were significantly lower.
The Military Balance stated that perhaps 30
percent of
the armed services consist of foreigners, although other
sources
claim that the forces had a much higher proportion of
non-UAE
nationals. Omanis predominate in the enlisted ranks, but
there
are also many Pakistanis among the more than twenty
nationalities
represented. Well into the 1980s, many mid-level officers
were
Britons under contract, as well as Pakistanis and Omanis.
By 1991
the officer corps was composed almost exclusively of
amirate
nationals, according to the Department of State. The UAE
lacks a
conscription system and is unlikely to adopt one. It was
announced in 1990 that all university students would
undergo
military training as a requirement for graduation.
Although
adopted as a reaction to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the
UAE
authorities reportedly are considering continuation of the
requirement as a possible prelude to reservist training.
Data as of January 1993
Background
General Norman H. Schwarzkopf, commander in chief, United
States Central Command, with Brigadier General Muhammad ibn Abd
Allah Al Attiyah of Qatar, whom he presented with the Legion of
Merit for his role in Operation Desert Storm
Courtesy United States Air Force
General Norman H. Schwarzkopf speaks with Lieutenant
General Khamis ibn Humaid ibn Salim al Kilbani, chief of staff,
Royal Oman Land Forces, while touring As Sib Air Base during
Operation Desert Storm.
Courtesy United States Air Force
The numerous treaties that Britain concluded with the
several
gulf amirates in the nineteenth century provided, inter
alia,
that the British were responsible for foreign relations
and
protection from attack by sea. Until the early 1950s, the
principal military presence in the Trucial Coast states
(sometimes referred to as Trucial Oman) consisted of
British-led
Arab security forces and the personal bodyguard units of
the
ruling shaykhs. In 1951 the British formed the Trucial
Oman
Levies (later called the Trucial Oman Scouts) under a
British
commander who reported to the British political agent of
the
gulf. By the time the United Arab Emirates (UAE) became
independent on December 2, 1971, the scouts had become a
mobile
force of about 1,600 men, trained and led by about thirty
British
officers assisted by Jordanian noncommissioned officers
(NCOs).
Arabs from the Trucial Coast made up only about 40 percent
of the
strength; Omanis, Iranians, Pakistanis, and Indians made
up the
remainder. Organized as light armored cavalry, the scouts
used
British weapons, trucks, and armored cars in carrying out
police
functions and in keeping peace among the tribes of the
various
amirates. During its approximately two decades of
existence, the
unit was respected for its impartial role in maintaining
public
order on the coast.
At the time of independence and federation, the Trucial
Oman
Scouts became the nucleus of the Union Defense Force
(UDF),
responsible to the federal minister of defense, the
Supreme
Council of the Union, and--ultimately--to the president of
the
federation, Shaykh Zayid ibn Sultan Al Nuhayyan, ruler of
Abu
Dhabi, who continued to fill this office in 1993. Separate
amirate forces are also authorized by the provisional
constitution, and the separate entities of the
union--especially
Abu Dhabi--have made clear that they intend to maintain
their own
forces. Drawing on tremendous oil wealth accumulated in
the early
1960s, the amir of Abu Dhabi gave high priority to the
development of the Abu Dhabi Defense Force (ADDF) when the
British withdrawal from the gulf was announced. The
ADDF--with
15,000 men and primarily British and Jordanian officers--
consisted of three army battalions, an artillery battery,
twelve
Hawker Hunter fighter-bombers, and a sea defense wing of
four
fast patrol boats. Dubayy had a much smaller force of
2,000, Ras
al Khaymah had 900, and Sharjah had even fewer.
Personnel for the UDF and separate amirate forces were
recruited from several countries of the region, but soon
after
independence enlistments from Dhofar region in Oman and
from the
People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY, also seen as
South
Yemen) were curtailed out of fear that personnel from
these areas
might spread dangerous revolutionary doctrines. As the
largest in
territory, the most populous, and by far the richest of
the
amirates, Abu Dhabi has borne the brunt of funding the
federation's military establishment. A major step toward
unification of forces occurred in 1976 when Abu Dhabi,
Dubayy,
and Ras al Khaymah announced the merger of their separate
armed
forces with the UDF. Sharjah had previously merged its
police and
small military units into the UDF.
Despite the promises and pledges of 1976, true
integration
and unification of the UAE armed forces has not occurred.
