Qatar vs. United Arab Emirates
Introduction
| Qatar | United Arab Emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Background | Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar within the last 60 years transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. Former Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, who overthrew his father in a bloodless coup in 1995, ushered in wide-sweeping political and media reforms, unprecedented economic investment, and a growing Qatari regional leadership role, in part through the creation of the pan-Arab satellite news network Al-Jazeera and Qatar's mediation of some regional conflicts. In the 2000s, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and by 2007 had attained the highest per capita income in the world. Qatar did not experience domestic unrest or violence like that seen in other Near Eastern and North African countries in 2011, due in part to its immense wealth and patronage network. In mid-2013, HAMAD peacefully abdicated, transferring power to his son, the current Amir TAMIM bin Hamad. TAMIM is popular with the Qatari public, for his role in shepherding the country through an economic embargo by some other regional countries, for his efforts to improve the country's healthcare and education systems, and for his expansion of the country's infrastructure in anticipation of Doha's hosting of the 2022 World Cup. Recently, Qatar's relationships with its neighbors have been tense, although since the fall of 2019 there have been signs of improved prospects for a thaw. Following the outbreak of regional unrest in 2011, Doha prided itself on its support for many popular revolutions, particularly in Libya and Syria. This stance was to the detriment of Qatar's relations with Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which temporarily recalled their respective ambassadors from Doha in March 2014. TAMIM later oversaw a warming of Qatar's relations with Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in November 2014 following Kuwaiti mediation and signing of the Riyadh Agreement. This reconciliation, however, was short-lived. In June 2017, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE (the "Quartet") cut diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar in response to alleged violations of the agreement, among other complaints. | The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th century treaties. In 1971, six of these states - Abu Dhabi, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - merged to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They were joined in 1972 by Ra's al Khaymah. The UAE's per capita GDP is on par with those of leading West European nations. For more than three decades, oil and global finance drove the UAE's economy. In 2008-09, the confluence of falling oil prices, collapsing real estate prices, and the international banking crisis hit the UAE especially hard. The UAE did not experience the "Arab Spring" unrest seen elsewhere in the Middle East in 2010-11, partly because of the government's multi-year, $1.6-billion infrastructure investment plan for the poorer northern emirates, and its aggressive pursuit of advocates of political reform. The UAE in recent years has played a growing role in regional affairs. In addition to donating billions of dollars in economic aid to help stabilize Egypt, the UAE was one of the first countries to join the Defeat-ISIS coalition, and to participate as a key partner in a Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. On 15 September 2020, the UAE and Bahrain signed a peace agreement (the Abraham Accords) with Israel - brokered by the US - in Washington DC. The UAE and Bahrain thus became the third and fourth Middle Eastern countries, along with Egypt and Jordan, to recognize Israel. |
Geography
| Qatar | United Arab Emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia | Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia |
| Geographic coordinates | 25 30 N, 51 15 E | 24 00 N, 54 00 E |
| Map references | Middle East | Middle East |
| Area | total: 11,586 sq km land: 11,586 sq km water: 0 sq km | total: 83,600 sq km land: 83,600 sq km water: 0 sq km |
| Area - comparative | almost twice the size of Delaware; slightly smaller than Connecticut | slightly larger than South Carolina; slightly smaller than Maine |
| Land boundaries | total: 87 km border countries (1): Saudi Arabia 87 km | total: 1,066 km border countries (2): Oman 609 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km |
| Coastline | 563 km | 1,318 km |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin |
| Climate | arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers | desert; cooler in eastern mountains |
| Terrain | mostly flat and barren desert | flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert; mountains in east |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Tuwayyir al Hamir 103 m lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m mean elevation: 28 m | highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m mean elevation: 149 m |
| Natural resources | petroleum, fish, natural gas | petroleum, natural gas |
| Land use | agricultural land: 5.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 4.3% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 94.4% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 4.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.6% (2018 est.) forest: 3.8% (2018 est.) other: 91.6% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 130 sq km (2012) | 923 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | haze, dust storms, sandstorms common | frequent sand and dust storms |
| Environment - current issues | air, land, and water pollution are significant environmental issues; limited natural freshwater resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities; other issues include conservation of oil supplies and preservation of the natural wildlife heritage | air pollution; rapid population growth and high energy demand contribute to water scarcity; lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; land degradation and desertification; waste generation, beach pollution from oil spills |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
