Member States of the
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
Published by the
Secretariat General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf
(GCC)
2007
Preface
The GCC
States have been vigorously pursuing the sublime goals for which the Cooperation
Council was established. The overall aim of the GCC is to strengthen the
various aspects of cooperation and integration among the Member States, and to
actualise their aspirations for a better future, culminating in healthy
integration among them.
As the GCC States occupy an important
position in the world, the officials in the External Media Unit felt the need
to provide a brief and accurate information booklet on the Member States of the
GCC. Therefore, we deemed it proper to publish a booklet that provides concise
basic information about the six Member States of the GCC that would be of
benefit to the general readers and researchers.
Media
Affairs Department
Secretariat
General
Cooperation
Council for the Arab States of the Gulf
|
President |
His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed
Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan |
|
Capital |
|
|
Area |
83,600
sq km |
|
Population |
4
million |
|
National
day |
2
December |
|
Currency |
Dirham
(1 Dirham = 100 fils) and (I USD = 3.67 Dirham) |
|
Official
Language |
Arabic |
|
International
Dialling Code |
00971 |
Overview
The
United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven States comprising of
Location
The
Its
coastline on the Arabian Gulf, measuring 644 km, extends from the base of
Climate
UAE is
regarded as one of the best winter resorts in the world, as during winter it
enjoys a warm sunny weather between the months of November to March, with the
mean day temperature being 26°C. The nights tend to be cool with the mean
temperature remaining 15 °C. Temperature
and humidity intensify between the months of May and August.
Topographic
Relief
The land
of the UAE is mainly desert, particularly in the
interior western regions. The desert is interspersed with some famous oases, foremost among them are Al-Ain and its outskirts, and
Liwa, which is about 200 km west of Al-Ain. Liwa now comprises of about 600 oases. To the west of this
region lie huge sand dunes bordering the
Jebel Hafeet (Hafeet
mountain), which is 1222m above sea level, is considered to be the southern
border of the Buraimi oasis. Al-Ain is part of the Buraimi oasis.
In addition to Jebel
Hafeet, there is a mountain range known as Jibal Hajar (Al-Hajar mountain) which bisects the Musandam peninsula. This mountain range extends 80 km in
the north-south direction and has a breadth of about 22km. It runs into
History
Archaeological
findings have revealed that UAE’s territory has been
inhabited since the earliest historical times. The land has been inhabited for
more than 10,000 years due to its rich natural and fishing
resources.
Archaeological evidence has also confirmed
that the
area witnessed boom and prosperity during the Bronze Age (3000-2000 BC). This
is proved by the remains of human settlements on the
Flag
The flag
of UAE is rectangular in shape. The length of the flag is twice its breadth.
The flag is divided into four rectangular parts. The first part is vertical and
is red in colour; it is on the side of the flag mast; its length is equal to
breadth of the flag, and its breadth equals a quarter of length of the flag.
The other three parts are horizontal, parallel and equal in size. The top part
is green, the middle part is white, and the lowest part is black. ( see page 4 ).
National
Emblem and National Stamp
A falcon
in the centre of which is a yacht sailing on the crest of four waves represents
the Emblem of the state. The claws of the falcon hold a baseboard, which is
rectangular and bears the name of the
Political
System
The
Federal Authorities of the UAE comprise of the following:
- The Supreme Council of the Federation
- The Council of Ministers
- The Federal National Council
- The Federal Judiciary
The
Supreme Council of the Federation is the apex authority of the State of the
His
Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Khalifa
Al-Nahyan, the late President of the UAE, presided
over the Supreme Council since its inception in 1971 until his demise in
November 2004. His Highness Sheikh Maktoom Bin Rashid
Al-Maktoom is the Vice President of UAE, Prime
Minister of the Council of Ministers, and the Ruler of Dubai.
The
Council of Ministers, in its capacity as the Executive Authority, takes charge
of following up the implementation of the public policies of the Federal
Government and administers all internal and external matters.
The
Federal National Council is composed of forty members, representing all the
constituent emirates. It looks into the laws, regulations and legislations
drawn by the government, and debates the public policies of the State, and
makes recommendations that it deems would actualise the interests of the
country and the citizens.
The UAE constitution states
that justice is the basis of governance, and that the judges are independent
with no authority over them except that of the law and their own conscience in
performance of their duties.
The
Federal Supreme Court—the highest judicial body— is composed of a President and
a number of judges not exceeding five. They are appointed by a decree issued by
the President of the Federation upon its approval by the members of the Supreme
Council.
