Location: Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia Population: 863,051 (July 2005 est.)
Total Area: 11,437 sq km - slightly smaller than Connecticut
Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish
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. Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements .
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 September
Economy - brief overview: Oil and gas account for more than 60% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have given Qatar a per capita GDP about 80% of that of the leading West European industrial countries. Proved oil reserves of 16 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 14 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total and third largest in the world. Qatar has permitted substantial foreign investment in the development of its gas fields during the last decade and is expected to become the world's top liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter by 2007.Budget: revenues: $17.31 billion. expenditures: $11.31 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.2 billion (2005 est.)
Labor force: 440,000 (2005 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
Oil - production: 790,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - imports: NA
Oil - exports: NA
Oil - proved reserves: 16 billion bbl (2005 est.)
Exports: $24.9 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - partners: Japan 41.9%, South Korea 15.8%, Singapore 9.1%, India 5.4% (2004)
Imports: $6.706 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - partners: France 26.6%, US 9.5%, Saudi Arabia 9.4%, UAE 6.3%, Germany 5.2%, Japan 5.2%, UK 5.1% (2004)
Government departments:
Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Media:
Gulf Times Newspaper - Qatar, Gulf and World News - Home
Aljazeera.Net English - Home Page
Alraya Newspaper - Qatar, Gulf and World News
Qatar News Agency
Travel Information:
Qatar Travel Information Lonely Planet Destination Guide
Other useful links:
Welcome To Qatar Petroleum!
US Qatar Business Council
News headlines
BankMuscat receives nod for Kuwait, Qatar branches Oman Daily Observer
Qatar: Udc Enters Another International Partnership TMCnet.com (Press Release)
Chili leaves Qatar 'broken, bruised and twisted'. Crash.net
Qatar prepares for another growth ... mena REPORT
QEWC to raise production capacity - Qatar Middle East North Africa Financial Network
Qatar: Galfar al-Misnad Engineering awarded contract for $42 million storage tanks Steel Mills of the World
Nation News In Brief: Qatar to chair UN panel meet The Peninsula
Qatar Airways talks new planes, new routes The Peninsula
Qatar bans poultry from India Khaleej Times
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