| Geography - note | the peninsula occupies a strategic location in the central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits | strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil |
| Total renewable water resources | 58 million cubic meters (2017 est.) | 150 million cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | most of the population is clustered in or around the capital of Doha on the eastern side of the peninsula | population is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula; the three largest emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah - are home to nearly 85% of the population |
Demographics
| Qatar | United Arab Emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,479,995 (July 2021 est.) | 9,856,612 (July 2021 est.) note: the UN estimated the country's total population was 9,771,000 as of mid-year 2019; immigrants make up 87.9% of the total population, according to UN data (2019) |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 12.84% (male 158,702/female 155,211) 15-24 years: 11.78% (male 203,703/female 84,323) 25-54 years: 70.66% (male 1,439,364/female 287,575) 55-64 years: 3.53% (male 66,561/female 19,600) 65 years and over: 1.19% (male 19,067/female 10,068) (2020 est.) | 0-14 years: 14.45% (male 745,492/female 698,330) 15-24 years: 7.94% (male 431,751/female 361,804) 25-54 years: 68.03% (male 5,204,618/female 1,592,987) 55-64 years: 7.68% (male 658,892/female 108,850) 65 years and over: 1.9% (male 146,221/female 43,138) (2020 est.) |
| Median age | total: 33.7 years male: 35 years female: 28.2 years (2020 est.) | total: 38.4 years male: 40.4 years female: 31.5 years (2020 est.) |
| Population growth rate | 1.23% (2021 est.) | 0.62% (2021 est.) |
| Birth rate | 9.38 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 10.87 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Death rate | 1.42 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 1.51 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Net migration rate | 4.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | -3.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 2.42 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 5.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 3.4 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.89 male(s)/female total population: 3.39 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.19 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 3.27 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 6.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 3.39 male(s)/female total population: 2.56 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 6.7 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 5.25 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.82 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 79.58 years male: 77.47 years female: 81.74 years (2021 est.) | total population: 79.37 years male: 78.04 years female: 80.78 years (2021 est.) |
| Total fertility rate | 1.9 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 1.65 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | <.1% (2020 est.) | 0.1% (2020) |
| Nationality | noun: Qatari(s) adjective: Qatari | noun: Emirati(s) adjective: Emirati |
| Ethnic groups | non-Qatari 88.4%, Qatari 11.6% (2015 est.) | Emirati 11.6%, South Asian 59.4% (includes Indian 38.2%, Bangladeshi 9.5%, Pakistani 9.4%, other 2.3%), Egyptian 10.2%, Filipino 6.1%, other 12.8% (2015 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | <200 (2020 est.) | <1,000 (2020) |
| Religions | Muslim 65.2%, Christian 13.7%, Hindu 15.9%, Buddhist 3.8%, folk religion <.1%, Jewish <.1%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.) | Muslim (official) 76%, Christian 9%, other (primarily Hindu and Buddhist, less than 5% of the population consists of Parsi, Baha'i, Druze, Sikh, Ahmadi, Ismaili, Dawoodi Bohra Muslim, and Jewish) 15% (2005 est.) note: data represent the total population; as of 2019, immigrants make up about 87.9% of the total population, according to UN data |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | <100 (2020 est.) | 100 <100 (2020) |
| Languages | Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language major-language sample(s): ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ????????? ??? ????????? ???????? (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. | Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Malayam, Urdu, Pashto, Tagalog, Persian major-language sample(s): ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ????????? ??? ????????? ???????? (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. |
| Literacy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.5% male: 92.4% female: 94.7% (2017) | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.8% male: 93.1% female: 95.8% (2015) |
| School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) | total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 14 years (2019) | total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2017) |
| Education expenditures | 2.7% of GDP (2019) | NA |
| Urbanization | urban population: 99.3% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 1.66% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) | urban population: 87.3% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
| Drinking water source | improved: total: 100% of population unimproved: total: 0% of population (2017 est.) | improved: total: 100% of population unimproved: total: 0% of population (2017 est.) |
| Sanitation facility access | improved: total: 100% of population unimproved: total: 0% of population (2017 est.) | improved: total: 98.6% of population unimproved: total: 1.4% of population (2017 est.) |
| Major cities - population | Ar-Rayyan 750,000, 646,000 DOHA (capital) (2021) | 2.921 million Dubai, 1.737 million Sharjah, 1.512 million ABU DHABI (capital) (2021) |