Foreign
Policy
The
foreign policy of the UAE embodies the firm principles founded on credibility,
mutual understanding, dialogue, forthrightness, and a keen desire for good
neighbourliness. It emphasizes on building ties based on mutual respect,
non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and compliance
with the UN charters and those of other regional organizations. Moreover, the
UAE supports justice and truth, and actively contributes to world peace and
security.
The
Business
and Economy
UAE’s oil policy
reflects the keen desire of the State to provide stability and balance in the
world petroleum markets with a view to protecting the interests of both the
producers and the consumers. In this regard, the UAE backs all collective
efforts aimed at reinforcing the unity and cohesion between the Organization of
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in fixing the global production output
quotas so as to achieve the stability of the petroleum markets and the prices,
and to ensure oil supplies to the consuming countries at acceptable and fair
prices. UAE has been keen on activating the working strategies of the
organization.
There has
been a multi-fold increase in confirmed oil reserves of the UAE in the past
three decades. The confirmed oil reserves increased from 30 billion barrels in
the seventies to 98 billion barrels in 2002, thereby making UAE the third
largest possessor of confirmed oil reserves in the world. Similarly, UAE’s natural gas reserves have increased from 626 billion
cubic meters in the seventies to 6 trillion cubic meters, thus occupying the
second position among the Arabian countries and fourth position in the world in
terms of possession of the general natural gas reserves.
UAE is
making efforts to expand its operations for crude oil and natural gas
production. The output of the extraction industry rose to 72 billion and 900
million dirhams, constituting 28% of the GDP, which is
225.7 billion dirhams. The value of production in
this sector rose to 75 billion and 700 million dirhams.
Political
and social stability, security, advanced infrastructure, and prudent economic
and financial policies—that have focused on economic freedom, promotion of
investments, and diversification of the sources of national income—have
contributed to the economic development in the various manufacturing sectors.
In 2003,
UAE achieved exceptionally high growth rates. The GNP, which represents the real
growth of the national economy, reached 284.5 billion dirhams
in 2003 compared to 6.5 billion dirhams in 1971,
thereby achieving an annual growth rate of 13 percent.
The
policies followed by UAE have succeeded in diversifying the sources of income
and in building an economy based on multiple sources of revenue, which is
not just dependent on the earnings from
petroleum alone. The returns from non-oil sectors have increased dramatically
from 2.3 billion dirhams in 1972 to 199.2 billion dirhams in 2003, registering an annual growth rate of 15.5
percent.
The
non-oil manufacturing sectors made a contribution of about 70% to the GDP in
2003 compared to 35.4 % in 1972.
Agriculture
The
agricultural sector recorded a high growth in 2002 constituting 6.9 percent of
the non-oil sector in the GDP, and rose to 9 billion and 100 million dirhams.
UAE has
succeeded, to a commendable degree, in taming the harsh natural factors, and in
overcoming the tough conditions to spread greenery and farming in the middle of
the desert. The country has achieved self-sufficiency in some agricultural and
animal products. It has also started exporting some of these products to other
countries. The experience of the UAE in this field is regarded as a pioneering
model on ways to subdue the tough desert and climactic conditions despite
scarcity of rains and other water resources, thus succeeding in converting the
desert into fertile land. It is noteworthy that there are 130 million trees that flourish across
the country. In addition, there are vast patches of greenery along with 110
public gardens.
The UAE
today exports its fruit and vegetable produces to the
The
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, as part of its plan to set up a
strong infrastructure for agriculture,
has made efforts to reclaim land, make it suitable for agriculture and
distribute it to the citizens free of cost. It also provides annual subsidy to
the farmers by distributing the tools of production at half the actual price.
Further, the Ministry provides them with financial guarantees and loans for
purchasing agricultural tools, fertilizers, and seeds. The Ministry also guides
the farmers, and takes steps to prevent plant diseases.
Due to
the pursuance of these policies, which support the agriculture sector, the
total area occupied by agricultural land expanded to 709 million and 415 donum (1 donum=1000 square
metres). The number of farms increased to 38,209, which produce about 5.7
million tonnes of agricultural products. There are 8208 green houses with a
total area of 2703 donums.
