Qatar

Area: 11,435 sq km

Population: 1.4m (Planning Council, Annual Abstract 2008)

Capital City: Doha

People: Arab, Muslim majority

Languages: Arabic (official), English (also widely-used)

Religion(s): Islam

Currency: Qatari Riyal (QR); 1 QR = 100 Dirhams

Major political parties: None

Government: Monarchy

Head of State: Emir, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani

Heir Apparent: His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

Prime Minister and Foreign Minister: His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al-Thani

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry: His Excellency Abdallah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah

 VISAS

 Information about visas for Qatar can be obtained from the Consular Section of the Qatar Embassy.

 INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS

 Al Khor International School, Doha

Website: http://www.bsme.org.uk/schools/more.asp?id=30&sch=

Doha English Speaking School, Doha

Website: http://www.dess.org

Dukhan English School, Doha

Website: http://www.qp.com.qa

Gulf English School, Doha

Website: http://www.gulfenglishschool.com

Park House English School, Doha

Website: http://www.parkhouseschool.com

The Doha College, Doha

Website: http://www.dohacollege.com

 ECONOMY

 While income from oil, currently produced at around 800,000 barrels per day, accounts for most of the government’s revenue, Qatar’s future economy will depend increasingly on gas. Qatar has invested heavily in world class Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities including a deep-water port at Ras Laffan to exploit the North Dome gas field. This field is the world’s largest non-associated gas field, holding 14-16% of world reserves. At current planned rates of extraction the field will last for over two hundred years. Qatar is already the leading global supplier of LNG and output is expected to increase to 77 million tonnes per year by 2012.  There are two national gas companies, Qatargas and RasGas. Through the South Hook LNG terminal in Wales, Qatar is capable of supplying up to 20% of the UK’s gas needs. Government efforts to diversify the economy have led to the establishment of petrochemical, oil-