All about the State of Qatar

Location
Qatar is a peninsula in the middle of the west coast of the Arabian Gulf. It includes a number of islands and the most important are : Halul, Sharaoah and Al Ashat. The territory consists of a rocky flat surface with some highlands and limestone hills in Dukhan in the west and Mount Fuwairet in the north. This surface is featured by many creeks, bays, basins and depressions called  (riyad), located in the north and central areas, which are considered the most fertile sites with a high incidence of natural plants.

Area
The area of the State of Qatar is (11.521) square kilometers.

Population
The population of the State of Qatar is (1.61) million people, half of them live in the capital, Doha.

Capital
Doha

Language Arabic language is the official language of the country.

Religion
Islam is the official religion of the State of Qatar and the Islamic Shariah is the main source of legislation in the country.

Climate
Qatar experiences a desert climate; it is hot during summer and warm with few rain in winter.

Most Important Cities
Doha:
Doha is located in the Middle Eastern coast of Qatar. It is inhabited by half of the population of the country where most commercial, financial and governmental activities are concentrated.

Al Khor:
Al Khor is characterized by its beautiful mosques and the museum, which include valuable artifacts and acquisitions. It has also historic towers. The importance of this city has increased after the establishment of Ras Laffan Industrial City to exploit the north gas field.

Al Wakrah:
Al Wakrah is located between Doha and Umm Saeed. It is a thriving trading centre and fishing port and has an old port being used till now. The city is famous for the beautiful mosques and many houses built according to an ancient Islamic architecture. There is also a museum which includes traditional Arab gates and other antiquities.

Dukhan:
Dukhan is a beautiful city where the oil land fields are concentrated on a distance of 84km west of Doha.

Al Shamal (North):
Al Shamal is considered as a modern city which was built to be an administrative centre for a number of coastal villages in the north of the country. It is about 107 kilometres from Doha.
Umm Saeed;

Located in the south-east of the country, where heavy industries are concentrated. It has the major port for the exportation of oil in addition to the commercial harbor. It is about 45km from Doha.

Most Important Tourist Sites
Sealine Beach Resort:
Located at a distance of (55) km from the capital Doha. The resort offers vast options of rooms, chalets and villas all overlooking the sea in addition to many sports facilities in the resort and a number of diverse restaurants and facilities for meetings and conferences.

Palm Island:
Palm Island is only ten minutes distance from Doha Corniche and can be accessed on the traditional boats, where there are facilities for children and families in addition to the restaurant which offers seafood, grills and a café. There are berths for traditional boats, beside of the Doha Sheraton Hotel on the Corniche and open from 9:00 am to 9:30 pm every day.

Zoo:
The zoo is located at a distance of (20) km from Doha on Salwa Road and includes a wide range of animals, reptiles, birds and small Leisure City for children. The park is open from 3-9 pm daily except Sunday.

Bidaa Zone:
This park is located on the Doha Corniche, with green surfaces and toys for children and a popular market and restaurants. It is always open without entrance fees.
There are other parks and gardens in different parts of the capital at affordable rates  such  as Al Wakrah and Al Khor parks.

Khor Al  Udaid Beach:
It is located on the south-eastern side of Qatar, (78) kilometres from Doha. This beautiful beach is featured with sand dunes up to forty metres, in addition to Fuwairet and Dukhan beaches and others.

Al Jassasiya:
A series of Rocky Mountains overlooking the north-east coast of the country between Al Hawilah and Fuwairet villages. It has hundreds of sculptures dated back to prehistoric times.

Public Traditions House:
It is the only example of its kind remaining in the city of Doha, located on Grand Hamad Street. It opens its doors from Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 12 pm and from 3 pm to 6 pm, on Fridays from 3 pm to 6 pm. It is closed only on Saturdays.

AL-Zubara Fort:
It is located in Zubara City at a distance of 105 miles north-west of Doha. The castle is     open to public except for Friday and Saturday mornings and without fees.

Doha  – AL Kot  Fort:         
One of the few remaining military forts in Doha, located on Jassim Bin Mohammed Street. It is open on Saturday and Friday in the morning and entry is free of charge.

Umm Salal Mohammed Fort:
Located in Umm Salal Mohammed, 21 kilometres away from Doha, one of the residential castles dated back to the late nineteenth century.

Barzan Tower:
Located in Umm Salal Mohammad area and dated back to the late nineteenth century.

Currency
Qatari Riyal, 1 Qr. = 100 dirhams, and the US dollar = Qr. 3.65 (fixed conversion ).

National Independence Day
September 3, 1971

National Anthem                                                                 
The current national anthem was played for the first time on Saturday, December 7, 1996, during the reception of the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries on the occasion of the seventh session of the Cooperation Council Summit in Doha.
June 27, 1995, the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani ascended to the throne on this date.

Holidays

Flag of the State of Qatar
The national flag of the State of Qatar is reddish brown crossed by white colour, with nine heads into the reddish brown part.

Meaning of the Flag

1. The white is the internationally known symbol of peace.
2. Reddish brown symbolizes the clotted blood. Qatar incurred a lot of blood in many wars, especially in the last half of the nineteenth century.
3. The nine heads of the flag of the State of Qatar symbolized that the state of Qatar is the ninth member of the Conciliated States in the Gulf States after the conclusion of the Qatari-British Convention in 1916. This event has been reported in the files of the British Foreign Office in 1931 on the design and colour of the flag of the State of Qatar.

Local Time
GMT + 3 hours.

Working Hours
Governmental Departments working hours : from 7 am to 2 pm.
Companies and private institutions’ working hours:
Shift system: 8 am to 12 pm , 4 pm to 8 pm
The official weekend is on Fridays and Saturdays

Electricity:
240 volts + 6 with frequency of 50 Hertz