Catar [7], or Qatar [8] (Arabic قطر [ˈqɑtˁɑr], local [ɡitˁar] [9]), officially - the State of Qatar (Arabic دولة قطر Davlat Qatar), - the state (emirate) in the Middle East located on the Qatari Peninsula in the northeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders with Saudi Arabia in the south, is washed by the Persian Gulf from all other sides (due to the presence of a disputed territory between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in the past, many Qatar maps are also bordering the United Arab Emirates). In the north-west it has a sea border with the islands of Bahrain, in the south-east it has a sea border with the United Arab Emirates. The capital is the city of Doha.
Geography
Almost the entire territory of the country, located on the peninsula, is desert. In the north - a low sandy plain with rare oases, covered with moving (eolian) sands; in the middle part of the peninsula - rocky desert with areas of salt marshes; in the south - high sand hills.
Climate
The climate is continental tropical, dry. In summer, temperatures often rise to 50 ° C.
The peninsula is poor in water. There are no permanent rivers. Most of the water has to be obtained by desalination of the sea. Underground freshwater sources and oases are located mainly in the north. The fauna is poor, reptiles and rodents dominate.
Population
40% of the population are Arabs. People from Pakistan (18%), India (18%), Iran (10%), from other countries (14%) also live in Qatar. The official language is Arabic, English is widely spoken. The state religion is Sunni Islam, the Iranians are Shiites. According to the 2004 census: Muslims 77.5%, Christians 8.5%, other 14%. About 90% of the population is concentrated in the capital and its suburbs.