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State
Of
Qatar
Location:
Qatar
is a peninsula situated
halfway along the West Coast of the
Arabian Gulf
. It has a number of
islands, the most important of which are Halool, Shira'aw, Al-Ashat and others.
Its topography consists of a rocky flat surface with some limestone outcrops in
Dukhan area in the west and Fuwairit area in the north. The surface is full with
characteristic depressions called Rawdat, particularly in the north and central
plants.
Land Area:
The total land area of
Qatar
is approximately 11,521
square kilometers.
Population:
The population of
Qatar
amount to 743000
inhabitants (according to the initial results of the second stage of the 2004
population census) compared to 522000 inhabitants in the last census conducted
in 1997. 83% of inhabitants reside in
Doha
and its main suburb
Al-Rayyan.
Capital
City
:
Doha
Official Language:
Arabic is the official language in
Qatar
, and English is widely
spoken.
Religion:
Islam is the official religion of the country, and
the Shariah (Islamic Law) is the principal source of legislation in the country.
Climate:
Qatar
has a moderate desert
climate with long hot summers and short mild winters and little rain in winter.
Major Towns:
Doha, Al Wakrah, Al Khor, Dukhan, Al Shamal,
Mesaieed, Ras Lafan and others.
Currency:
The official currency is the Qatari Riyal (QR),
which is divided into 100 dirhams. The Exchange parity has been set at the fixed
rate of US $ = 3.65QR's.
Independence
:
Qatar
gained independence on
September 3rd 1971
.
27 June 1995
:
On
the 27Th of June 1995
His Highness Sheikh Hamad
Bin Khalifa Al-Thani assumed the rule of the State of Qatar supported by the
ruling family and the Qatari people.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:
Independence Day: 3rd September.
Eid Al-Fitr: At the 1st of Shawwal for four days.
Eid Al- Adha: starts at 9th of Zilhijjah for five
days.
National flag:
The national flag is maroon colour with a broad
vertical white stripe at the pole, the two colours being separated with a
nine-point serrated line.
Meaning of the flag:
A- The white colour reflects the internationally
recognized symbol of peace.
B- The maroon colour symbolizes the bloodshed
during the several wars
Qatar
had undergone, particularly
in the second half of the 19th century.
C- The nine-point serrated line indicates that
Qatar
is the 9th member of the
"reconciled Emirates" of the
Arabian Gulf
in the wake of concluding
the Qatari-British treaty in 1916. This information on design and colour of
Qatar
flag was mentioned in the
Archives of the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1931.
WORK HOURS:
Government offices:
7 am to 2 pm.
Private establishments:
8 am to 12 noon
, and
4 pm to 8 pm.
Friday and Saturday are the weekend holidays.
LOCAL TIME:
3 hours + Greenwich Mean Time.
ELECTRICAL CURRENT:
240 Volts + 6% with frequency 50 hertz.
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