| Maternal mortality rate | 9 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) | 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) |
| Health expenditures | 2.5% (2018) | 4.2% (2018) |
| Physicians density | 2.49 physicians/1,000 population (2018) | 2.53 physicians/1,000 population (2018) |
| Hospital bed density | 1.3 beds/1,000 population (2017) | 1.4 beds/1,000 population (2017) |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 35.1% (2016) | 31.7% (2016) |
| Dependency ratios | total dependency ratio: 18.1 youth dependency ratio: 16.1 elderly dependency ratio: 2 potential support ratio: 50.1 (2020 est.) | total dependency ratio: 19.2 youth dependency ratio: 17.7 elderly dependency ratio: 1.5 potential support ratio: 66.4 (2020 est.) |
Government
| Qatar | United Arab Emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Country name | conventional long form: State of Qatar conventional short form: Qatar local long form: Dawlat Qatar local short form: Qatar etymology: the origin of the name is uncertain, but it dates back at least 2,000 years since a term "Catharrei" was used to describe the inhabitants of the peninsula by Pliny the Elder (1st century A.D.), and a "Catara" peninsula is depicted on a map by Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.) note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation is gattar or cottar | conventional long form: United Arab Emirates conventional short form: none local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah local short form: none former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States abbreviation: UAE etymology: self-descriptive country name; the name "Arabia" can be traced back many centuries B.C., the ancient Egyptians referred to the region as "Ar Rabi"; "emirates" derives from "amir" the Arabic word for "commander," "lord," or "prince" |
| Government type | absolute monarchy | federation of monarchies |
| Capital | name: Doha geographic coordinates: 25 17 N, 51 32 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: derives from the Arabic term "dohat," meaning "roundness," and refers to the small rounded bays along the area's coastline | name: Abu Dhabi geographic coordinates: 24 28 N, 54 22 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: in Arabic, "abu" means "father" and "dhabi" refers to "gazelle"; the name may derive from an abundance of gazelles that used to live in the area, as well as a folk tale involving the "Father of the Gazelle," Shakhbut bin Dhiyab al Nahyan, whose hunting party tracked a gazelle to a spring on the island where Abu Dhabi was founded |
| Administrative divisions | 8 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Khawr wa adh Dhakhirah, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Ash Shamal, Ash Shihaniyah, Az Za'ayin, Umm Salal | 7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn |
| Independence | 3 September 1971 (from the UK) | 2 December 1971 (from the UK) |
| National holiday | National Day, 18 December (1878), anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne; Independence Day, 3 September (1971) | Independence Day (National Day), 2 December (1971) |
| Constitution | history: previous 1972 (provisional); latest drafted 2 July 2002, approved by referendum 29 April 2003, endorsed 8 June 2004, effective 9 June 2005 amendments: proposed by the Amir or by one third of Advisory Council members; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Advisory Council members and approval and promulgation by the emir; articles pertaining to the rule of state and its inheritance, functions of the emir, and citizen rights and liberties cannot be amended | history: previous 1971 (provisional); latest drafted in 1979, became permanent May 1996 amendments: proposed by the Supreme Council and submitted to the Federal National Council; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote of Federal National Council members present and approval of the Supreme Council president; amended 2009 |
| Legal system | mixed legal system of civil law and Islamic (sharia) law (in family and personal matters) | mixed legal system of Islamic (sharia) law and civil law |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | limited; note - rulers of the seven emirates each select a proportion of voters for the Federal National Council (FNC) that together account for about 12 percent of Emirati citizens |
| Executive branch | chief of state: Amir TAMIM bin Hamad Al Thani (since 25 June 2013) head of government: Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh KHALID ibn Khalifa ibn Abdul Aziz Al Thani (since 28 January 2020); Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs KHALID bin Mohamed AL Attiyah (since 14 November 2017); Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs MOHAMED bin Abdulrahman Al Thani (since 14 November 2017) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the amir elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the amir | chief of state: President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (since 2 November 2004), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 4 November 2004); Vice President and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006) head of government: Prime Minister Vice President MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers SAIF bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan, MANSUR bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan (both since 11 May 2009) cabinet: Council of Ministers announced by the prime minister and approved by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the Federal Supreme Council - composed of the rulers of the 7 emirates - for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held 3 November 2009 (next election NA); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president election results: KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan reelected president; FSC vote NA note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the 7 emirate rulers; the FSC is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation; meets 4 times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power |
