POLITICAL COOPERATION
The bilateral relations between Italy and Qatar are characterized by deep friendship and intense trade exchanges.
Political cooperation between Italy and Qatar has grown importantly in recent years, as confirmed by the state visit of President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella in Doha in January 2020 and by the state visit of the Amir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Rome in February 2023. Moreover, there have been several meetings between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which eventually led to the Memorandum of Understanding on the Strategic Dialogue in December 2020. The Strategic Dialogue aims to strengthen bilateral and diplomatic relations in areas of common interest. Furthermore, there has also been a strengthening of political cooperation in the defense sector, thanks to the various meetings of defense ministers and the perception of Italy as a loyal partner in the Gulf country. These excellent bilateral relations have enabled an increasingly close cooperation between Italy and Qatar, as well as attracted many Italian companies to operate in the Qatari territory and stimulated Qatari investment in our country.
INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE, POPULATION AND SOCIAL INDICATORS
- AREA: 11,571 sq. km.
- FORM OF STATE: Constitutional monarchy
- CAPITAL: Doha
- OTHER CITIES: Al Khor, Dukhan, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Umm Said (Mesaieed)
- OFFICIAL NAME: Dawlat Qatar (State of Qatar)
- HEAD OF STATE: Emir H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (since 2013)
- PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani
- LEGISLATIVE POWER: Part of the legislative power is devolved to the assembly (Shura Council, composed of at least 45 members appointed by the Emir). Part of the legislative power is retained by the Executive.
- LEGAL SYSTEM: Based on the Constitution, which was promulgated in June 2004 and took effect in June 2005.
- PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
- POPULATION: 3,054,365 (estimate 2024).
- CITIZENSHIP: Qatar citizens 11.6%; non-Qatar citizens 88.4%.
- RELIGION: Islam is the State religion (67.7% of the population). Christianity (13.8%), Hinduism (13.8%), Buddhism (3.1%) and other religions (1.6%) are also present.
- LANGUAGES: Arabic is the country’s official language; widely used as a vehicular language is English.