Government and Politics of Qatar

Government Type

traditional monarchy

Administrative Divisions

10 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Sa'id, Umm Salal

Legal System

discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 Suffrage:

Executive Branch

chief of state: Amir TAMIM bin Hamad al-Thani (since 25 June 2013, when his father, Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani, abdicated in his favor); note - Amir TAMIM also serves as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces head of government: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs MUHAMMAD bin Abd al-Rahman bin Jassim al-Thani (since 7 March 2023); Deputy Prime Minister KHALID bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz al-Thani served in the role previously (2020–2023) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the Amir elections: none; the monarch is hereditary note: Qatar held elections for its 45-member Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura) on 2 October 2021, marking the first time citizens directly elected members to the body. The Advisory Council holds legislative powers, including the ability to propose and review legislation, approve the state budget, and question ministers. Previously, all members had been appointed by the Amir. Qatar also continues to hold periodic elections for the 29-member Central Municipal Council (CMC), which exercises consultative powers focused on improving the delivery of municipal services.

Legislative Branch

Unicameral Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (45 seats; 30 members directly elected by popular vote and 15 members appointed by the Amir; members serve 4-year terms) Note: Qatar held its first-ever legislative elections in October 2021, marking a historic milestone after decades of delays. The 2005 constitution had long provided for a 45-member Majlis al-Shura with two-thirds of seats to be filled by direct election and the remaining one-third to be appointed by the Amir. Planned elections were repeatedly postponed, and the council continued to operate with fully appointed membership for many years. The October 2021 elections saw Qatari citizens vote for 30 of the 45 council seats for the first time, with the Amir appointing the remaining 15 members, including women and representatives of various constituencies. The council holds legislative authority, approves the state's general budget, and can propose legislation, though executive power remains firmly with the Amir.

Judicial Branch

Court of Appeal note: under a judiciary law issued in 2003, the former two court systems, civil and Islamic law, were merged under a higher court, the Court of Cassation, established for appeals

Political Parties

none

Head of State

Amir TAMIM bin Hamad al-Thani (since 25 June 2013, when his father, Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani, abdicated in his favor)

Head of Government

Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs MUHAMMAD bin Abd al-Rahman bin Jassim al-Thani

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch

Elections

the monarch is hereditary

Election Results

Qatar is a constitutional monarchy governed by the Al Thani royal family, and as such, it does not hold national elections for a head of state or a directly elected national legislature in the conventional sense. The Emir holds supreme executive authority, and political parties are prohibited under Qatari law. The most significant electoral development in Qatar's modern history took place on October 2, 2021, when the country held its first-ever elections for the Shura Council, Qatar's legislative advisory body. Of the 45 seats on the Shura Council, 30 were made available for direct election by Qatari citizens, while the remaining 15 seats continued to be appointed by the Emir. Voter turnout for this historic election was reported at approximately 63.5 percent of eligible voters. Women were permitted both to vote and to stand as candidates; however, none of the six female candidates who ran were elected to the 30 contested seats. Prior to 2021, all 45 Shura Council members had been appointed directly by the Emir, meaning the 2021 vote represented a meaningful, if limited, step toward participatory governance. The Shura Council's role remains advisory rather than fully legislative, as it does not have the authority to form or dissolve governments, and the Emir retains final decision-making power on all major affairs of state. At the municipal level, Qatar has held elections for the Central Municipal Council since 1999. These elections allow Qatari citizens to vote for representatives in 29 municipal districts. The Central Municipal Council serves in an advisory capacity to the Ministry of Municipality and Environment and addresses local governance issues such as urban planning and public services. Suffrage in Qatar is restricted to Qatari nationals who are at least 18 years of age and meet specific residency and lineage requirements, which significantly limits the eligible voter pool given that expatriates make up the large majority of the country's total population.

Constitution

provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972; in July 1999 Amir HAMAD issued a decree forming a committee to draft a permanent constitution; in the 29 April 2003 referendum, 96.6% of Qatari voters approved the new constitution

Independence

3 September 1971 (from UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

International Organization Participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAS, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Nasir bin Hamad bin Mubarak al-KHALIFA chancery: 2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603 FAX: [1] (202) 237-0059 consulate(s) general: Houston

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Chase UNTERMEYER embassy: Al-Luqta District, 22 February Road, Doha mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha telephone: [974] 488 4101 FAX: [974] 488 4176

Capital City

Doha

Location

25 17 N, 51 32 E

Time Difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

derives from the Arabic term "dohat," meaning "roundness," and refers to the small rounded bays along the area's coastline

U.S. Embassy Doha Al-Luqta District, 22nd February Street, PO Box 2399, Doha Telephone: (974) 4496-6000, extension 0 or 6600 Emergency after-hours telephone: (974) 4496-6000, extension 0 or 6600, Facsimile: (974) 4488-4298 E-mail: acsconsulardoha@state.gov The Embassy observes a Sunday through Thursday workweek. Government offices and most businesses in Qatar also observe a Sunday through Thursday

Military Branches

Qatari Emiri Land Force (QELF), Qatari Emiri Navy (QEN), Qatari Emiri Air Force (QEAF)

Service Age and Obligation

conscription for males aged 18-35