General Information
Location:
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.
Population: 
The population of Qatar amount to 743000 inhabitants (according to the initial results of the second stage of the 2004 population census) compared to 522000 inhabitants in the last census conducted in 1997. 83% of inhabitants reside in Doha and its main suburb Al-Rayyan.
Capital City:
Doha
Official Language: 
Arabic is the official language in Qatar, and English is widely spoken.
Religion: 
Islam is the official religion of the country, and the Shariah (Islamic Law) is a main source of its legislations. 
Climate: 
Qatar has a moderate desert climate with long hot summers and short mild winters and little rain in winter. 
Major Towns: 
Doha, Al Wakrah, Al Khor, Dukhan, Al Shamal, Mesaieed, Ras Laffan and others.
Currency:
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 $ = 3.65QR’s.
National Day: 
Qatar national day is the 18th December of every year.
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. 
Public Holidays:
National Day: 18th December of every year.
Eid Al-Fitr: At the 1st of Shawwal for four days.
Eid Al- Adha: starts at 9th of Zilhijjah for five days.
National flag:
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.
 
Work Hours: 
Government Offices: 7 am to 2 pm.
Private Establishments:
8 am to 12 noon,
and 4 pm to 8 pm.
Friday and Saturday are the official weekend holidays.
Local Time:
3 hours + Greenwich Mean Time.
Power: 
240 volts + 6 /50 HZ .