The UDF
is seen by some, particularly the amir of Dubayy, as
merely an
extension of Abu Dhabi power. Individual amirs view their
forces
as symbols of sovereignty no matter the size or combat
readiness
of the units. The separate forces therefore continue as
they had
earlier, but they are called regional commands, only
nominally
part of the UDF. Shaykh Zayid ibn Sultan's attempt to
install his
eighteen-year-old son as commander in chief in 1978 shook
the
fragile unity of the UDF. Although the appointment was
rescinded,
Dubayy's resolve strengthened to maintain the autonomy of
the
Central Military Command, its own regional military
command.
As of 1992, the commander in chief of the UDF was Zayid
ibn
Sultan. The crown prince, Lieutenant General Khalifa ibn
Zayid Al
Nuhayyan, held immediate command as deputy commander in
chief.
The chief of staff with operational responsibilities was
Major
General Muhammad Said al Badi, a UAE national who replaced
a
Jordanian general in the post in the early 1980s. His
headquarters is in Abu Dhabi. The minister of defense is
Shaykh
Muhammad ibn Rashid Al Maktum, son of the ruler of Dubayy.
The
ministry, located in Dubayy, concerns itself primarily
with
administrative, personnel, and logistic matters and
apparently
has little influence on operational aspects of the UDF.
In data published by the Department of State in
mid-1991, the
total strength of the UDF with responsibility for defense
of six
of the seven amirates was estimated at 60,000. Dubayy
forces of
the Central Military Command with responsibility for the
defense
of Dubayy were given as 12,000. The Department of State
estimated
that there were 1,800 in the UDF air force and 1,000 in
the navy.
Estimates of ground forces given in The Military
Balance,
1992-1993 were significantly lower.
The Military Balance stated that perhaps 30
percent of
the armed services consist of foreigners, although other
sources
claim that the forces had a much higher proportion of
non-UAE
nationals. Omanis predominate in the enlisted ranks, but
there
are also many Pakistanis among the more than twenty
nationalities
represented. Well into the 1980s, many mid-level officers
were
Britons under contract, as well as Pakistanis and Omanis.
By 1991
the officer corps was composed almost exclusively of
amirate
nationals, according to the Department of State. The UAE
lacks a
conscription system and is unlikely to adopt one. It was
announced in 1990 that all university students would
undergo
military training as a requirement for graduation.
Although
adopted as a reaction to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the
UAE
authorities reportedly are considering continuation of the
requirement as a possible prelude to reservist training.
Data as of January 1993
|
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. As of 2007, oil and natural gas revenues had enabled Qatar to attain the second-highest per capita income in the world.
|
|
Location | | Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
|
|
Area(sq km) | | total: 11,586 sq km
land: 11,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km
|
|
Geographic coordinates | | 25 30 N, 51 15 E
|
|
Land boundaries(km) | | total: 60 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km
|
|
Coastline(km) | | 563 km
|
|
Climate | | arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
|
|
Elevation extremes(m) | | lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m
|
|
Natural resources | | petroleum, natural gas, fish
|
|
Land use(%) | | arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0.27%
other: 98.09% (2005)
|
|
Irrigated land(sq km) | | 130 sq km (2002)
|
|
Total renewable water resources(cu km) | | 0.1 cu km (1997)
|
|
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) | | total: 0.29 cu km/yr (24%/3%/72%)
per capita: 358 cu m/yr (2000)
|
|
Natural hazards | | haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
|
|
Environment - current issues | | limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
|
|
Environment - international agreements | | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
|
|
Geography - note | | strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits
|
|
Population | | 833,285 (July 2009 est.)
|
|
Age structure(%) | | 0-14 years: 21.8% (male 93,805/female 88,040)
15-64 years: 76.8% (male 454,714/female 185,004)
65 years and over: 1.4% (male 6,792/female 4,930) (2009 est.)
|
|
Median age(years) | | total: 30.8 years
male: 32.8 years
female: 25.4 years (2009 est.)
|
|
Population growth rate(%) | | 0.957% (2009 est.)
|
|
Birth rate(births/1,000 population) | | 15.61 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
|
|
Death rate(deaths/1,000 population) | | 2.46 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
|
|
Net migration rate(migrant(s)/1,000 population) | | -3.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
|
|
Urbanization(%) | | urban population: 96% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
|
|
Sex ratio(male(s)/female) | | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.46 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.38 male(s)/female
total population: 2 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
|
|
Infant mortality rate(deaths/1,000 live births) | | total: 12.66 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
|
|
Life expectancy at birth(years) | | total population: 75.35 years
male: 73.66 years
female: 77.14 years (2009 est.)
|
|
Total fertility rate(children born/woman) | | 2.45 children born/woman (2009 est.)
