Islamic Side
Qatar endeavors to strengthen ties of cooperation with Islamic peoples and states. It further provides all kind of material and moral support to the common issues of Arab and Islamic Ummah.
Economical and Cultural Side
Oil, gas and upstream and downstream industries resources are the mainstay of the Qatari economy. The economic policy of the state aims to invest the returns of oil and gas in economically profitable projects and in establishing a solid industrial base. It adopts new approaches in the field of economic and trade liberalization with a view to enhance and expand foreign capital investments and the private sector.
Qatar economy is considered one of the fastest growing economies in the world and it maintained high growth rate by virtue of the huge increase in oil prices in 2006-2007 as the GNP witnessed another record growth during the year 2007. This has been an extension to the record growth rate achieved in the last four years where the GNP jumped to QR258.6bn in 2007 compared to QR115bn in 2004, an increase with the rate of 33.7%. This increase in GNP is attributed to the increase in oil prices and consequently an increase in the revenues accrued from it. Beside this, there was a considerable increase in gas production and exportation, completion of the giant natural gas projects and increase in non-oil products. Oil prices increased during 2007 by the rate of 50% and reached an annual average of $71 per barrel compared to $64.3 per barrel in 2006 and increase in natural gas exports which reached 30 million tons compared to 25 tons in 2006.
Oil and gas, construction and building, and financial services and real estate topped the economic sectors with outstandingly higher growth rates in 2007 in comparison to the results of 2006. The growth of these sectors is attributed to the continued increase in oil prices in the international markets and the boom witnessed by the construction, real estate and financial services. Oil and gas sector continued to achieve steady growth rates during 2007 to rest on 146.1 billion Qatari riyals, up by 28 billion Qatari riyals.
It is noticed from the detailed data that non-oil sectors have registered a noticable growth rates in 2007. Commodity production growth rate increased in real productivity value by more than 24.7 billion Qatari riyals or about 26.8% to stand to 116 Billion Qatari Riyal giving the sector about 47.6% share of the total productivity value of the non-oil sectors.
Political Side
The Constitution
Qatar's constitution has passed through transitional stages starting in 1970 when the first provisional system of governance was enacted. This system was revised in 1972 after the national independence and amended to address the requirements and responsibilities of the new stage. Thereafter, the features and objectives of the State's policies and affiliations were defined at the regional, Arabic and Islamic levels. The government and its organs drew much benefit from the actual performance of authority at the domestic and international levels.
The legislative amendments tackled some articles of the basic modified provisional system pertaining to the executive authority and the articles pertaining to the inheritance of the Emir's post as an integral part of the constitutional situation in the country. In the same manner, the issuance of the judicial authority law and other basic laws that regulate civil and commercial transactions were complementary steps towards the establishment of the State's organs and laying down the foundations of the State of law and institutional governance.
The Drafting Committee of the Permanent Constitution
On the 13th of July, 1999, Qatar transferred into a new era of its modern history when HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani issued decree no (11) in 1999 stipulating the formation of a drafting committee of the permanent constitution in a historic speech he delivered on this occasion. In his speech, HH the Emir maintained that the Constitution is the basic document that contains the substantial principles relative to the country's sovereignty in different domains, regulates its authorities and its ruling system and defines public rights and duties. HH stressed the importance of expanding the base of communal participation in governance vis-a-vis the election of a parliament. He also defined the basic features of Qatar's prospective permanent constitution as being based on affiliation to the Gulf region and the Arabic and Islamic worlds and observing the Arabic profound traditions and sublime teachings of Islam.
A constitutional committee was formed, namely, The Drafting Committee of the Permanent Constitution, headed by a chairman and a deputy chairman with the membership of thirty other members. The Emiri decree stipulated the committee should draft a permanent constitution for the country in a time span of no more than three years effective from the date of the issuance of the decree. The Committee was instructed to prepare a report every six months to brief HH the Emir of the output of its work . At the end of its mission, the committee should submit the manuscript accompanied by its recommendations to HH the Emir.
On the second of July, 2002, HH the Emir received the manuscript of the permanent constitution enterprise which lays the basic foundations of the society, regulates the State's authorities, embodies the public participation in governance and ensures the rights and freedom of Qatari citizens. The Constitution consists of five chapters and 150 articles. It stipulates the establishment of a parliament to be called "The Advisory Council" of which two-thirds of its members are elected vis-a-vis free direct elections whereas the remaining members shall be appointed by the Emir. The Advisory Council shall be entrusted with the legislative authority, the endorsement of the public budget and accountability of the ministers and the executive authority.
Referendum on the Constitution
On the 29th of April 2003, the Qataris were set to transfer into a new era where they soar high in the horizons of freedom, after thirty years of living under the umbrella of the Amended Provisional Constitution which had fallen short of being convenient to the requirements of contemporary life. This new era is marked with setting up a permanent constitution that upholds personal liberty, safeguards the principle of equal opportunities for all citizens, protects private proprietorship, deems all people equal in rights and duties and prohibits the expulsion of any citizen from the country or preventing him from returning to it. Furthermore, the Constitution creates a free atmosphere whereby all types of expression are allowed and enhances the freedom of press and publication. It likewise enshrines the freedom of religion, worship and conviction for all people and makes the Qatari population the source of powers and legislations to be exercised through an elected legislative council.
The 29th of April, 2003 was the date set for a public referendum whereby citizens have their say on this Constitution freely; thus, transferring Qatar from the zone of totalitarian states to the world of democratic countries and from the cycle of closed countries to the world of liberties and cultural openness to the world.
The result of the referendum in which the percentage of popular turnout was high showed a general consent to the Constitution mounting to 96.6%, equal to 68987 voters as opposed to 2145 who cast a negative vote. The invalid votes counted as 274.