UAE has
attained a high degree of self-sufficiency in a number of plant products,
livestock, and fisheries. In date production and fisheries, the UAE has
achieved 100% self-sufficiency. In vegetable production 85% self-sufficiency
has been achieved. 31% and 17% self-sufficiency has been realized in red meat
and chicken production respectively. Self-sufficiency in the field of milk
production has reached 83%, while it has reached 39% in egg production.
Tourism
The State
of the UAE occupies a prominent position on the world tourism map. It enjoys
all the characteristics such as strategic geographical location, moderate
climate during six months of the year, security and stability, shopping
facilities until the early hours of the morning in peace and security, modern
infrastructure that guarantees excellent services to the tourists ranging from the
airports to seaports as well as advanced transportation and communication
facilities. All these characteristics have contributed to the development of
the tourism industry.
Some of
the major tourist attractions in the UAE are its golden sand beaches, excellent
services provided by more than 370 hotels distributed in the various parts of
the country, archaeological sites etc. The country also enjoys mild winter from
November to March, and possesses warm waters, lots of sunshine. coupled with a
marine environment rich in coral reefs and pearl oysters, which constituted the
chief source of income for the people in the past.
The lofty
golden desert sand dunes are another major tourist attraction. Desert skiing
has flourished on these sand dunes, where skiing is practiced by using ski
boards and sledges. Besides numerous races are held to
attract the tourists. Traditional boat races are held, in which locally
built boats are used. Horseracing is another crowd puller in which thoroughbred
Arabian and hybrid horses participate.
UAE is a
leading organizer of events, conferences and exhibitions in the
|
National day |
2 December 1971 |
|
Sheikh Zayed 's accession day |
6 August 1966 |
|
Religion |
Islam |
|
Official language |
Arabic |
|
Time |
+4 GMT |
|
Currency |
Emirates Dirham (Dhs.3.672= US$1.00) |
|
Population |
4 million |
|
Workforce |
2.031 million |
|
GDP |
Dhs.260 billion |
|
Gross National Income |
Dhs.229 billion |
|
Crude Oil Exports |
Dhs.62.4 billion |
|
Share of Non-Oil
Sector in the GNP |
Dhs.188 billion |
|
Total Exports |
Dhs.180 billion |
|
Total Imports |
Dhs.144 billion |
|
Merchandise Trade
Surplus |
Dhs.38.4 billion |
|
Average Per Capita
Income |
Dhs.61000 |
|
Industrial
Manufacturing Units |
2509 |
|
Hotels |
370 |
|
Local Banks |
21 Headquarters with
310 branches |
|
Foreign Banks |
26 Headquarters, 86 Branches, 01 Exchange office |
|
Government Schools |
761 |
|
Private Schools |
420 |
|
Students enrolled in
Govt. Schools and Private Schools |
575000 |
|
Government Hospitals |
29 |
|
Private Clinics |
1019 |
|
|
100 |
|
Government Health
Centres |
107 |
|
Electricity
Production |
9200 Megawatts |
|
Water Production |
457.9 Million gallons
daily |
|
Fixed Telephone Lines |
1.2 million |
|
Mobile Telephone
Lines |
2.4 million |
|
Internet Subscribers |
310,000 |
|
Satellite Television
Stations |
4 |
|
Radio Stations |
5 |
|
Newspapers |
6 Daily Newspapers,
of which 3 published in English |
|
Length of Paved High
Speed Roads |
4100 km |
|
Airports |
6 international
airports |
|
Ports |
15 Main ports |
|
Cars |
820,000 |
Official
Name:
The King :His Majesty King Hamad Bin Eissa Al- Khalifa
Capital:
Total
Area: 735.8 sq km
Location:
Located in the middle of the Arabian Gulf close to the eastern coast of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Population:
650604 according to 2001 census
Climate:
Time:+3 Hr GMT
Language:
Arabic is the official language of the country, but English is widely used
especially in businesses and trade.
Religion:
Islam, followed by the majority of the population, is the official religion of
the Kingdom. However, there are places of worship for the followers of other
religions too.
Currency:
Bahraini Dinar (BD) is the official currency and
consists of 1000 fils. It is fixed against the
US dollar at 1US$ = 378 fils
Bank
Notes: 500 fils, 1, 5, 10 and 20 Dinar
Coins: 5,
10, 25, 50, 100 and 500 fils
Electricity
Supply
230 volts, 50 Hz except in Awali where it is
110 volts, 60 Hz.
Water
Supply
Tap water
is clean and free from contamination. However, for drinking purposes “sweet
water” is recommended. It is widely sold by shops in bottles, or can be
delivered to homes in large containers.