| Legislative branch | description: unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (45 seats; 30 members directly elected by popular vote for 4-year re-electable terms; 15 members appointed by the monarch to serve until resignation or until relieved; note - legislative drafting authority rests with the Council of Ministers and is reviewed by the Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura elections: last on 17 June 2016 (next in 2019); note - in late 2019, the amir announced the formation of a committee to oversee preparations for the first elected council, although Doha has not selected a date for elections election results: NA; composition - men 41, women 4, percent of women 8.9% | description: unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members indirectly elected using single non-transferable vote by an electoral college whose members are selected by each emirate ruler proportional to its FNC membership, and 20 members appointed by the rulers of the 7 constituent states; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held for indirectly elected members on 5 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2023) election results: all candidates ran as independents; seats by emirate - Abu Dhabi 4, Dubai 4, Sharjah 3, Ras al-Khaimah 3, Ajman 2, Fujairah 2, Umm al-Quwain 2; composition (preliminary) - 13 men, 7 women, percent of elected women 35%; note - to attain overall FNC gender parity, 13 women and 7 men will be appointed; overall FNC percent of women 50% |
| Judicial branch | highest courts: Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (consists of the court president and several judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Supreme Judiciary Council, a 9-member independent body consisting of judiciary heads appointed by the Amir; judges appointed for 3-year renewable terms; Supreme Constitutional Court members nominated by the Supreme Judiciary Council and appointed by the monarch; term of appointment NA subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Administrative Court; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; Courts of Justice; Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Center, established in 2009, provides dispute resolution services for institutions and bodies in Qatar, as well as internationally | highest courts: Federal Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 4 judges; jurisdiction limited to federal cases) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the federal president following approval by the Federal Supreme Council, the highest executive and legislative authority consisting of the 7 emirate rulers; judges serve until retirement age or the expiry of their appointment terms subordinate courts: Federal Court of Cassation (determines the constitutionality of laws promulgated at the federal and emirate level; federal level courts of first instance and appeals courts); the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ra's al Khaymah have parallel court systems; the other 4 emirates have incorporated their courts into the federal system; note - the Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts and the Dubai International Financial Center Courts, the country's two largest financial free zones, both adjudicate civil and commercial disputes. |
| Political parties and leaders | political parties are banned | none; political parties are banned |
| International organization participation | ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, CICA (observer), EITI (implementing country), FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO | ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador MISHAL bin Hamad bin Muhammad Al Thani (since 24 April 2017) chancery: 2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 FAX: [1] (202) 237-0682 email address and website: info.dc@mofa.gov.qa https://washington.embassy.qa/en consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles | chief of mission: Ambassador Yusif bin Mani bin Said al-UTAYBA (since 28 July 2008) chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400 FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432 email address and website: info@uaeembassy-usa.org https://www.uae-embassy.org/ consulate(s) general: Boston, Los Angeles, New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ambassador John DESROCHER (since 1 June 2021) embassy: 22 February Street, Al Luqta District, P.O. Box 2399, Doha mailing address: 6130 Doha Place, Washington DC 20521-6130 telephone: [974] 4496-6000 FAX: [974] 4488-4298 email address and website: PasDoha@state.gov https://qa.usembassy.gov/ | chief of mission: ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Sean MURPHY (since August 2020) embassy: Embassies District, Plot 38, Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi mailing address: 6010 Abu Dhabi Place, Washington DC 20521-6010 telephone: [971] (2) 414-2200 FAX: [971] (2) 414-2241 email address and website: abudhabiacs@state.gov https://ae.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Dubai |
| Flag description | maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side; maroon represents the blood shed in Qatari wars, white stands for peace; the nine-pointed serrated edge signifies Qatar as the ninth member of the "reconciled emirates" in the wake of the Qatari-British treaty of 1916 note: the other eight emirates are the seven that compose the UAE and Bahrain; according to some sources, the dominant color was formerly red, but this darkened to maroon upon exposure to the sun and the new shade was eventually adopted | three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side; the flag incorporates all four Pan-Arab colors, which in this case represent fertility (green), neutrality (white), petroleum resources (black), and unity (red); red was the traditional color incorporated into all flags of the emirates before their unification |
