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Qatar
Qatar, a former pearl-fishing centre and once one of the poorest Gulf states, is now one of the richest countries in the region, thanks to the exploitation of large oil and gas fields since the 1940s.
Dominated by the Thani family for almost 150 years, the mainly barren country was a British protectorate until 1971, when it declared its independence after following suit with Bahrain and refusing to join the United Arab Emirates.
Overview
In 1995 Crown Prince Hamad bin Khalifa deposed his father to become emir and since then he has introduced some liberal reforms.
Press freedom has been extended and the Qatari satellite TV station Al Jazeera has become one of the most important broadcasters in the Arab world.
Elections in 1999 for a 29-member municipal council were the first in which Qatari women were allowed to vote and stand for office.
A constitution, providing for democratic reforms, came into force in 2005. On its heels, voting for a partially-elected parliament is expected to take place by 2007.
The population is small. Foreigners - including labourers attracted by a construction boom - outnumber natives. Oil money funds an all-embracing welfare state, with many services being free or heavily subsidised.
Possessing more than 15% of the world's proven gas reserves, Qatar has ambitions to become a global energy giant.
Facts
· Full name: The State of Qatar
· Population: 1.5 million (UN, 2010)
· Capital: Doha
· Area: 11,437 sq km (4,416 sq miles)
· Major language: Arabic
· Major religion: Islam
· Life expectancy: 76 years (men), 78 years (women) (UN)
· Monetary unit: 1 Riyal = 100 dirhams
· Main exports: Oil, gas
· GNI per capita: n/a
· Internet domain: .qa
· International dialling code: +974
Leaders
Emir: Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifah Al Thani
In 1995 armed forces commander and Defence Minister Sheikh Hamad seized power from his father, Sheikh Khalifah Bin Hamad Al Thani, who was out of the country.
The new emir survived an attempted coup in 1996.
Later that year, Sheikh Hamad tried to take his father to court for the return of state funds he believed his father had kept. The dispute was settled out of court.
Since coming to power, Sheikh Hamad has stayed on as head of the armed forces and defence minister and has overseen Qatar's military development