The national flag is maroon colour with a broad vertical white stripe at the pole, the two colours being separated with a nine-point serrated line.

Meaning of the flag:
The white colour reflects the internationally recognized symbol of peace.
The maroon colour symbolizes the bloodshed during the several wars Qatar had undergone, particularly in the second half of the 19th century.
The nine-point serrated line indicates that Qatar is the 9th member of the "reconciled Emirates" of the Arabian Gulf in the wake of concluding the Qatari-British treaty in 1916. This information on design and colour of Qatar flag was mentioned in the Archives of the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1931.

(Image source of the Qatar flag: 3D Animated Flags--By 3DFlags.com)

L o c a t i o n:
Qatar is a peninsula located halfway down the west coast of the Arabian Gulf. Its territory comprises a number of islands including Halul, Sheraouh, Al-Ashat and others.

Topographic Features:
The terrain is flat and rocky with some low-rising limestone outcrops in Dukhan area in the west and Jabal Fiwairit in the north. It is characterized by a variety of geographical phenomena including many coves, inlets, depressions and surface rainwater-draining basins known as riyadh (the gardens), which are found mainly in the north and central part of the peninsula. These areas have the most fertile soil and are rich in vegetation.

L a n d   A r e a:
The total land area of Qatar is approximately 11,521 square kilometers.

P o p u l a t i o n:
The population of Qatar amount to above 1,800,00 inhabitants compared to 900000 inhabitants in the last census conducted in 2005. 83% of inhabitants reside in Doha and its main suburb Al-Rayyan.

C a p i t a l   C i t y:
Doha

O f f i c i a l   L a n g u a g e:
Arabic is the official language in Qatar, and English is widely spoken.

R e l i g i o n:
Islam is the official religion of the country, and the Shariah (Islamic Law) is a main source of its legislations.

C l i m a t e:
Qatar has a moderate desert climate with long hot summers and short mild winters and little rain in winter.

M a j o r   T o w n s:
Doha, Al Wakrah, Al Khor, Dukhan, Al Shamal, Mesaieed, Ras Lafan and others.

C u r r e n c y:
The official currency is the Qatari Riyal (QR), which is divided into 100 dirhams. The Exchange parity has been set at the fixed rate of US$ = 3.65 QR's.

I n d e p e n d e n c e:
Qatar gained independence on September 3rd 1971.

27 June 1995:
On the 27th of June 1995 His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani assumed the rule of the State of Qatar supported by the ruling family and the Qatari people.

P U B L I C  H O L I D A Y S:
Independence Day: 18th December
Eid Al-Fitr: At the 1st of Shawwal for four days.
Eid Al- Adha: starts at 9th of Zilhijjah for five days.

W O R K  H O U R S:
Government offices: 7 am to 2 pm.
Private establishments: varied.
Friday and Saturday are the weekend holidays.

L O C A L   T I M E:
3 hours + Greenwich Mean Time. No daylight saving.

E L E C T R I C A L   C U R R E N T:
240 Volts + 6% with frequency 50 hertz.

M a j o r   T r a d i n g   P a r t n e r s  (in 2007):
Japan , South Korea , Singapore, India, UK, US, Italy, Germany, France.
(Source: english.mofa.gov.qa)

GDP in 2007:
$57.69 billion (2007)
(Source: www.qsa.gov.qa)

Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by the amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. Since 1995, Qatar has been ruled by H.H. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. H.H. The Emir is a supporter of economic development and has implemented several political changes in policy, trade, investment and educational and cultural exchange, including a political liberalization creating an elected council and giving women the right to vote.Oil and natural gas revenues enable Qatar to have one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.