Qatar Country & Tourist Information

Location
Middle East, Gulf Coast.

Area
11,437 sq km (4,416 sq miles).

Population
907,229 (CIA estimate 2007).

Population Density
79 per sq km.

Capital
Doha.
Population:  339,847 (2004).

Government
Emirate since 1971. Gained independence from the UK in 1971. 

Language
Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken.

Religion
Islam.

Time
GMT + 3.

Electricity
220-240 volts AC, 50Hz.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem since 2007.

Head of State
Crown Prince Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani since 1995.

Recent History
The popular Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani is responsible for the rapid modernization of the country since he ousted his father in 1995. Wide-ranging reforms have included permitting women to drive and to vote, and a freedom of the press, most notably expressed through Al-Jazeera Independent Satellite TV Channels.

Telephone
Country code: 974. There are no area codes.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone operators. Coverage is good.

Internet
There are plenty of Internet cafes in Doha.

Media
There has been no censorship of the media since 1995. Qatar television has been renowned worldwide since the launch of Al-Jazeera in 1996, together with Al-Jazeera English (a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week English language news channel launched in 2006), which is extremely popular in and beyond the Arab world.

Post
Airmail to Europe takes up to one week.

Post office hours: Sun-Thurs 0700-2000, Sat 0800-1100 and 1700-1900.

Press
• English-language newspapers include the Gulf Times and The Peninsula.
• The main dailies are Al-’Arab, Ar-Raya and Ash-Sharq.

Radio
• Qatar Broadcasting Service (QBS) is state-run.
• The BBC World Service can be received on FM in Doha.

Below are Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
3 Sep Independence Day.
21 Sep Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) (4 days). 
28 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
18 Dec National Day.

2010
3 Sep Independence Day. 
10 Sep Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) (4 days). 
17 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
18 Dec National Day.



Note
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Contact Information:

Embassy of the State of Qatar in the UK
1 South Audley Street, Mayfair, London W1K 1HF, UK
Tel: (207) 493 2200.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1600 (1000-1400 during Ramadan); 0930-1230 (visa section).

Qatar Tourism Authority in the UK
First Floor, Kennedy House, 115 Hammersmith Road, London W14 0QH, UK
Tel: (020) 7371 1571.
Website: www.experienceqatar.com

Embassy of the State of Qatar in the USA
2555 M St, NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA
Tel: (202) 274 1600/3.
Website: www.qatarembassy.net


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