Location:

Qatar is a peninsula located halfway down the west coast of the Arabian Gulf. Its territory comprises a number of islands including Halul, Sheraouh, Al-Ashat and others.

Topographic Features
The terrain is flat and roc y with some low-rising limestone outcrops in !u han area in the west and "abal #iwairit in the north. It is characteri$ed by a %ariety of geographical phenomena including many co%es, inlets, depressions and surface rainwater-draining basins nown as riyadh &the

gardens', which are found mainly in the north and central part of the peninsula. These areas ha%e the most fertile soil and are rich in %egetation.

Land Area:
The total land area of Qatar is appro(imately )),*+) s,uare ilometers.

Population:
The population of Qatar amount to ),*--,--- inhabitants &according to the initial results of the second stage of the +--. population census'. /01 of inhabitants reside in !oha and its main suburb Al-2ayyan.

Capital City:
!oha

Official Language:
Arabic is the official language in Qatar, and 3nglish is widely spo en.

Religion:
Islam is the official religion of the country, and the Shariah &Islamic 4aw' is a main source of its legislations.

Climate:
Qatar has a moderate desert climate with long hot summers and short mild winters and little rain in winter.

Major Towns:
!oha, Al 5a rah, Al 6hor, !u han, Al Shamal, 7esaieed, 2as 4afan and others.

Currency:

The official currency is the Qatari 2iyal &Q2', which is di%ided into )-- dirhams. The 3(change parity has been set at the fi(ed rate of 8S 9 : 0.;*Q2<s.

National Day:
The )/th of !ecember e%ery year in commemoration of Shei h "asim bin 7ohammad =in Thani the founder of the State of Qatar.

27 June:
>n the +?Th of "une His Highness Shei h Hamad =in 6halifa Al-Thani assumed the rule of the State of Qatar supported by the ruling family and the Qatari people.

Public Holidays:
@ational 3id 3id Al-#itr Al!ayA HolidayA Starts Adha HolidayA )/th from starts the at of +/th .th of of !ecember 2amadan CilhiDDah in until the until the Bth )0th each of year. Shawwal . of CilhiDDah.

@ational Sports !ayA +nd Tuesday of #ebruary in each year.

National Flag:
The national flag is maroon colour with a broad %ertical white stripe at the pole, the two colours being separated with a nine-point serrated line.

Meaning of the Flag:

The white color reflects the internationally recogni$ed symbol of peace.

- The maroon color symboli$es the bloodshed during the se%eral wars Qatar had undergone, particularly in the second half of the ).th century.

- The nine-point serrated line indicates that Qatar is the .th member of the Ereconciled 3miratesE of the Arabian Gulf in the wa e of concluding the Qatari-=ritish treaty in ).);. This information on design and color of Qatar flag was mentioned in the Archi%es of the =ritish 7inistry of #oreign Affairs in ).0).

Work Hours:
Go%ernment Fri%ate officesA / am ? to )+ am noon, and to B pm + to / pm. pm.

establishmentsA

#riday and Saturday are the wee end holidays.

Local Time:
0 hours G Greenwich 7ean Time.

Electrical Current:
+B- Holts G ;1 with fre,uency *- hert$.

Entry Visa:
#ind more information about entry %isa to Qatar, please %isitwww.moi.gov.qa For further information about Qatar, please

visitwww.mofa.gov.qa, www.qatartourism.gov.qa