| National anthem | name: "Al-Salam Al-Amiri" (The Amiri Salute) lyrics/music: Sheikh MUBARAK bin Saif al-Thani/Abdul Aziz Nasser OBAIDAN note: adopted 1996; anthem first performed that year at a meeting of the Gulf Cooperative Council hosted by Qatar | name: "Nashid al-watani al-imarati" (National Anthem of the UAE) lyrics/music: AREF Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB note: music adopted 1971, lyrics adopted 1996; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of Tunisia |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt |
| National symbol(s) | a maroon field surmounted by a white serrated band with nine white points; national colors: maroon, white | golden falcon; national colors: green, white, black, red |
| Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Qatar dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 20 years; 15 years if an Arab national | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of the United Arab Emirates; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 30 years |
Economy
| Qatar | United Arab Emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Economy - overview | Qatar's oil and natural gas resources are the country's main economic engine and government revenue source, driving Qatar's high economic growth and per capita income levels, robust state spending on public entitlements, and booming construction spending, particularly as Qatar prepares to host the World Cup in 2022. Although the government has maintained high capital spending levels for ongoing infrastructure projects, low oil and natural gas prices in recent years have led the Qatari Government to tighten some spending to help stem its budget deficit. Qatar's reliance on oil and natural gas is likely to persist for the foreseeable future. Proved natural gas reserves exceed 25 trillion cubic meters - 13% of the world total and, among countries, third largest in the world. Proved oil reserves exceed 25 billion barrels, allowing production to continue at current levels for about 56 years. Despite the dominance of oil and natural gas, Qatar has made significant gains in strengthening non-oil sectors, such as manufacturing, construction, and financial services, leading non-oil GDP to steadily rise in recent years to just over half the total. Following trade restriction imposed by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt in 2017, Qatar established new trade routes with other countries to maintain access to imports. | The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Successful efforts at economic diversification have reduced the portion of GDP from the oil and gas sector to 30%. Since the discovery of oil in the UAE nearly 60 years ago, the country has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. The government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up utilities to greater private sector involvement. The country's free trade zones - offering 100% foreign ownership and zero taxes - are helping to attract foreign investors. The global financial crisis of 2008-09, tight international credit, and deflated asset prices constricted the economy in 2009. UAE authorities tried to blunt the crisis by increasing spending and boosting liquidity in the banking sector. The crisis hit Dubai hardest, as it was heavily exposed to depressed real estate prices. Dubai lacked sufficient cash to meet its debt obligations, prompting global concern about its solvency and ultimately a $20 billion bailout from the UAE Central Bank and Abu Dhabi Government that was refinanced in March 2014. The UAE's dependence on oil is a significant long-term challenge, although the UAE is one of the most diversified countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council. Low oil prices have prompted the UAE to cut expenditures, including on some social programs, but the UAE has sufficient assets in its sovereign investment funds to cover its deficits. The government reduced fuel subsidies in August 2015, and introduced excise taxes (50% on sweetened carbonated beverages and 100% on energy drinks and tobacco) in October 2017. A five-percent value-added tax was introduced in January 2018. The UAE's strategic plan for the next few years focuses on economic diversification, promoting the UAE as a global trade and tourism hub, developing industry, and creating more job opportunities for nationals through improved education and increased private sector employment. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | $255.01 billion (2019 est.) $253.049 billion (2018 est.) $249.963 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars | $655.789 billion (2019 est.) $644.968 billion (2018 est.) $637.384 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
| GDP - real growth rate | 1.6% (2017 est.) 2.1% (2016 est.) 3.7% (2015 est.) | 0.8% (2017 est.) 3% (2016 est.) 5.1% (2015 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $90,044 (2019 est.) $90,970 (2018 est.) $91,739 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars | $67,119 (2019 est.) $66,968 (2018 est.) $67,184 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 0.2% (2017 est.) industry: 50.3% (2017 est.) services: 49.5% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 0.9% (2017 est.) industry: 49.8% (2017 est.) services: 49.2% (2017 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | NA | 19.5% (2003 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 35.9% (2007) | lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | -0.6% (2019 est.) 0.2% (2018 est.) 0.3% (2017 est.) | -1.9% (2019 est.) 3% (2018 est.) 1.9% (2017 est.) |
| Labor force | 1.953 million (2017 est.) | 5.344 million (2017 est.) note: expatriates account for about 85% of the workforce |
| Unemployment rate | 8.9% (2017 est.) 11.1% (2016 est.) | 1.6% (2016 est.) 3.6% (2014 est.) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 41.1 (2007) | 32.5 (2014 est.) |
