Qatar is a small country located in the Middle East, with significant revenue from oil and natural gas resources. As of 2017, of the 2.6 million inhabitants of Qatar, 2.3 million were expatriates. The country has the world’s highest per capita income and is regarded as a country of high human development by the UN. The high-income economy has the world’s third largest oil reserve in the world. Since 1868, Qatar has been ruled by the  House of Thani and recognized as a separate country; it was previously ruled under the British protectorate when it gained its independence in 1871.

Although small in size, Qatar has a high level of influence on affairs around the world and is considered a middle power. The country is currently subject to the diplomatic and economic embargo by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, and the UAE, which began in 2017.

Qatar played a major role in the Gulf War in 1991, namely in the  Battle of Khafji. Qatar allowed Canadian forces to utilize an airbase during the war, and allowed French and US air forces to occupy the territory. In 1995, Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani seized control over Qatar. Since this time, liberalization has occurred in the country, including the launch of Al Jazeera and a move towards women’s suffrage. Qatar served as the central port for US intelligence agencies in 2003, during the invasion of Iraq.

The country is ruled by the  Al Thani family, and considered a constitutional or absolute monarchy. The Supreme Chancellor has absolute right to appoint/remove the prime minister and cabinet ministers. Limited rights to write laws is appointed to the  Consultative Assembly, however, Emir has the final say as to which legislation is approved into law. Under the Constitution,  Sharia law is the primary source of law in Qatar. Judicial corporal punishment is a common practice in the country.

Qatar is a member of OPEC, Arab League, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. The judiciary is broken up into multiple courts of law. These include Court of Cassation, Appeal, and Preliminary courts.

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