QATAR

The State of Qatar is situated halfway along the western coast of the Arabian Gulf. It consists of a Peninsula projecting northwards approximately 160 km into the Gulf. At its widest point, the Peninsula measures about 80 km across from coast to coast. The total area of the country is 11,437 km. The capital is Doha and local time in Qatar is +3 hours GMT.

The climate is characterised by a mild winter and a hot summer with high levels of humidity. The weather is generally pleasant during the period from October to May. Occasionally, during winter, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms may occur.

The present population of Qatar is estimated at approximately 500,000. The majority of the population is centred in and around Doha.

The official language in Qatar is Arabic. English is also widely understood and spoken in the country.

There are a large number of supermarkets in Doha and all have a comprehensive range of foodstuff, imported from many parts of the world. A wide variety of frozen food, tinned food and baby food of well-known brands is always available. Fresh fruit, meat and vegetables are imported from all over the world, and local vegetables, fruits, milk and eggs can also be bought. These are of good quality and are available all year round. For most items, the metric system is in general use in Qatar.