| Budget | revenues: 44.1 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 53.82 billion (2017 est.) | revenues: 110.2 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 111.1 billion (2017 est.) note: the UAE federal budget does not account for emirate-level spending in Abu Dhabi and Dubai |
| Industries | liquefied natural gas, crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizer, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair | petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, commercial ship repair, construction materials, handicrafts, textiles |
| Industrial production growth rate | 3% (2017 est.) | 1.8% (2017 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | tomatoes, dates, camel milk, sheep milk, goat milk, pumpkins/gourds, mutton, poultry, milk, eggplants | dates, cucumbers, tomatoes, goat meat, eggs, milk, poultry, carrots/turnips, goat milk, milk |
| Exports | $67.5 billion (2017 est.) $57.25 billion (2016 est.) | $308.5 billion (2017 est.) $298.6 billion (2016 est.) |
| Exports - commodities | natural gas, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, ethylene polymers, fertilizers (2019) | crude petroleum, refined petroleum, gold, jewelry, broadcasting equipment (2019) |
| Exports - partners | Japan 17%, South Korea 16%, India 14%, China 13%, Singapore 7% (2019) | India 11%, Japan 10%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Switzerland 6%, China 6%, Iraq 6% (2019) |
| Imports | $30.77 billion (2017 est.) $31.93 billion (2016 est.) | $229.2 billion (2017 est.) $226.5 billion (2016 est.) |
| Imports - commodities | aircraft, gas turbines, cars, jewelry, iron piping (2019) | gold, broadcasting equipment, jewelry, refined petroleum, diamonds (2019) |
| Imports - partners | United States 15%, France 13%, United Kingdom 9%, China 9%, Germany 5%, Italy 5% (2019) | China 15%, India 12%, Untied States 7% (2019) |
| Debt - external | $167.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $157.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $237.6 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $218.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Exchange rates | Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar - 3.641 (2020 est.) 3.641 (2019 est.) 3.641 (2018 est.) 3.64 (2014 est.) 3.64 (2013 est.) | Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar - 3.67315 (2020 est.) 3.67315 (2019 est.) 3.67315 (2018 est.) 3.673 (2014 est.) 3.673 (2013 est.) |
| Fiscal year | 1 April - 31 March | calendar year |
| Public debt | 53.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 46.7% of GDP (2016 est.) | 19.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 20.2% of GDP (2016 est.) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $15.01 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $31.89 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $95.37 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $85.39 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Current Account Balance | $6.426 billion (2017 est.) -$8.27 billion (2016 est.) | $26.47 billion (2017 est.) $13.23 billion (2016 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate) | $191.29 billion (2018 est.) | $421.077 billion (2019 est.) |
| Credit ratings | Fitch rating: AA- (2017) Moody's rating: Aa3 (2017) Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2017) | Fitch rating: AA- (2020) Moody's rating: Aa2 (2007) Standard & Poors rating: AA (2007) |
| Ease of Doing Business Index scores | Overall score: 68.7 (2020) Starting a Business score: 86.1 (2020) Trading score: 71.5 (2020) Enforcement score: 54.6 (2020) | Overall score: 80.9 (2020) Starting a Business score: 94.8 (2020) Trading score: 74.1 (2020) Enforcement score: 75.9 (2020) |
| Taxes and other revenues | 26.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 28.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -5.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | -0.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | total: 0.4% male: 0.2% female: 1.5% (2018 est.) | total: 7.2% male: 4.9% female: 15% (2019 est.) |
| GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 24.6% (2017 est.) government consumption: 17% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 43.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.5% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 51% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -37.3% (2017 est.) | household consumption: 34.9% (2017 est.) government consumption: 12.3% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.8% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 100.4% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -72.4% (2017 est.) |
| Gross national saving | 45% of GDP (2019 est.) 49.7% of GDP (2018 est.) 46.6% of GDP (2017 est.) | 28.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 30.9% of GDP (2016 est.) 30.7% of GDP (2015 est.) |
Energy
| Qatar | United Arab Emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 39.78 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 121.8 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption | 37.24 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 113.2 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - exports | 0 kWh (2016 est.) | 0 kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - imports | 0 kWh (2016 est.) | 1.141 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Oil - production | 1.464 million bbl/day (2018 est.) | 3.216 million bbl/day (2018 est.) |
