Qatar is a small country dominated by the Persian Gulf's largest ruling family, the Al Thani. The amir, Shaykh Khalifa ibn Hamad Al Thani, is the country's ruler, but his son, Shaykh Hamad ibn Khalifa Al Thani, in addition to being the heir apparent and minister of defense, wields considerable power in the day-to-day running of the country.

PEOPLE
Natives of the Arabian Peninsula, most Qataris are descended from a number of migratory tribes that came to Qatar in the 18th century to escape the harsh conditions of the neighboring areas of Nejd and Al-Hasa. Some are descended from Omani tribes. Qatar has more than 750,000 people, the majority of whom live in Doha, the capital. Foreign workers with temporary residence status make up about four-fifths of the population. Most of them are South Asians, Egyptians, Palestinians, Jordanians, and Iranians. About 6,000 U.S. citizens resided there as of 2001.

HISTORY
Qatar has been inhabited for millennia. In the 19th century, the Bahraini Al Khalifa family dominated until 1868 when, at the request of Qatari nobles, the British negotiated the termination of the Bahraini claim, except for the payment of tribute. The tribute ended with the occupation of Qatar by the Ottoman Turks in 1872.

ECONOMY
Oil formed the cornerstone of Qatar's economy well into the 1990s and still accounts for more than 70% of total government revenue. In 1973, oil production and revenues increased sizably, moving Qatar out of the ranks of the world's poorest countries and providing it with one of the highest per capita incomes. Despite a marked decline in levels of oil production and prices since 1990, Qatar remains a wealthy country, thanks largely to burgeoning gas exports.

U.S.-QATARI RELATIONS
Bilateral relations are strong and expanding. The U.S. embassy was opened in March 1973. The first resident U.S. ambassador arrived in July 1974. Ties between the U.S. and Qatar are excellent and marked by frequent senior-level consultations in Doha and Washington. Amir Hamad visited Washington in May 2003 and President Bush went to Qatar in June. Qatar and the United States coordinate closely on regional diplomatic initiative, cooperate to increase security in the Gulf, and enjoy extensive economic links, especially in the hydrocarbons sector.

Full country name: State of Qatar
Area: 11,400 sq km
Population: 800,000
People: Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%
Language: Arabic, English, Urdu
Religion: Islam
Government: Monarchy
Head of State: Emir Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani
GDP: US$12 billion
GDP per capita: US$17,100
Annual Growth: 3%
Inflation: 1%
Major Industries: Oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel, cement
Major Trading Partners: Japan, EU, Singapore, South Korea