Officially name: State of Qatar
Capital: Doha
Largest city: Doha
Official language: Arabic
Government: Absolute monarchy
Qatar, a nation rich in oil and gas natural reserves, is located in the Middle East and is neighboured by Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. With a land area of 4,184 square miles, the population was estimated to be 825,000 at the start of 2008.
Qatar's traditional cuisine has been strongly influenced by migrants from Iran and India, and more recently North Africa.