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General Information Area: 11,437 sq km (4416 sq miles). Population: 579,200 (2000). Population Density: 50.6 per sq km. Capital: Doha. Population: 392,384 (1995). GEOGRAPHY: Qatar is an oil-rich peninsula jutting out into the Gulf between Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. There are hills in the northwest, but the rest of the country consists of sand dunes and salt flats, with scattered vegetation towards the north. Government: Emirate since 1971. Gained independence from the UK in 1971. Head of State: Crown Prince Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani since 1995. Head of Government: Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani since 1996. Language: Arabic is the official language. Some English is spoken. Religion: Islam. Time: GMT + 3. Electricity: 220-240 volts AC, 50Hz. Communications:   Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 974. There are no area codes. Outgoing international code: 0. Mobile telephone GSM 900 network exists. Main network provider is Q-tel (website: www.qtel.com.qa). Fax Available at some major hotels. Internet Main ISPs iclude Qatar (website: www.qatar.net.qa). Internet cafes exist in Doha. Telegram The Cable and Wireless Office in Doha (0600-2300) and major hotels provide services. Post Airmail to Europe takes up to a week. Press English-language newspapers include the Gulf Times. The main dailies are Al-Raya, Al-’Arab and Al-Sharq. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.58 11.76 9.410 1.413 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 15.21 11.82 9.760 1.197 From www.columbusguides.com, Copyright © 2004 Highbury Columbus Travel Publishing Terms and Conditions apply.