Area: 11,437 sq km (4416 sq miles).

Population: 618,000 (official estimate 2002).

Population Density: 54.0 per sq km.

Capital: Doha. Population: 264,009 (1997).

GEOGRAPHY: Qatar is an oil-rich peninsula jutting out into the Gulf between Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. There are hills in the northwest, but the rest of the country consists of sand dunes and salt flats, with scattered vegetation towards the north.

Government: Emirate since 1971. Gained independence from the UK in 1971. Head of State: Crown Prince Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani since 1995. Head of Government: Prime Minister Sheikh Abdallah bin Khalifa al-Thani since 1996.

Language: Arabic is the official language. Some English is spoken.

Religion: Islam.

Time: GMT + 3.

Electricity: 220-240 volts AC, 50Hz.

Communications:

Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 974. There are no area codes. Outgoing international code: 0.

Mobile telephone: GSM 900 network exists. Main network provider is Q-tel (website: www.qtel.com.qa).

Fax: Available at some major hotels.

Internet: Main ISPs iclude Qatar (website: www.qatar.net.qa). Internet cafes exist in Doha.

Telegram: The Cable & Wireless office in Doha (0600-2300) and major hotels provide services.

Post: Airmail to Europe takes up to one week.

Press: English-language newspapers include the Gulf Times and The Peninsula. The main dailies are Al-’Arab, Ar-Raya and Ash-Sharq.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.