| Oil - imports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - exports | 1.15 million bbl/day (2015 est.) | 2.552 million bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves | 25.24 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) | 97.8 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves | 24.07 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) | 6.091 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - production | 166.4 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 62.01 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption | 39.9 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 74.48 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports | 126.5 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 7.504 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 20.22 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 8.796 million kW (2016 est.) | 28.91 million kW (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 99% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 273,800 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 943,500 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 277,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) | 896,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 485,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 817,700 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 12,300 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 392,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Electricity access | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) |
Telecommunications
| Qatar | United Arab Emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 461,289 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19.15 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 2,362,602 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24.31 (2019 est.) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 3,917,571 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 162.6 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 19,602,815 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 201.67 (2019 est.) |
| Internet country code | .qa | .ae |
| Internet users | total: 2,355,297 percent of population: 99.65% (July 2018 est.) | total: 9,550,945 percent of population: 98.45% (July 2018 est.) |
| Telecommunication systems | general assessment: telecom infrastructure in Qatar demonstrated resilience during the pandemic, following surge in Internet usage; highest fixed-line and mobile penetrations in Middle East with almost 100% LTE coverage; operator deployed 5G across the country with positive subscribership, primarily around Doha; largest user of the Internet in the Middle East; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2021) (2020)domestic: fixed-line 16 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 138 telephones per 100 persons (209) international: country code - 974; landing points for the Qatar-UAE Submarine Cable System, AAE-1, FOG, GBICS/East North Africa MENA and the FALCON submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and the UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; retains full ownership of two commercial satellites, Es'hailSat 1 and 2 (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: one of the world's most connected countries with modern infrastructure and record Internet, broadband, and mobile use; low-cost smartphones drive mobile-broadband penetration; LTE networks cover most of the population with launch of 5G in partnership with Chinese company ZTE; submarine cables connect to South Africa, Middle East, Pakistan, and Europe; ISPs are fully or partially owned by state, allowing control over flow of information; during pandemic, there was a surge of Internet use from home, with temporary government relaxation of restrictions on streaming such as Zoom, Skype, and Microsoft Teams; government censorship and surveillance of online platforms; service prices are highest in the region, yet affordable for population's affluent users; government launched free digital platforms for students; Dubai and Abu Dhabi are smart cities with government plan to digitize services across country; major importer of broadcasting equipment from China and exporter of broadcasting equipment to Iraq and Saudi Arabia (2021) (2020) domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber-optic and coaxial cable; fixed-line 24 per 100 and mobile-cellular 201 per 100 (2019) international: country code - 971; landing points for the FLAG, SEA-ME-WE-3 ,-4 & -5, Qater UAE Submarine Cable System, FALCON, FOG, Tat TGN-Gulf, OMRAN/EPEG Cable System, AAE-1, BBG, EIG, FEA, GBICS/MENA, IMEWE, Orient Express, TEAMS, TW1 and the UAE-Iran submarine cables, linking to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian) (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
| Broadband - fixed subscriptions | total: 284,679 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11.82 (2019 est.) | total: 3,045,957 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31.34 (2019 est.) |
| Broadcast media | TV and radio broadcast licensing and access to local media markets are state controlled; home of the satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera, which was originally owned and financed by the Qatari government but has evolved to independent corporate status; Al-Jazeera claims editorial independence in broadcasting; local radio transmissions include state, private, and international broadcasters on FM frequencies in Doha; in August 2013, Qatar's satellite company Es'hailSat launched its first communications satellite Es'hail 1 (manufactured in the US), which entered commercial service in December 2013 to provide improved television broadcasting capability and expand availability of voice and Internet; Es'hailSat launched its second commercial satellite in 2018 with aid of SpaceX (2019) | except for the many organizations now operating in media free zones in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, most TV and radio stations remain government-owned; widespread use of satellite dishes provides access to pan-Arab and other international broadcasts; restrictions since June 2017 on some satellite channels and websites originating from or otherwise linked to Qatar (2018) |
Transportation
| Qatar | United Arab Emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Roadways | total: 7,039 km (2016) | total: 4,080 km (2008) paved: 4,080 km (includes 253 km of expressways) (2008) |
| Pipelines | 288 km condensate, 221 km condensate/gas, 2383 km gas, 90 km liquid petroleum gas, 745 km oil, 103 km refined products (2013) | 533 km condensate, 3277 km gas, 300 km liquid petroleum gas, 3287 km oil, 24 km oil/gas/water, 218 km refined products, 99 km water (2013) |
