ter
MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since 20
January 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; note - in March 1999 Qatar
held elections for representatives to its Central Municipal Council

Legislative branch: unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35
seats; members appointed)
note: the constitution calls for elections for part of this
consultative body, but no elections have been held since 1970, when
there were partial elections to the body; Council members have their
terms extended every four years since

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: none

International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC,
ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO
(pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Saad Muhammad al-KUBAYSI
chancery: 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: (202) 274-1600
consulate(s) general: Houston

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth MCKUNE
embassy: 22 February Road, Doha
mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone: 884 101
FAX: 884 150
note: work week is Saturday-Wednesday

Flag description: maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white
points) on the hoist side

@Qatar:Economy

Economy - overview: Oil accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 80%
of export earnings, and 66% of government revenues. Proved oil
reserves of 3.7 billion barrels should ensure continued output at
current levels for 23 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP
three-fourths that of the leading West European industrial countries.
Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 7 trillion cubic meters,
more than 5% of the world total, third largest in the world.
Production and export of natural gas are becoming increasingly
important. Long-term goals feature the development of off-shore
petroleum and the diversification of the economy. If high oil prices
continue in 2000, Qatar will post its highest ever trade surplus - of
more than $4 billion.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.3 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 1.5% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power pari