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Qatar is largely barren and agriculture is minimal. Water is scarce. Once a nomadic society, Qatar now has little rural population. Doha, the main urban center, is on the eastern coast of the peninsula. About 40% of the inhabitants are Sunni Arabs of the Wahhabi sect of Islam. Other ethnicities include Pakistanis, Indians, Iranians, and Palestinians. Less than one fifth of the population are native Qataris; most of the workers associated with the important oil and gas industries are foreigners. Arabic is the official language, although English is widely used.
Qatar is a traditional monarchy. A provisional constitution enacted in 1972 called for elections to the 35-seat advisory council (Shura), but none have been held; council members continue to be appointed by the ruling family. The current emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, has worked to democratize the political structure, however, and in 1999 the first-ever elections were held for a municipal council; women have the right to vote. Qatar is a member of the Arab League, the United Nations, and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
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