LOCATION
Qatar is a peninsula situated halfway along the West Coast of the Arabian Gulf. It has a number of islands, the most important of which are Halool, Shira'aw, Al-Ashat and others. Its topography consists of a rocky flat surface with some limestone outcrops in Dukhan area in the west and Fuwairit area in the north. The surface is full with characteristic depressions called Rawdat, particularly in the north and central plants.

LAND AREA
The total land area of Qatar is approximately 11,521 square kilometres.

POPULATION
Qatar's population is about 522,000, half of whom live in the capital city of Doha.

CAPITAL CITY
Doha

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

RELIGION
Islam is the official religion of the country, and the Shariah (Islamic Law) is the principal source of legislation in the country.

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

Summertime in Qatar, from June to September, is characterised by intense heat with alternating dryness and humidity with everyday temperatures usually exceeding 40°C. From October to May temperatures are moderate. Mid-winter temperatures may fall to around 15°C, which is relatively cool for the latitude. Rainfall is negligible, averaging 100 millimetres per year and is confined to the winter months, falling in brief, sometimes heavy storms that often flood the small ravines and the usually dry wadis.

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MAJOR TOWNS
Doha, Al Wakrah, Al Khor, Dukhan, Al Shamal, Mesaieed and others.

CURRENCY
The official currency is the Qatari Riyal (QR), which is divided into 100 dirhams. The Exchange parity has been set at the fixed rate of US $ = 3.65QR's.

GOVERNMENT
Qatar is a traditional monarchy and has been ruled by the Al-Thani family since the middle of the 19th Century. Qatar is currently ruled by the Emir, H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani.

INDEPENDENCE
Qatar gained independence on September 3rd 1971.

June 27th 1995
On this date His Highness, the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani assumed power.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Independence Day: 3rd September.
Eid Al-Fitr: 1st to 4th of Shawwal of Al-Hijrah.
Eid Al- Adha: 10th to 15th of Zilhijjah of Al-Hijrah.

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.

Meaning of the flag:

• 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:
Government offices: 7 am to 2 pm.
Commercial establishments: 7.30 am to 1.00, and 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm.
Retail establishments: 8.00 am to 12.30, and 4.30 pm to 8.00 – 10.00 pm
Friday and Saturday are the weekend holidays.

LOCAL TIME
3 hours + GMT (Greenwich Mean Time).

ELECTRICAL CURRENT
240 Volts + 6% with frequency 50 hertz.

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