| Ports and terminals | major seaport(s): Doha, Musay'id, Ra's Laffan LNG terminal(s) (export): Ras Laffan | major seaport(s): Al Fujayrah, Mina' Jabal 'Ali (Dubai), Khor Fakkan (Khawr Fakkan) (Sharjah), Mubarraz Island (Abu Dhabi), Mina' Rashid (Dubai), Mina' Saqr (Ra's al Khaymah) container port(s) (TEUs): Dubai Port (14,111,000) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (export): Das Island |
| Merchant marine | total: 131 by type: bulk carrier 8, container ship 6, general cargo 5, oil tanker 5, other 107 (2020) | total: 640 by type: container ship 3, general cargo 120, oil tanker 19, other 498 (2020) |
| Airports | total: 6 (2013) | total: 43 (2013) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 4 (2017) over 3,047 m: 3 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017) | total: 25 (2013) over 3,047 m: 12 (2013) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2013) under 914 m: 2 (2013) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 2 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013) under 914 m: 1 (2013) | total: 18 (2013) over 3,047 m: 1 (2013) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 6 (2013) under 914 m: 6 (2013) |
| Heliports | 1 (2013) | 5 (2013) |
| National air transport system | number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 251 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 29,178,923 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 12,666,710,000 mt-km (2018) | number of registered air carriers: 10 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 497 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 95,533,069 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 15,962,900,000 mt-km (2018) |
| Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | A7 | A6 |
Military
| Qatar | United Arab Emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Military branches | Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF, includes Emiri Guard), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN, includes Coast Guard), Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF); Internal Security Forces: Mobile Gendarmerie (2021) | United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Land Forces, Navy Forces, Air Force, Presidential Guard; Ministry of Interior: Critical Infrastructure Coastal Patrol Agency (CICPA) (2021) |
| Military service age and obligation | conscription for males aged 18-35; compulsory service times range from 4 months to up to a year, depending on the cadets educational and professional circumstances; women are permitted to serve in the armed forces, including as uniformed officers and pilots (2019) | 18-30 years of age for compulsory military service for men; 17 years of age for male volunteers with parental approval; 24-month general service obligation, 16 months for secondary school graduates; women can volunteer to serve for 9 months regardless of education (2019) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP | 2.5% of GDP (2017) 3.1% of GDP (2016) 3.2% of GDP (2015) 2.6% of GDP (2014) 2.4% of GDP (2013) | 5.2% of GDP (2017) 6% of GDP (2016) 7% of GDP (2015) 5.8% of GDP (2014) 6.1% of GDP (2013) |
| Military and security service personnel strengths | information varies; approximately 14,000 active personnel (10,000 Land Force, including Emiri Guard; 2,000 Navy; 2,000 Air Force) (2021) | the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces have approximately 65,000 total active personnel (45,000 Land Forces; 3,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force; 12,000 Presidential Guard) (2021) |
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the Qatari military's inventory includes a broad mix of older and modern weapons systems, mostly from the US and Europe; in the 2010s, Qatar embarked on an extensive military expansion and modernization program with large air, ground, and naval equipment purchases from European countries, Turkey, and the US (2021) | the UAE Armed Forces inventory is comprised of wide variety of mostly modern imported equipment; since 2010, the UAE has acquired military equipment from more than 20 countries with the US as the leading supplier by far, followed by France and Russia (2020) |
Transnational Issues
| Qatar | United Arab Emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Disputes - international | none | boundary agreement was signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves, but contents of the agreement and detailed maps showing the alignment have not been published; Iran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island, which Iran occupies |
Environment
| Qatar | United Arab Emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Air pollutants | particulate matter emissions: 90.35 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 103.26 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 8.34 megatons (2020 est.) | particulate matter emissions: 39.44 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 206.32 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 56.55 megatons (2020 est.) |
| Total water withdrawal | municipal: 477.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 143.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 291.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.) | municipal: 617 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 69 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 3.312 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Revenue from coal | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,000,990 tons (2012 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 30,030 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 3% (2014 est.) | municipal solid waste generated annually: 5,413,453 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,082,691 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20% (2015 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook
