| Official
Name : |
DAWLAT AL-QATAR (State of Qatar) |
| Total
Area: |
309,500 square kilometres |
| Population: |
848,000 (2011 estimate). |
| Languages: |
Arabic (official), English. |
| Religions: |
Muslim 95% (mostly Wahhabi sect) |
| Capital: |
Doha. Population 427,000 (2009 census) |
| Currency: |
Qatari riyal , divided into 100 dirhams. |
| Independant: |
03
September 1971, from United Kingdom. |
| Geography: |
Predominantly low lying arid, barren and monotonous desert of loose gravel and sand dissected by shallow wadis. Arable land makes up 2% of Qatar. |
| Flag: |
The Al Khailifa Clan ruled both Qatar and Bahrain in the 18th and 19th Centuries under a plain red flag. After WW1, the British replaced the Ottomans and it is probable that the National Flag was established then. There were many variations and it wasn't until 1949 that a standard pattern was finally formalised When Qatar became independent on 3 Sept 1971, no change was made in the National Flag design. According to some sources, the dominant color was formerly red, but this darkened to maroon upon exposure to the sun and the new shade eventually won favour. |
