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,

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)

Constitution: provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972; in July 1999 Amir HAMAD issued a decree forming a committee to draft a permanent constitution; in the 29 April 2003 referendum, 96.6% of Qatari voters approved the new constitution; on 8 June 2004 the new constitution came into force.

Related Links

Institute of Administrative Development
Arabic Only

Planning Council
Frequently updated excellent site with statistics and plans for the Qatar's future.

Qatar Charitable Society
Arabic Only

Qatar Post
One of most innovative postal organizations in the world. Excellent website.