Qatar - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Qatar, it was the origin of the name is uncertain, but it dates back at least 2,000 years since a term "Catharrei" was used to describe the inhabitants of the peninsula by Pliny the Elder (1st century A.D.), and a "Catara" peninsula is depicted on a map by Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.). The Government system in this country is the absolute monarchy type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 8 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Khawr wa adh Dhakhirah, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Ash Shamal, Ash Shihaniyah, Az Za'ayin, Umm Salal
National symbols
A maroon field surmounted by a white serrated band with nine white points; national colors: maroon, white.
The flag
The National flag of Qatar has maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side; maroon represents the blood shed in Qatari wars, white stands for peace; the nine-pointed serrated edge signifies Qatar as the ninth member of the "reconciled emirates" in the wake of the Qatari-British treaty of 1916.
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note: the other eight emirates are the seven that compose the UAE and Bahrain; according to some sources, the dominant color was formerly red, but this darkened to maroon upon exposure to the sun and the new shade was eventually adopted
The National Anthem
| Title | "Al-Salam Al-Amiri" (The Amiri Salute) |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Sheikh MUBARAK bin Saif al-Thani/Abdul Aziz Nasser OBAIDAN |
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note: adopted 1996; anthem first performed that year at a meeting of the Gulf Cooperative Council hosted by Qatar
More about the government of Qatar
| Date of Independence | 3 September 1971 (from the UK) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | National Day, 18 December (1878), anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne; Independence Day, 3 September (1971) |
| Legal system | mixed legal system of civil law and Islamic (sharia) law (in family and personal matters) |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt |
| Constitution | |
| History | Previous 1972 (provisional); latest drafted 2 July 2002, approved by referendum 29 April 2003, endorsed 8 June 2004, effective 9 June 2005 |
| Amendments | Proposed by the Amir or by one third of Advisory Council members; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Advisory Council members and approval and promulgation by the emir; articles pertaining to the rule of state and its inheritance, functions of the emir, and citizen rights and liberties cannot be amended; amended by referendum November 2024; note - among the 19 proposed amendments, a major one was replacing direct elections for 30 of the 45 members of the Shura Council with appointments |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | no |
| Citizenship by descent only | the father must be a citizen of Qatar |
| Dual citizenship recognized | no |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 20 years; 15 years if an Arab national |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | Amir TAMIM bin Hamad Al Thani (since 25 June 2013) |
| Head of government | Prime Minister and Foreign Minister MUHAMMAD bin Abd al-Rahman Al Thani (since 7 March 2023) |
| Cabinet | Council of Ministers appointed by the amir |
| Elections/appointments | the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the amir |
| Legislative branch | |
| Description | Unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (45 seats; members appointed by the monarch to serve until resignation or until relieved; note 1 - legislative drafting authority rests with the Council of Ministers and is reviewed by the Advisory Council; note 2 - a constitutional amendment passed in late 2023, replaced direct elections for 30 of the 45 members of the Shura Council with appointments |
| Elections | Last held for 30 elected members on 2 October 2021 (next to be held in 2025); last members appointed - 14 October 2021 (next appointments - NA) |
| Election results | 30 nonpartisan members elected; composition - men 30, women 0, percentage women 0% 15 appointed members; composition men 13, women 2, percentage women 13.3% |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (consists of the court president and several judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 members) |
| Judge selection and term of office | Supreme Court judges nominated by the Supreme Judiciary Council, a 9-member independent body consisting of judiciary heads appointed by the amir; judges appointed for 3-year renewable terms; Supreme Constitutional Court members nominated by the Supreme Judiciary Council and appointed by the monarch; term of appointment NA |
| Subordinate courts | Courts of Appeal; Administrative Court; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; Courts of Justice; Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Center, established in 2009, provides dispute resolution services for institutions and bodies in Qatar, as well as internationally |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Meshal bin Hamad AL THANI (since 24 April 2017) |
| Chancery | 2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 274-1600 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 237-0682 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://washington.embassy.qa/en/home |
| Consulate(s) general | Houston, Los Angeles, New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Timmy DAVIS (since 5 September 2022) |
| Embassy | 22 February Street, Al Luqta District, P.O. Box 2399, Doha |
| Mailing address | 6130 Doha Place, Washington DC 20521-6130 |
| Telephone | [974] 4496-6000 |
| FAX | [974] 4488-4298 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://qa.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 1 (cultural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Al Zubarah Archaeological Site |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Qatar
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Qatar
Want to know more about Qatar? Check all different factbooks for Qatar below.
