Gulf Radiological Society

STATE OF QATAR

Qatar occupies a peninsula, which extends northward for about 180 kilometres (100 miles) into the Arabian Gulf from the Arabian Peninsula. The country is bordered to the south by Saudi Arabia for a stretch of 56 kilometres or 35 miles. The total area of Qatar is 11,437 square kilometres or 4,260 square miles. Doha, the capital city, is located on the east coast.

A traditional monarchy, the State of Qatar is ruled by the Al Thani family. The Al Thani family arrived in Qatar in the early part of the 18th century, originally settling in the northern region of the country, and moving to Doha in the mid-19th century. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has been emir since early 1995. Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifah Al Thani is the prime minister. In 1999 the country's first elections were held, to elect a 29-member municipal council. Women were allowed to vote and stand for office in this election.

The State of Qatar produces less than 1% of the world's oil output. Crude oil and liquefied natural gas account for about 80% of the country's exports. The banking sector also plays an important role in Qatar's economy.

History

Ancient Times

First signs of human habitation in the Qatar peninsula date from 4000BC. Archaeological expeditions from Denmark (1965), Britain (1973) and France (1976) found rock carvings and groups of pottery that indicate human presence at that time. Qatar also appears on ancient maps, a clear sign that travellers and explorers knew of the presence of civilised settlements there. Some historical texts claim that the first inhabitants of Qatar are the ancient Canaanites, a people known for their trade and navigation skills.

Qatar strategic location on the Arabian Gulf was the main reason for the seasonal migration of Arab tribes from the Arabian Peninsula and particularly from the Nejd desert. When the ancient Mediterranean flourished with many civilisations, the Arabian Gulf area, with its strategic location, found commercial prosperity. Many fishing centres like Al Bida, Al Khor, Al Wakra and Al Zubara appeared which encouraged pearl trading. The Gulf suffered from a commercial decline during the Roman era as trade concentrated in the Red Sea area. However, from the third century AD the Gulf area regained its important trading position.

Islam

With the appearance of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula, Qatar converted in the mid seventh century AD and had a role in the spread of Islam beyond the seas. According to historical documents, Qatar became renowned for the skill of its people in weaving and cloth making as well as for the quality of its horses and camels. Some historians considered it part of the region then known as Bahrain, which covered the area from Basra in Iraq to Oman.
Qatar thrived in the Abbasid period and had excellent relations with the Caliphs in Baghdad. Abbasid artifacts were discovered in Moab fort in western Qatar. The fort itself is a good example of Abbasid architecture.

Ottoman Period

At the beginning of the sixteenth century, Qatar fell under the influence of the Portuguese, who succeeded in establishing their control over many areas in the Arabian Gulf and controlled trade and navigation. Their small forts can still be seen today. However, in 1538 AD, the Ottomans managed to expel the Portuguese and for four centuries Qatar, like other areas in the Gulf, was under Ottoman influence. Ottoman sovereignty was mostly a formality and real power stayed in the hands of local sheikhs.

Independence

Qatar remained a British protectorate until 1971 when Britain decided to withdraw from the Arabian Gulf area. Qatar then adopted a provisional constitution declaring it an independent Arab country with an official religion of Islam, using Shari'ah as the prime source of legislation and Arabic as an official language. The Al Thani family formally became the ruling dynasty. This period witnessed the arrival of a large number of workers particularly from Arab countries.

Independence Till Today

Qatar became an independent country on 3 September 1971. In 1974, the Qatar General Petroleum Corporation took control of all oil operations in the country.

Qatar rapidly became a rich country with a modern and well-developed infrastructure.

On 27 June 1995, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani assumed power with the support of the ruling family and the Qatari people. With his accession Qatar entered a new era of modernisation and embarked on the development of a strong base for democracy.
A great social and political transformation is under way.

Ruling Family

Al Thani presence in the Qatar peninsula dates from the eighteenth century when they arrived from the Gebrin oasis in the south of Nejd.

The family is named after its doyen Sheikh Thani bin Mohamed, the father of Sheikh Mohamed bin Thani who was the first to rule the peninsula in the middle of the nineteenth century. The Al Thani family is a branch of the Arab tribe of Beni Tameem who descend from Mudhar bin Nizar.

From the middle of the nineteenth century, Qatar became a centre of the pearl trade. It was ruled by Sheikh Mohamed bin Thani who had his capital at Al Bidda, the modern city of Doha, until his death in 1878. He was succeeded by Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed Al Thani who ruled with a great deal of independence from both Britain and the Ottomans. Sheikh Jassim thus became one of the most influential and powerful rulers of that era.