|
|
Nationality | | noun: Qatari(s)
adjective: Qatari
|
|
Ethnic groups(%) | | Arab 40%, Indian 18%, Pakistani 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
|
|
Religions(%) | | Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other 14% (2004 census)
|
|
Languages(%) | | Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
|
|
Country name | | conventional long form: State of Qatar
conventional short form: Qatar
local long form: Dawlat Qatar
local short form: Qatar
note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar
|
|
Government type | | emirate
|
|
Capital | | name: Doha
geographic coordinates: 25 17 N, 51 32 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
|
|
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
|
|
Constitution | | ratified by public referendum on 29 April 2003, endorsed by the Amir on 8 June 2004, effective on 9 June 2005
|
|
Legal system | | based on Islamic and civil law codes; discretionary system of law controlled by the Amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
|
|
Suffrage | | 18 years of age; universal
|
|
Executive branch | | chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani (since 27 June 1995 when, as heir apparent, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad al-Thani, in a bloodless coup); Heir Apparent TAMIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, fourth son of the amir (selected Heir Apparent by the amir 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 HAMAD bin Jasim bin Jabir al-Thani (since 3 April 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah bin Hamad al-ATIYAH (since 3 April 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the amir
elections: the amir is hereditary
note: in April 2007, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council (CMC), which has limited consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services; the first election for the CMC was held in March 1999
|
|
Legislative branch | | unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed)
note: no legislative elections have been held since 1970 when there were partial elections to the body; Council members have had their terms extended every year since the new constitution came into force on 9 June 2005; the constitution provides for a new 45-member Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura; the public would elect two-thirds of the Majlis al-Shura; the Amir would appoint the remaining members; preparations are underway to conduct elections to the Majlis al-Shura
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|
Judicial branch | | Courts of First Instance, Appeal, and Cassation; an Administrative Court and a Constitutional Court were established in 2007; note - all judges are appointed by Amiri Decree based on the recommendation of the Supreme Judiciary Council for renewable three-year terms
|
|
Political pressure groups and leaders | | none
|
|
International organization participation | | ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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|
Flag description | | maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side
|
|
Economy - overview | | Qatar has experienced rapid economic growth over the last several years on the back of high oil prices, and in 2008 posted its eighth consecutive budget surplus. Economic policy is focused on developing Qatar's nonassociated natural gas reserves and increasing private and foreign investment in non-energy sectors, but oil and gas still account for more than 50% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have made Qatar the second highest per-capita income country - following Liechtenstein - and one of the world's fastest growing. Proved oil reserves of 15 billion barrels should enable continued output at current levels for 37 years. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas are nearly 26 trillion cubic meters, about 14% of the world total and third largest in the world. The drop in oil prices in late 2008 and the global financial crisis will reduce Qatar's budget surplus and may slow the pace of investment and development projects in 2009.
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|
GDP (purchasing power parity) | | $91.55 billion (2008 est.)
$80.73 billion (2007 est.)
$68.82 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
|
|
GDP (official exchange rate) | | $102.3 billion (2008 est.)
|
|
GDP - real growth rate(%) | | 13.4% (2008 est.)
17.3% (2007 est.)
12.2% (2006 est.)
|
|
GDP - per capita (PPP) | | $111,000 (2008 est.)
$99,100 (2007 est.)
$85,800 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
|
|
GDP - composition by sector(%) | | agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 74.9%
services: 25.1% (2008 est.)
|
|
Labor force | | 1.119 million (2008 est.)
|
|
Unemployment rate(%) | | 0.4% (2008 est.)
0.7% (2007 est.)
|
|
Population below poverty line(%) | | NA%
|
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share(%) | | lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
|
|
Investment (gross fixed)(% of GDP) | | 32.1% of GDP (2008 est.)
|
|
Budget | | revenues: $36.59 billion
expenditures: $27.14 billion (2008 est.)
|
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices)(%) | | 15.2% (2008 est.)
13.7% (2007 est.)
|
|
Stock of money | | $13.98 billion (31 December 2008)
$9.718 billion (31 December 2007)
|
|
Stock of quasi money | | $36.58 billion (31 December 2008)
$22.6 billion (31 December 2007)
|
|
Stock of domestic credit | | $59.43 billion (31 December 2008)
$30.52 billion (31 December 2007)
|
|
Market value of publicly traded shares | | $76.31 billion (31 December 2008)
$95.49 billion (31 December 2007)
$61.56 billion (31 December 2006)
|
|
Economic aid - recipient | | $2.18 million (2004)
|
|
Public debt(% of GDP) | | 5.1% of GDP (2008 est.)
11% of GDP (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
|
|
Industrial production growth rate(%) | | 13% (2008 est.)
|
|
Current account balance | | $15.07 billion (2008 est.)
