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  • LIVING IN QATAR BOOK
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Politics - Economics - Energy - Education - Links

History of the State of Qatar History of the State of Qatar
Qatar first appears in history in the notes of the geographer who accompanied the fleet of Alexander the Great in the retreat from India. During late Greco-Roman times, Qatar was the seat of an important Kingdom and Christian diocese.

After the Islamic Conquest Qatar remained a center for pearling and trade with the Indian sub-continent. Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar was occupied first by the Ottomans in the 18th Century and by the British in the late 19th Century.

The British ruled the nominally independent state as a protectorate from 1905 through 1971 with economic policies that pauperized the country. With the discovery of oil in the early 1950’s Qatar slowly transformed itself into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues.

After independence and through the 1980’s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy stagnated under the unimaginative rule of the then Emir, Shaikh Khalifah, who had ruled the country since overthrowing his uncle in1972. Shaikh Khalifah himself was finally deposed in favor of his son by an internal Al-Thani family council in June, 1995.

Politics
After coming to power in 1995 the new Emir, Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifah Al Thani, quickly inaugurated a far reaching and extremely progressive program to modernize Qatar politically, socially and economically. The modernization program includes the complete reorganization of the educational system, creation of a democratically elected municipal council with universal suffrage, development of Qatar’s natural gas resources, the establishment of a free press and the drafting of Qatar’s first Constitution.

In foreign affairs, the Government of Qatar has become the first country in the region to resolve all its border disputes with its neighbors including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iran and has developed an extremely close strategic relationship with the United States.

Economics
Today, the development of Qatar’s oil and natural gas revenues enable it s citizens to enjoy perhaps the highest per capita income in the world. Investment in Qatari infrastructure and industry has reached a fever pitch Qatar has become a major overseas investor as well. Today, Qatar is the best example of a country that can punch well above its weight.

Oil and gas account for more than 60% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have made Qatar one of the world's faster growing and higher per-capita income countries - in 2006 per-capita income equaled that of the EU.

Sustained high oil prices and increased natural gas exports in recent years have helped build Qatar's budget and trade surpluses and foreign reserves. Proved oil reserves of more than 15 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years.

Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 25 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 in 2007.

Qatar is also trying to attract foreign investment in the development of its non-energy projects by further liberalizing the economy.

Energy

Education
Qatar’s Education City was established as a modern center for a number of educational institutions in Qatar. Several American universities have opened campuses in Education City, including Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell Weill Medical College, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Texas A&M University, and Virginia Commonwealth University School of Art. Additionally Education City houses programs for primary and secondary students through Qatar Academy, Qatar Leadership Academy, Academic Bridge Program, and The Learning Center. Administered by Qatar Foundation, Doha’s Education City is slated to grow to a total size of 2,500 acres. The campus will includes technology-equipped residential, sports, commercial, scientific, and convention facilities as well as academic classrooms. Education City, Qatar Foundation¹s flagship project, is envisioned as a center of excellence in education and research that will help transform Qatar into a knowledge-based society.

Links
Country Commercial Guide 2007: State of Qatar
This Country Commercial Guide (CCG) presents a comprehensive look at Qatar’s commercial environment, using economic, political and market analyses. The CCG’s were established by recommendation of the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC), a multi-agency task force, to consolidate various reporting documents prepared for the U.S. business community. Country Commercial Guides are prepared annually at U.S. embassies through the combined efforts of several U.S. government agencies

Lawyers in Qatar
A list maintained by the American Embassy in Doha

Qatar Yellow Pages
Searchable listing of phone numbers from hotels and restaurants to importers/exporters.

Ministers of Qatar
A US State Department listing of Qatari Ministers and Chiefs of State

Liquefied Natural Gas Media Link
National Public Radio audio clip detailing LNG processing, in general, and LNG terminals in the United States.

CNOOC bid for Unocal Media Link

Doha Securities Market
As of April 3, 2005 the DSM is open to foreign investment. Click on this link to find out more.

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