Health
Services
Entry
Visa
All
except the GCC citizens requires entry visa. Seventy-two hours or seven days
visas are available at the airport immigration desk and King Fahd Causeway. Visas are available at all Bahrain Embassies
and Consulates for the citizens of that State. Visas are available through the
internet. Extensions maybe sought from Department of Immigration,
The
The
Kingdom derives its name from the
Arabic is
the official language of the Kingdom; however, English is widely used by most
businesses. Islam is the official religion which is followed by the vast
majority of the Bahraini population. There are places of worship for the
followers of other religions too.
Numerous
civilizations have flourished on the territory of the modern day
Since
early times,
The
Bahraini population, which is 650,000, comprises of the original inhabitants
and the expatriates who have flocked from all corners of the globe.
Bahraini
citizens coexist with the foreign population in complete harmony and amity and
interact with them with affection and brotherhood. There is an excellent web of
hotels, apartments, restaurants, and high-class communication facilities, which
have attracted an increasing number of world-renowned corporations,
international banks, as well as tourists from neighbouring countries and from
other parts of the world.
A Brief Summary of the History of Al-Khalifa Rulers
The
Al-Khalifa dynasty of
The
earliest to mention the existence of Al-Utoob in
In
addition, a Turkish document has been found in the Ottoman Prime Minister’s
Secretariat bearing Record No. 111. On page 713 of this record, there is a
document bearing the date 21st Rajab 1113 AH/December 1701AD. The
document is a letter sent by the Governor of Basra, and contains detailed
information about Al-Utoob who were
living in
With
Sheikh Salman Bin Hamad
Al-Khalifa assuming power, the early fifties witnessed significant development
in the field of social services, especially in the education and health
sectors. Bahrain Radio station was
started in August 1955. In the field of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Salman’s visit to the
On 16
December 1961, celebrations were held to mark the coming to power of the late
H.H. Sheikh Eissa Bin Salman
Al-Khalifa. During reign of the late Emir, successive achievements were made.
Among the major events in the beginning of his reign were the establishment of
the Bahrain Monetary Council in 1964 and the issuance of the first Bahraini
currency i.e. the Bahraini Dinar in 1965. In 1967,
the
Perhaps
the most important achievement of the sixties was the starting of the
In 1970,
History
of
International
archaeologists have only recently discovered
Recent
finds have proved that
The land
is repeatedly mentioned in Sumerian, Babylonian and Assyrian inscriptions as an
important seaport between Mesopotamia and the
In 323
BC, two ships belonging to Alexander the Great arrived at the Bahraini shores
and new trade routes opened, resulting in such a strong Greek influence that Dilmun was renamed Tylos.
Dilmun
Dilmun has been mentioned in the cuneiform writings found in
Mesopotamia and at Ebila in
Archaeological
techniques have proved that it is the modern day
Tylos
In the
third century AD, the Greeks used the names Tylos and
Aradous for
The
Greeks knew the region even before their arrival. Nearchus,
the general of the military expedition sent by Alexander the Great to explore
the region, described the island as good with natural ports, replete with date
palms, and rich in pearls and fishery. Important archaeological sites dating
back to the various periods in this age have been found. Several facts have
come to light through archaeological findings made in the settlements and, in
particular, in the tombs.
Awal
Independent
Judiciary
The
judicial authority constitutes one of the pivots of the political system. It
guarantees the stability and progress of society. Therefore, the constitution
has vested certain powers and authorities in the judiciary through which it can
carry out the functions it has been entrusted with.
The
Kingdom has an impartial judiciary capable of speedy adjudication of cases and
conflicts. The judiciary is guided by the belief that justice is the basis of
governance, freedom, equality and tranquillity, and it safeguards the public
and private freedoms without infringing upon the rights of others.
The
Within
the framework of establishing the Office of the Attorney General, royal decree
no. 5 was issued in 2003, nominating its members and three aides. The Kingdom
has demonstrated a keen desire to boost the effectiveness of the organs of
internal control by adopting the draft law on bids and tenders, and the
financial control law. It has also established the Bahraini Transparency
Society, the Committee on Administrative Development and Financial Control in
Government organs. Besides, the Kingdom has encouraged the role of media in
combating corruption.