The heavy turnout to the ballot boxes evidently reflects the extent of the Qatari people's response to the call dispatched by HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani in a speech he delivered to his nation and urged them to cast their votes in the referendum and have their say on the Constitution.
The Ministry of Interior and the Public Committee of the referendum formed one hundred committees to oversee the referendum on the permanent Constitution and define the centers where the referendum would take place. These committees were distributed among work places at the ministries, establishments and residential areas among which is the 29th electoral districts where municipal elections to elect the first and second central municipal council took place. In addition, a number of mobile committees were set up to cover certain schools, work places in the State, commercial malls, clubs, Doha International Airport, Abu Samra Center, hospitals and other health centers of the Ministry of Public Health.
The requisite terms and conditions that qualify citizens to cast their votes on the draft constitution were defined as being a citizen holding a natural Qatari nationality and at least eighteen years old by the 29th of April.
On 8th June 2004 H.H. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, issued a statement on the occasion of the ratification of the Permanent Constitution of the State of Qatar. The statement stated the following:
We, Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, have decreed the following:
In implementation of our objectives to complete the premises of democratic rule in our beloved homeland through ratification of a permanent constitution for the country that consolidates the basic foundations of society, reflects people's participation in decision-making and guarantees the rights and freedoms of citizens, and recognizing our Arab and Islamic affiliation of which we are proud, and having been familiarized with the results of the Referendum on the Permanent Constitution of the State of Qatar on 9th April 2003 and the approval by the overwhelming majority of citizens of this constitution, and having read Article 141 of the Permanent Constitution, we have issued this Constitution, which shall be published in the Official Gazette a year after it is issued, during which constitutional institutions shall be completed and necessary measures thereto shall be undertaken .
Permanent Constitution of the State of Qatar
PART ONE
The State and the Bases of the Rule
Article 1
Qatar is an independent sovereign Arab State. Its religion is Islam and Shari'a law shall be a main source of its legislations. Its political system is democratic. The Arabic Language shall be its official language. The people of Qatar are a part of the Arab nation.
Article 2
The capital of the State is Doha City; and it may be transferred to any other place by a law. The State shall exercise its sovereignty on its territory and it may not relinquish its sovereignty neither may it cede any part of its territory.
Article 3
The law shall specify the flag of the State, the emblem, decorations, badges, and the National Anthem.
Article 4
The law shall determine the financial and banking system of the State, and specify its official currency.
Article 5
The State shall preserve its independence, sovereignty, territorial safety and integrity, security and stability, and defend itself against aggression.
Article 6
The State shall respect the international charters and conventions, and strive to implement all international agreements, charters, and conventions it is party thereof.
Article 7
The foreign policy of the State is based on the principle of strengthening international peace and security by means of encouraging peaceful resolution of international disputes; and shall support the right of peoples to self-determination; and shall not interfere in the domestic affairs of states; and shall cooperate with peace-loving nations.
Article 8
The rule of the State is hereditary in the family of Al Thani and in the line of the male descendants of Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Hamad Bin Abdullah Bin Jassim. The rule shall be inherited by the son named as Heir Apparent by the Emir. In the case that there is no such son, the prerogatives of rule shall pass to the member of the family named by the Emir as Heir Apparent. In this case, his male descendants shall inherit the rule. The provisions of the rule of the State and accession shall be determined by a special law that shall be issued within a year commencing as from the date of coming into force of this Constitution. This law shall have the power of the Constitution.
Article 9
The Emir shall, by an Emiri Order, appoint an Heir Apparent after consultation with the members of the Ruling Family and the people of wisdom (Ahal Alhal wal agd) in the State. The Heir Apparent must be a Muslim of a Qatari Muslim Mother.
Article 10
The Heir Apparent, on his appointment, shall take the following of oath:
( I swear by Almighty God to respect Sharia law, the Constitution and the law, maintain the independence of the State and safeguard its territorial integrity, defend the freedom and interests of its people, and be loyal to the State and the Emir).
Article 11
The Heir Apparent shall assume the powers and discharge the functions of the Emir on his behalf during his absence outside the country, or in the event of temporary compelling circumstances).
Article 12
The Emir may, by an Emiri Order, confer upon the Heir Apparent the exercise of some of his powers and the discharge of some of his functions. The Heir Apparent shall preside over the sessions of the Council of Ministers whenever he is in attendance.
Article 13
Without prejudice to the provisions of the two preceding articles, and where it is not possible to delegate powers to the Heir Apparent, the Emir may, by an Emiri Order, designate a deputy from the Ruling Family to discharge some of his powers and functions; and where the person who has been so designated holds a post or performs a function in any institution, the same person shall cease to discharge the duties of that post or function during his deputation of the Emir; and the Deputy Emir shall, as soon as he is so designated, take, before the Emir, the same oath as taken by the Heir Apparent.
Article 14
There shall be established a Council by an Emiri Resolution named "The Council of the Ruling Family". The Emir shall appoint the Members of such Council from amongst the members of the Ruling Family.
Article 15
The Council of the Ruling Family shall determine the vacancy of the position of the Emir in the event of his demise or when he becomes totally incapacitated to discharge his functions. Following this, the Council of Ministers and Al-Shoura Council shall after a secret joint session announce the vacancy and declare the Heir Apparent as the Emir of the State.
Article 16
Where the Heir Apparent, at the time he is named Emir of the State, is less than 18 years of age according to the Gregorian calendar, the reins of Government shall be conferred upon a Regency Council to be appointed by the Council of the Ruling Family. The Regency Council shall be composed of a Chairman and not less than three or more than five Members; and the Chairman and the majority of Members shall be from amongst the Ruling Family.
Article 17
The financial emoluments of the Emir as well as the funds allocated for gifts and assistance shall be determined by a resolution issued annually by the Emir.
