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Country Guide > Middle East > Qatar | |
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General Information Area 11,437 sq km (4416 sq miles). Population 618,000 (official estimate 2002). Population Density 54.0 per sq km. Capital Doha. Population: 264,009 (1997). Geography Qatar is an oil-rich peninsula jutting out into the Gulf between Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. There are hills in the northwest, but the rest of the country consists of sand dunes and salt flats, with scattered vegetation towards the north. Government Emirate since 1971. Gained independence from the UK in 1971. Head of State: Crown Prince Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani since 1995. Head of Government: Prime Minister Sheikh Abdallah bin Khalifa al-Thani since 1996. Language Arabic is the official language. Some English is spoken. Religion Islam. Time GMT + 3. Electricity 220-240 volts AC, 50Hz. Communications Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 974. There are no area codes. Outgoing international code: 0. Mobile telephone GSM 900 network exists. Main network provider is Q-tel (website: www.qtel.com.qa). Fax Available at some major hotels. Internet Main ISPs iclude Qatar (website: www.qatar.net.qa). Internet cafes exist in Doha. Telegram The Cable & Wireless office in Doha (0600-2300) and major hotels provide services. Post Airmail to Europe takes up to one week. Press English-language newspapers include the Gulf Times and The Peninsula. The main dailies are Al-’Arab, Ar-Raya and Ash-Sharq. Radio BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. |