Human
Rights
The
His
Majesty the King—May Allah Preserve him—has shown keen interest in evolving
mechanisms to protect human rights. As such permission was granted to set up
the Bahrain Human Rights Society in March 2001. Many societies and movements
concerned with human rights and democracy have also emerged. For instance the
Bahrain Centre for Human Rights has been formed. Likewise Bahrain signed a
number of international human rights agreements and conventions that do not
clash with the fundamentals of religion, including the International Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, UN Convention Against Torture, Convention on
the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of
Discrimination Against Women etc. This shows the Kingdom’s commitment towards
eliminating all forms of discrimination and providing religious freedoms.
Initiatives were taken in 2002 and 2003 to bridge the Gulf between various
sects living in
The
Bahraini civil society organizations have experienced a qualitative shift
during the reign of his Majesty King Hamad. The number of such organizations leaped from
202 in 1999 to 308 in April 2003. Such growth in the number of organizations
relative to population can be rarely found in any other society. There are 11 societies for women, 45 social
organizations, 2 charitable societies, 8 Islamic societies, 45 professional
syndicates, 9 gulf associations, 43 foreign societies, 40 foreign clubs, and 17
cooperative societies, 71 charitable funds, two voluntary institutions, 10
societies and institutions for the disabled and the aged. Besides, there are 15
churches.
These
democratic changes have been rightly lauded by various Arab and international
organizations, including Arab Organization for Human Rights, which in its
annual report, praised the progress that has been made in the field of human
rights through the King’s reform endeavours. Similarly, foreign parliamentary
delegations, including the European Parliamentary delegation, which visited the
Kingdom in June 2003, also expressed happiness at the progress of democracy and
reforms in the various fields. Supporting Human Rights and Democracy, a report
published by the US State Department on 24/6/2003, extolled the democratic
reforms in the Kingdom. Similarly, the Human Rights Watch Report published on
14th January 2003, records some aspects of the progress of human
rights in
Security and Defence
Maintaining
security and peace is the Kingdom’s mark of distinction. It has two
interrelated aspects: the first is concerned with taking preventive measures,
which not only thwarts untoward incidents but also protects the system and
maintains peace in the society; the second aspect is concerned with the fair
and impartial implementation of law, because it guarantees stability and
instils tranquillity in the minds of citizens and expatriates alike. It is from
these convictions and principles that the Kingdom has derived its security
philosophy. This is reflected in the highly civilized manner in which the security
agencies have handled all the incidents and cases.
In
this context the Kingdom has strengthened security procedures and intensified
the media campaign to confront different security issues, including violence,
drug abuse, addiction, corruption, and money laundering. It is worth mentioning
that the Kingdom was the first
Given
the keen interest in strengthening the national frontiers in the face of any
attack, the Kingdom has sought to raise its defence capabilities.
Economic Progress
Since
its independence,
In
this context, it is noteworthy that the Kingdom’s GDP accomplished a real
growth rate of 5.1% in 2002. In the past five years, the average annual growth
rate has remained more than 4.5%. The GDP leaped to 2863.29 million Dinars in 2002, while it was only 25.2 million Dinars in 1960. The Kingdom has continued with its efforts
to diversify the national economic base, and has become the most diversified
economy in the Gulf region. The performance of non-oil sector has witnessed a
significant growth. While the contribution of this sector to the GDP was 64% in
the mid 60s, it exceeded 83.4% in 2002. This is in line with the leadership’s
objective to achieve an average growth rate of 6-7% between
2003 to 2006 by making efforts to attract investments ranging between 650
million Dinars to 700 million Dinars.
The
The
Kingdom has succeeded in strengthening its position as the main financial and
banking hub in the region due to the strict control exercised by the Monetary
Agency, and pursuance of appropriate policies. The number of banks and
financial institutions rose to 354, of which 183 are banks and finance
companies, 158 insurance companies, and 13 brokerage firms operating in the
capital markets. In the first ten months of 2003, 24 financial companies and
banks have been licensed. The combined budget of the banking institutions
reached 94.8 billion dollars by the end of September 2003. The Kingdom also has
an advanced stock exchange since 1989.
In
the midst of these developments,
The
Kingdom is committed to keeping the financial and monetary policies stable,
maintaining low inflation levels, and implementing a comprehensive
privatisation program. The program includes entering into contracts with the
private sector to provide specific services and granting it greater role in
spearheading the economic development process and in building the
infrastructure like the running of the two ports:
The
Supreme Council for Economic Development plays an important role in promoting
and introducing the opportunities and advantages of investment in
Bahrain
Financial Harbour (BFH), which was inaugurated in October 2002 and is
considered as an integrated regional and global financial junction;
Housing
and Recreation Projects, the construction cost of which reached 1.3 billion
dollars;
The
Formula One Project, which was inaugurated in April 2004. The project
represents a qualitative shift in supporting economic, tourism, and trade
activities in the Kingdom.
