World Factbook
Qatar
Dawlat Qatar
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: maroon with a broad, serrated white band on the left side meaning: maroon stands for the blood shed in Qatari wars, and white for peace; the nine-pointed serrated edge is a reference to Qatar's status as the ninth member of the "reconciled emirates" after the Qatari-British treaty of 1916 -- the other eight members are Bahrain and the seven that make up the UAE
Capital
name
Doha
etymology
the name is derived from the Arabic ad-dawha , meaning "the big tree," and probably referred to a large tree at the site of the original fishing village
time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
25 17 N, 51 32 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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
Constitution
history
previous 1972 (provisional); latest drafted 2 July 2002, approved by referendum 29 April 2003, endorsed 8 June 2004, effective 9 June 2005
amendment process
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
Country name
note
note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation is GAT-tar or COT-tar
etymology
the name may derive from the Arabic word katran , meaning "tar" or "resin" in reference to the area's oil and natural gas reserves
local long form
Dawlat Qatar
local short form
Qatar
conventional long form
State of Qatar
conventional short form
Qatar
Independence
3 September 1971 (from the UK)
Legal system
mixed system of civil law and Islamic (sharia) law (in family and personal matters)
Government type
absolute monarchy
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)
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
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
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the amir
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)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the amir
National holiday
National Day, 18 December (1878), anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne; Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
National color(s)
maroon, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Al Zubarah Archaeological Site
Political parties
political parties are banned
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
49 (all appointed)
electoral system
plurality/majority
legislature name
Shura Council (Majlis Al-Shura)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
10/9/2025
expected date of next election
September 2029
percentage of women in chamber
6.1%
National anthem(s)
title
"Al-Salam Al-Amiri" (Peace be to the Emir)
history
adopted 1996
lyrics/music
Sheikh MUBARAK bin Saif al-Thani/Abdul Aziz Nasser OBAIDAN
National symbol(s)
a white serrated band with nine white points on top of a maroon field
Administrative divisions
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 237-0682
chancery
2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone
[1] (202) 274-1600
chief of mission
Ambassador Meshal bin Hamad AL THANI (since 24 April 2017)
consulate(s) general
Houston, Los Angeles, New York
email address and website
info.dc@mofa.gov.qa https://washington.embassy.qa/en/home
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[974] 4488-4298
embassy
22 February Street, Al Luqta District, P.O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone
[974] 4496-6000
mailing address
6130 Doha Place, Washington DC 20521-6130
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Stefanie ALTMAN-WINANS (since June 2025)
email address and website
PasDoha@state.gov https://qa.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, CICA (observer), EITI (implementing country), FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt