What is Qatar
Executive summary
Qatar is a small, wealthy independent emirate on the Persian Gulf whose wealth comes chiefly from vast petroleum and natural‑gas reserves and whose population is overwhelmingly migrant — over 90% according to Human Rights Watch — while GDP per capita ranks among the world’s highest (IMF estimate ~$71,650 in 2025) [1] [2] [3].
1. A compact, energy‑rich state that punches above its weight
Qatar is an independent emirate on the west coast of the Persian Gulf governed by the Thani dynasty with its capital at Doha; it holds one of the world’s largest natural gas and petroleum reserves and has channelled hydrocarbon revenue into rapid development and international influence [1] [3].
2. Demography and labour: a population shaped by migration
Migrant workers form the vast majority of Qatar’s population — Human Rights Watch places that figure above 91% — and the country relies heavily on foreign labour for construction, services and energy production; that demographic reality shapes politics, social policy and recurrent criticism over labour rights [2].
3. Wealth and economic transformation: very high income, diversifying economy
Qatar records some of the highest GDP per capita figures globally, with IMF‑based reporting placing per‑capita income near $71,650 in 2025 and PPP estimates far higher, and leaders say they are using hydrocarbon wealth to diversify into tourism, logistics, finance and education so non‑oil sectors now account for over 60% of GDP [3].
4. Governance and political power: concentrated in the emir
Political authority in Qatar is concentrated in a hereditary emir who controls executive and legislative power and exerts influence over the judiciary; recent constitutional change returned the Shura Council to appointment by the emir after a brief experiment with elected members [4] [5].
5. Human rights and labour reforms: contested progress
International watchdogs record both reforms and ongoing problems: Qatar introduced labour law changes in the run‑up to the 2022 World Cup — including measures to let migrant workers change jobs and new wage protections — yet organizations such as Human Rights Watch document persistent abuses, wage theft and structural vulnerabilities under the kafala sponsorship system and warn reforms risk backsliding [2].
6. International roles: mediation, soft power and visibility
Qatar has cultivated a role as regional mediator and a platform for global soft power — investing in education, hosting high‑profile events (notably the 2022 FIFA World Cup) and re‑election to bodies like the UN Human Rights Council — decisions that invite both praise for diplomatic reach and scrutiny over domestic records [1] [2].
7. Civic freedoms and rights reporting: low scores, specific incidents
Freedom House and other democracy indexes underline Qatar’s constrained political freedoms: the emir holds broad authority, and reports note recent high‑profile legal and security cases — for example the detention and later release of several foreign nationals — that drew international attention [4].
8. Everyday life, climate and geography: small area, hot climate, modern amenities
Geographically Qatar is a small peninsula of roughly 11,490–11,610 km² on the Persian Gulf with a subtropical desert climate and a rapidly modernizing urban environment in Doha featuring major shopping, cultural and tourism developments [6] [7] [8].
9. Data, statistics and reporting limitations
Available sources provide differing snapshots: population estimates vary by dataset (Worldometer, national and UN figures), economic measures depend on whether nominal or PPP adjustments are used, and human‑rights assessments mix praise for reforms with warnings of persistent abuse; readers should note each source’s focus and methodology when comparing figures [9] [3] [2].
10. How Qatar is perceived: competing narratives
Two dominant narratives coexist in reporting: one portrays Qatar as a prosperous, modernizing, diplomatically active state leveraging energy wealth into global influence and infrastructure [3] [1]; the other emphasizes systemic labour and human‑rights problems despite legal reforms, and cautions about concentrated political power [2] [4]. Both narratives are supported by the sources cited here.
Limitations: this summary draws only on the provided documents and does not attempt to adjudicate disputed claims beyond citing the source that makes them. Available sources do not mention other specific domestic policies or recent legislative texts not cited above.