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Qatar Government 1999

    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

    Data code: QA

    Government type: traditional monarchy

    Capital: Doha

    Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular—baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat 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 codes are 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 monarch (selected crown prince by the monarch 22 October 1996); note—Amir HAMAD also holds the positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed forces
    head of government: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996); Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since 20 January 1998)
    cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
    elections: none; the monarch is hereditary

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

    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, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

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

    Diplomatic representation from the US:
    chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth MCKUNE
    embassy: 149 Ahmed Bin Ali St., Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha
    mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha
    telephone: [974] 864701 through 864703
    FAX: [974] 861669
    note: work week is Saturday-Wednesday

    Flag description: maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side

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Revised 1-Mar-99
Copyright © 1999 Photius Coutsoukis (all rights reserved)