By the time of Ottoman withdrawal from Doha in 1915, power had passed to Sheikh Abdalla bin Jassim, who succeeded his father upon the latter's death two years earlier. Qatar, like the other emirates in the area, became a British protectorate when Sheikh Abdalla signed a treaty with Britain in 1916.

Neither took an active role in the running of the country. However this situation began to change in the 1950's when Sheikh Khalifa Bin Hamad, the cousin of Ahmed, became Heir Apparent and served not only as Prime Minister, but headed various other ministries such as Foreign Affairs, Finance and Petroleum and Education and Culture at different times. Sheikh Khalifa was effectively the first modern ruler of Qatar, taking a close interest in and a strong supervisory role over all aspects of the government and development of his country and people.

Sheikh Khalifa was succeeded by his son and Heir Apparent, H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa in 1995. Sheikh Hamad was born in Doha in 1950 and was educated both in Qatar and overseas. Prior to his accession, he also held the post of Defence Minister - a title which he has retained as Emir.

Since the accession of Sheikh Hamad, the country has made enormous strides forward in opening up its business and investment opportunities, in furthering the development of its hydrocarbon resources and in the expansion of foreign relations.

This is largely due to the influence of the Emir and to the implementation of policies that originated at the very highest level. Sheikh Hamad is enormously popular with his people, as was touchingly evidenced by the spontaneous displays of loyalty when he returned from extensive recuperation overseas, following a kidney transplant operation.

Sheikh Hamad is known as a great family man and takes a deep interest in the education and cultural development of his many children. In 1996, the Emir named his third son, H.H. Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad, Heir Apparent of Qatar. Educated at Sandhurst in Britain and in Qatar, Sheikh Jassim is rapidly assuming increasing responsibility and has deputised for his father on a number of occasions. The younger brother of the Emir, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa was appointed to the post of Prime Minister in 1996, and another brother, HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa became Deputy Prime Minister.

The Al-Thani are holders of absolute power in the State of Qatar, and have shown themselves to be benevolent, forward-thinking and wise rulers.

Political System

Qatar is an emirate with a conventional hereditary system. It is ruled by the Al Thani family whose presence in the peninsula dates from the eighteenth century. The Al Thani are named after the doyen of the family Sheikh Thani bin Mohamed who is the father of Sheikh Mohamed bin Thani, the first ruler of the Qatar peninsula in the mid nineteenth century. Al Thani are a branch of the Arab tribe of Beni Tameem.

The Emir is the head of state. In accordance with the modified provisional constitution, the Emir decrees laws on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers and after consultation with the Advisory Council. The Council of Ministers, appointed by an Emiri decree, is the highest executive authority in the land. However, laws are not enacted until after Emiri consent.

Oil & Gas
The cornerstone of Qatar's economy is the exploitation of its hydrocarbon resources. While considerable efforts are being made to diversify in order to lessen the dependence of the country on this natural resource, there is absolutely no doubt that the vast majority of Gross Domestic Product is generated by oil and gas and its associated industrial activities.

Since the mid 1980's, there has been a major breakthrough in the economic situation, with the discovery of the world's largest known non-associated offshore gas field in Qatari territory; placing the country third in terms of world natural gas reserves. Considerable resources have been invested in the development of facilities to exploit, process and export this invaluable resource. Additionally, the Government of Qatar has taken various measures to boost the production of existing oil and onshore gas reserves to substantially increase their output.
By entering into a series of Production Sharing Agreements with foreign oil and gas companies, Qatar has been successful in attracting foreign investment into its hydrocarbon industries, paving the way for new growth and increased economic activity. Furthermore, with plans to liberalise business laws and attract private sector investment in a variety of economic activities, the country will consolidate and strengthen its economic base by diversification in a number of areas.
Oil export revenues had grown steadily over the last few years until 1998, reaching QR 8.9 billion (US$ 2.44 billion) in 1995 and QR 12.4 billion (US$ 3.4 billion) in 1996. The estimates for 1997 were set at US$ 3.6 billion. Given that enhanced production methods in the oil sector are already in place figures were expected to rise substantially in the coming years.
Production rates had already grown significantly since 1994, and were targeted to reach 700/000 barrels per day (bpd) by the Year 2000. However, revenue projections are wholly dependent on prevalent world oil prices and the tumble in the price of oil in late 1998, added to the imposition of OPEC quotas on production in Qatar have meant that projections will have to be substantially revised. < in figure this boost to reserves sufficient are there and years, 25 next the for sold be contracted gas of (mtpa) annum per tons million 11 around present At healthy. project Development Field North from LNG revenue production forecasts>
Qatar Petroleum(QP),established in 1974, is wholly owned by the State and is responsible for all phases of the oil and gas industry in Qatar and abroad.