Qatar has an emirate-type government with Islamic law dominating family and personal matters. Islam is the predominant religion, with 80% of citizens being Muslim. The Qatari peninsula is smaller than Connecticut and much of it consists of low, barren plains. Qatar's economy relies heavily on oil and natural gas exports, which account for over half of GDP and the majority of export earnings and government revenues.

1. “ QATAR ”

2. Qatar explicitly uses Sharia law as the basis of its government and the vast majority of its citizens follow Hanbali Madhhab. Alcohol is legal with a permit but it is not permitted to drink it in public. QATAR CULTURE

3. QATAR POLITICS Qatar has an emirate-type government. Its legal system combines Islamic (or Sharia) and civil law codes in a discretionary system of law controlled by the Emir. Although civil codes are being implemented, Islamic law dominates family and personal matters. The country has not accepted compulsory International Court of Justice jurisdiction.

4. QATAR RELIGION Islam is the predominant religion. While Muslims constitute 80% of the population only 6% of these Muslims are Shia. Non-citizens can be Sunni or Shi'a Muslims, Protestant or Catholic Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, or Bahá'ís. The majority of non-citizens are from South and Southeast Asian and Arab countries working on temporary employment contracts

5. QATAR GEOGRAPHY The Qatari peninsula juts 100 miles (161 km) north into the Persian Gulf from Saudi Arabia and is slightly smaller than the state of Connecticut, USA. It lies between latitudes 24° and 27° N, and longitudes 50° and 52° E. Much of the country consists of a low, barren plain, covered with sand.

6. QATAR ECONOMY Qatar’s national income primarily derives from oil and natural gas exports. The country has oil reserves of 15 billion barrels, while gas reserves in the giant North Field (South Pars for Iran). Economic policy is focused on developing Qatar's non associated natural gas reserves but oil and gas still account for more than 50% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues.

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