Qatar Government - 1986

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Official name: State of Qatar

Type traditional monarchy; independence declared in 1971

Capital: Doha

Legal system: discretionary system of law controlled by the ruler, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters; a constitution was promulgated in 1970

National holiday Independence Day, 3 September

Branches: executive—Amir and Council of Ministers; legislature—State Advisory Council

Government leader: Khalifa bin Hamad Al THANI, Amir and Prime Minister (since February 1972)

Suffrage: no specific provisions for suffrage laid down

Elections: constitution calls for elections for part of State Advisory Council, a consultative body, but no elections have been held

Political parties and leaders: none

Other political or pressure groups: a few small clandestine organizations are active

Member of: Arab League, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDB—Islamic Development Bank IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, QIC, OPEC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

NOTE: The information regarding Qatar on this page is re-published from the 1986 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Qatar 1986 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Qatar 1986 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.