According to politicsezine, Qatar is located in the Middle East and is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south, Bahrain to the east, and the United Arab Emirates to the west and north. Saudi Arabia is a large country covering an area of over 2.1 million square kilometers and has a population of around 34 million people. It is home to some of Islam’s holiest sites including Mecca and Medina, as well as popular tourist destinations such as Riyadh and Jeddah. Bahrain lies off the east coast of Qatar in the Persian Gulf, connected by a causeway since 1986. It is one of the smallest countries in Asia with an area of 765 square kilometers and a population of 1.6 million people. Bahrain’s economy is heavily reliant on oil production but it also has a strong banking sector, making it an important regional financial center. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) consists of seven emirates which are Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain, Fujairah and Ras al-Khaimah. It covers an area of 83 thousand square kilometers and has a population of approximately 9 million people. The UAE has rapidly developed into one of the most prosperous countries in the world due to its vast oil reserves and strategic location on trade routes between Europe and Asia. It is also home to world-famous tourist attractions such as Dubai’s iconic Burj Khalifa skyscraper which stands 829 meters tall!
Government of Qatar
According to programingplease, the Government of Qatar is a constitutional monarchy, ruled by the Al Thani family since 1868. The current ruler is Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who ascended to the throne in 2013. The government of Qatar is based on the principles of Islam and Sharia law. It operates as an absolute monarchy where ultimate authority rests with the ruling family and their appointed ministers.
The executive branch of government is headed by the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, who are appointed by the Emir and responsible for implementing policy decisions. The legislative branch consists of a unicameral Advisory Council which has limited powers to advise on proposed laws and regulations. Qatar also has a judicial system which includes a Supreme Court and other lower courts that interpret and apply Islamic law in addition to civil statutes.
Qatar’s legal system is heavily influenced by its Islamic heritage, particularly in areas such as family law, inheritance, marriage, divorce and criminal law. Sharia courts are used to resolve disputes in these areas, although there have recently been moves towards reforming some aspects of this system to bring them more in line with international standards. In addition, Qatar also has a modern commercial code which governs business activities within the country.
Recent Heads of Government of Qatar
Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani is the most recent head of government of Qatar. He was appointed in 2007 and served until 2013. During his tenure, Sheikh Hamad is credited with modernizing Qatar and transforming it into a major international player. He set up Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, which has invested billions of dollars into global markets, making Qatar one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Sheikh Hamad also oversaw a massive expansion in Qatar’s infrastructure and development projects, as well as an increase in foreign investments from around the world. Furthermore, he was instrumental in negotiations with other countries to expand diplomatic ties and increase trade opportunities for Qatar. Under his leadership, Qatar hosted some of the world’s biggest sporting events such as the World Cup 2022 and Asian Games 2019.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani succeeded Sheikh Hamad as head of government in 2013 and served until 2020. During his tenure, he continued to build on Sheikh Hamad’s legacy by further expanding economic growth and diversifying its industries to reduce dependence on oil revenue. He also prioritized education reform by increasing access to higher education for Qatari citizens and introducing new initiatives such as K-12 education reform. Additionally, he worked closely with other Gulf states to strengthen regional ties through increased cooperation on security issues such as counter-terrorism operations against extremist groups operating in the region
Major Political Parties in Qatar
Qatar is a monarchy and its political system is based on the Constitution of the State of Qatar that was adopted in 2004. The ruling family of Qatar, the House of Thani, has been in power since 1825. The current Emir is Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who assumed power in 2013.
The major political parties in Qatar are the National Democratic Party (NDP), the Islamic National Alliance (INA), and the Reform and Renaissance Party (RRP). The NDP is a secular party based on democratic principles and advocating for reforms within Qatar. It was founded in 1998 by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani and enjoys strong support among Qatar’s educated elite. The INA is an Islamist party founded in 2003. It promotes Islamic values and seeks to ensure that decisions made by government representatives adhere to Islamic law. Finally, the RRP was founded in 2006 by Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al-Thani as an alternative to both secularism and Islamism, advocating for reforms to ensure social justice within Qatar.
All three parties are represented within the Advisory Council, which serves as a consultative body to assist with legislation proposed by the Emir or his appointed ministers. However, none of these parties have any real power or influence over legislation or policy-making decisions due to Qatar’s authoritarian system of governance.
