Facts
Location: Middle East (peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia)
Capital City: Doha
Population: 1.6 million
Government: Emirate (monarchy)
Currency: Qatari Riyal (QAR)
Main Language: Arabic
Main Religion: Islam
Other facts:
Qatar holds over 15% of the world’s proven gas reserves. The North Field (which is half the size of the entire country) is the largest single reservoir of natural gas in the world
Qatar has a relatively small population which is dominated by non-natives
Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani cast out his father to become emir in 1995. He is attributed with radically modernising the country by introducing liberal reforms such as allowing women to drive and vote and freedom of the press
The weather in Qatar is extremely hot during summer months and pleasantly warm from October through March. There is very little rainfall throughout the year
Qatar has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world with oil and natural gas revenue contributing to around 70% of government revenues
