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Background Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by the amir who had ruled the country since 1972. He was overthrown by his son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, in a bloodless coup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Oil and natural gas revenues enable Qatar to have a per capita income not far below the leading industrial countries of Western Europe.
Location:
Climate: temperate; clear hot dry summers, and warm dry winters. Summer: July and August time is properly the time when you shouldn't come to Qatar as it's too hot. Top temperatures 43c. The best time to come is is in winter as it's still sunny and warm. Winter: In Qatar is never everr snows. It can rain, though this is unlikely. Top temperatures 24c.
Population: 793,341 (July 2002 est.)
Capital city: Doha
Religions: Muslim 81%, Chritian 8%, Hindu 5% 6% other.
Languages: 39% (official) 97%, 60% Arabic (official), 1% Other.
People: Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, 10% Western European 4% North American
GDP: purchasing power parity - $16.3 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $21,200 (2002 est.)
Map of Qatar
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