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 cutterand gutter, but not like ka-tar (rhymes with guitar)

Data code QA

Government type traditional monarchy

National capital Doha

Administrative divisions 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah,Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batnah, Ash Shamal,Umm Salal

Independence 3 September 1971 (from UK)

National holiday Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Constitution provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972

Legal system discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codesare being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters

Suffrage none

Executive branch
chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995 when, as crown prince,he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad Al Thani, in a bloodless coup);Crown Prince JASSIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the amir(selected crown prince by the amir 22 October 1996); note - Amir HAMAD alsoholds the positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armedforces
head of government: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the amir (since30 October 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the amir
elections: none; the amir is an absolute monarch

Legislative branch unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointedby the amir)
note: the constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body,but no elections have been held since 1970, when there were partial electionsto the body; Council members have had their terms extended every four yearssince

Judicial branch Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders none

International organization participation ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Saad Muhammad al-KUBAYSI
chancery: Suite 200, 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick N. THEROS
embassy: 149 Ahmed Bin Ali St., Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the television station),Doha
mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha; pouch address - AMEMB Doha, Department of State,Washington, DC 20521-6130
telephone: [974] 864701 through 864703
FAX: [974] 861669

Flag description maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoistside

NOTE: The information regarding Qatar on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Qatar Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Qatar Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.