$10.45 billion (2007 est.)
|
|
Exports | | $55.73 billion (2008 est.)
$42.02 billion (2007 est.)
|
|
Exports - commodities(%) | | liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel
|
|
Exports - partners(%) | | Japan 38.5%, South Korea 20.9%, Singapore 11.1%, India 4.5%, Thailand 4.4% (2008)
|
|
Imports | | $25.11 billion (2008 est.)
$19.82 billion (2007 est.)
|
|
Imports - commodities(%) | | machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals
|
|
Imports - partners(%) | | US 12.1%, Germany 9%, Italy 8.9%, Japan 8%, South Korea 7.5%, France 6.2%, UAE 5.5%, UK 4.9%, Saudi Arabia 4.6%, Turkey 4.2%, China 4.2% (2008)
|
|
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | | $9.998 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$9.752 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
|
|
Debt - external | | $57.37 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$33.09 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
|
|
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home | | $3.627 billion (2008 est.)
$2.601 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
|
|
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad | | $5.363 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$6.993 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
|
|
Exchange rates | | Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar - 3.64 (2008 est.), 3.64 (2007), 3.64 (2006), 3.64 (2005), 3.64 (2004)
|
|
Currency (code) | | Qatari rial (QAR)
|
|
Telephones - main lines in use | | 263,400 (2008)
|
|
Telephones - mobile cellular | | 1.683 million (2008)
|
|
Telephone system | | general assessment: modern system centered in Doha
domestic: combined fixed and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 200 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 974; landing point for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and the US; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and the UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (2008)
|
|
Internet country code | | .qa
|
|
Internet users | | 436,000 (2008)
|
|
Airports | | 5 (2009)
|
|
Pipelines(km) | | condensate 145 km; condensate/gas 132 km; gas 978 km; liquid petroleum gas 90 km; oil 382 km (2008)
|
|
Roadways(km) | | total: 7,790 km (2006)
|
|
Ports and terminals | | Doha, Ra's Laffan
|
|
Military branches | | Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN), Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF) (2009)
|
|
Military service age and obligation(years of age) | | 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)
|
|
Manpower available for military service | | males age 16-49: 320,383
females age 16-49: 167,475 (2008 est.)
|
|
Manpower fit for military service | | males age 16-49: 318,388
females age 16-49: 136,841 (2009 est.)
|
|
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually | | male: 6,337
female: 5,059 (2009 est.)
|
|
Military expenditures(% of GDP) | | 10% of GDP (2005 est.)
|
|
Disputes - international | | none
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Trafficking in persons | | current situation: Qatar is a destination country for men and women from South and Southeast Asia who migrate willingly, but are subsequently trafficked into involuntary servitude as domestic workers and laborers, and, to a lesser extent, commercial sexual exploitation; the most common offense was forcing workers to accept worse contract terms than those under which they were recruited; other conditions include bonded labor, withholding of pay, restrictions on movement, arbitrary detention, and physical, mental, and sexual abuse
tier rating: Tier 3 - Qatar failed, for the second consecutive year, to enforce criminal laws against traffickers, or to provide an effective mechanism to identify and protect victims; it continues to detain and deport victims rather than providing them protection; the government made little progress to increase prosecutions for trafficking in a meaningful way in 2007; workers complaining of working conditions or non-payment of wages were sometimes penalized (2008)
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Electricity - production(kWh) | | 15.11 billion kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity - production by source(%) | | fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
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Electricity - consumption(kWh) | | 13.73 billion kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity - exports(kWh) | | 0 kWh (2008 est.)
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Electricity - imports(kWh) | | 0 kWh (2008 est.)
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Oil - production(bbl/day) | | 1.208 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil - consumption(bbl/day) | | 129,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil - exports(bbl/day) | | 1.043 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil - imports(bbl/day) | | 0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil - proved reserves(bbl) | | 15.21 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
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Natural gas - production(cu m) | | 76.98 billion cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption(cu m) | | 20.2 billion cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural gas - exports(cu m) | | 56.78 billion cu m (2008)
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Natural gas - proved reserves(cu m) | | 25.26 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate(%) | | 0.09% (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | | NA
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HIV/AIDS - deaths | | NA
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Literacy(%) | | definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 89.1%
female: 88.6% (2004 census)
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)(years) | | total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)
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Education expenditures(% of GDP) | | 3.3% of GDP (2005)
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![[JPEG]](/images/frd/cs/qatar/qa07_08c.jpg)
![[JPEG]](/images/frd/cs/qatar/qa07_08d.jpg)