The
Kingdom has a strong faith that cooperation with different countries of the
world will help in realizing its interests and ensure the prosperity of the
people. It has sought to join the mainstream of the globalisation process.
Hence,
The
Human Development
The
Kingdom has paid considerable attention to the development of the Bahraini citizens,
as they are the real capital in the development scheme. In fact, the object of
all the accomplishments of the State is to achieve the welfare of the people
and to raise the standard of living. Hence, it is only natural that
The
Kingdom’s interest in promoting the welfare of the people is demonstrated in
the rise in the public expenditure from 724 million Dinars
in 1999 to 1158 million Dinars in 2003 during the
reign of His Majesty King Hamad. The public
expenditure in the period between 1999-2003, mainly
covered social services and infrastructure, and increased from 49% to 53% in
the same period.
The
Kingdom has demonstrated commitment to provide appropriate housing facilities
in accordance with the national housing policy. It is also committed to putting
into place basic infrastructure such as constructing roads and bridges and
maintaining them, expanding the sewage network, and treatment of water.
has
reached 16.67%. The Kingdom has the second highest percentage of Internet users
in the Arab world after the UAE. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of
Bahrain is planning to
lower the prices of wireless as well as non-wireless communication while
maintaining high quality services in the coming years, as the Kingdom is poised
to enter the field of e-commerce and e-governance, so that the citizens might
benefit from its applications.
Development
of the Oil Sector
The
Ministry of Petroleum has executed a number of projects programs, operations
and events in the first ten months of the year 2003 as part of a scheme to
bolster the national economy. The petroleum sector continues to be one of the
major sources of the national income in the
Chevron-Texaco
continues to make efforts to explore in sector #5. Also, the Malaysian company Petronas Carigali
is carrying out exploration activities in sectors #4 and #6. In the year 2003,
tenders were invited from other global petroleum corporations to undertake
exploration and drilling operations in sectors #1, #2 and #3.
Health
The
Health Strategy (2002-2010) reflects the desire of the Kingdom to raise the
level of health services and improve them by progressively developing the
public health programs, primary health care, environmental health, and
childcare. The budget of the Health Ministry has been constantly increasing
over the years. In 2003, the health budget reached 75.58 million Dinars, whereas in 1971 it was less than 3 million Dinars. The number of government hospitals rose to 9, while
the number of clinics and health centres totalled 45. Additionally, there are
tens of private hospitals and clinics.
The
Health Ministry conducted a number of feasibility studies for a number of
projects aimed at boosting health tourism and creating a medical industry. A
Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Australian Government for
cooperation in the field of health management, extended medical training, bone
marrow and kidney transplantation, development of a medical college, sports
medicine and rehabilitation, and other projects. In addition, a feasibility
study is being carried out for the establishment of a medical college in
Similarly,
contracts were signed with InterMed
corporation and
With
regard to manufacturing medicine, agreement was concluded with the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology(MIT) to confer with the medicine manufacturing companies to set
up medicine manufacturing industries in
As
for the year 2004, the Health Ministry has laid down working plans to confront
five major challenges: prevention of chronic diseases; prevention of inherited
blood disorders; development of school health and primary health care; and
implementing the health technology web and developing rules and regulations of
the Ministry. The purpose of these projects is to optimize the gains in the
health sector, and to improve the quality of health services in the
Education
A
number of achievements have been made in the education sector; foremost among
them is the implementation of the Vision for the Future Development of Education , which was endorsed by the Council of Ministers
on 13/4/2003. The document contains a number of ambitious projects including
the unification of the academic streams at the secondary level, and the
announcement of His Majesty King Hamad Project for
Future Schools. The Project is concerned with electronic schools. In the first
stage, it will be implemented at the beginning of next year in 11 secondary
schools. Aside from these projects, a number of other new projects and
programmes have been initiated, including the establishment of appraisal and
evaluation centres, nurturing of the gifted students, psychological and social
counselling, opening of 10 school clubs, and the announcement of the His
Majesty Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman
Al-Khalifa Award for Distinction in Educational Performance.
