Qatar is a limestone peninsula projecting northward into the Arabian Gulf. It is approximately 160 km long by 80 km wide, consisting mostly of low-lying, arid, stony desert. It is an independent Arab state and a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council ( a grouping of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Kuwait).

The official language is Arabic, but English is widely spoken and understood. There are few day-to-day situations where spoken Arabic is a necessity. Political links with the UK, USA and the west are good.

Doha is the capital city and administrative centre of Qatar, located on the east coast. It is the only major commercial and residential centre, and most western expatriates live within it. The city is undergoing a construction boom, expanding at a rapid rate.

There are around 5,000 British nationals resident in Qatar (out of a total population approaching 1 million), with similar numbers of French and US nationals.

Climate

Average temperatures vary between 12C - 21C in January, and 35C - 49C from June to September.

New staff arriving at the start of the Academic Year will therefore find the first 4 - 8 weeks very hot and humid, although air-conditioning makes all homes, cars and buildings comfortable.

The climate during Autumn and Spring is very pleasant, while Winter can be surprisingly cool. Average rainfall is 2 - 3 inches per year, although the actual amount varies considerably from one year to the next.