Perhaps
the most important achievement in this context is the institution of
specialised committees for the development of education at the various
educational levels.
Development
of Municipalities
The
Municipal Affairs Authority has demonstrated distinction in municipal works by
enacting the municipal laws. The Kingdom has been divided into five regions,
each of which enjoys financial and administrative autonomy. The cooperation
between the municipal affairs authority and the executive bodies has resulted
in the execution of a number of projects and programs in an effective manner.
The General Administration for Integrated Municipal Services has been playing a
significant role in providing technical and consultative support to the
municipalities. The attachment of the Department of Nature Planning to the
Municipal Affairs Organization has contributed to the integration of the of the
construction system, and to the convergence of potentials and their utilization
for the service of the municipal process in the Kingdom.
The
Municipal Affairs body has shown interest in reviving the traditional natural
springs. Thus, the first stage of the Al-Athari
spring project was inaugurated under the auspices of the Crown Prince in
September. The project covers the spring and the adjoining rest-houses. The
Municipal Affairs Corporation has completed plans and designs to revive other
such natural and traditional springs, the most important among them being, the
Umm Shaom and Al-Haneeniyah
springs. The plans will be executed in the coming period.
Since
the Municipality is desirous of expanding the green area, and providing the families with more
recreation space, a number of parks and gardens have been built and
rehabilitated in the year 2003. Plans are ready to set up more than fifteen
gardens and parks.
|
Head of State |
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz
Al-Saud |
|
Capital |
|
|
Area |
2,250,000 sq km. |
|
Population |
19.9 million |
|
National Day |
23 September |
|
Currency |
Saudi Riyal 1SR=3.75 $US |
|
Time |
+3 GMT |
|
International Dialling Code |
00966 |
Location
The
Establishment
King
Abdul Aziz Al-Saud founded
the
Constitution
The
Saudi constitution is based on Islamic law.
Official
Language
Arabic
System
of Governance in the Kingdom
Monarchy:
- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud
is the King of Saudi Arabia and its Prime Minister.
- His Royal Highness Prince Sultan Bin
Abdul Aziz Al-Saud is the
Crown Prince, the Deputy Premiere, and the Minister of Defence & Aviation
and the Inspector General.
Flag
of the Kingdom
It
is green in colour with the words La Ilaha Illa Allah Muhammad Rasool Allah
(There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger) written in the
centre in white, under which an unsheathed white sword is placed parallel to
it.
The
Kingdom’s Emblem
Two
swords crisscross each other (symbolizing power), in the centre of which is a
date palm (symbolizing prosperity brought by justice).
Official
Calendar
The Hijri calendar, which starts with the migration of the
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) to Madinah in
622 AD, is the official calendar of the Kingdom.
Regions
of the Kingdom
As
per the new governance law, the Kingdom comprises of thirteen administrative
provinces, which are as follows:
Each
province has a number of governorates and centres.
Foreign
Policy
The
foreign policy of the Kingdom, since the reign of its founder King Adul Aziz, is based on sound and
firm principles derived from the true Islamic faith and pristine Arabic
traditions. Following are the salient features of the Saudi Foreign Policy:
- To work towards bolstering Arab and
Islamic solidarity;
- To defend the just Arab and Islamic
causes;
- To serve Islam and Muslims all over the
world;
- To contribute towards maintaining world
stability and peace; and
- Non-interference in the internal affairs
of other countries, and not allowing others to interfere in the internal
affairs of the Kingdom.
Serving
the Holy Places
The
Kingdom—the King and people—has the
honour of serving the two Holy Places: The Sacred House of Allah in Makkah, and the Grand Mosque of the Prophet in Madinah as well as the pilgrims coming to these places for
the purpose of performing Hajj, Umrah and visit.
Since
the time of King Abdul Aziz up to the reign of the
Custodian of the
Two Holy Mosques, the
Kingdom’s
efforts aimed at the care of the two
Holy Places and at providing comfort and safety to the pilgrims and the
visitors, have been growing year after
year. The best proof of this is the expansion projects for the Two Holy Mosques
and other holy places, which are carried out continually. The latest of these
projects is the King Fahd expansion project, which is
the greatest expansion endeavour witnessed by the Two Holy Mosques.
The
area of the Holy Mosque in Makkah was expanded from
193000 sq m to 356000 sq. m, thereby raising the accommodation capacity of the
Mosque from 410,000 worshippers to 773,000 worshippers. During the high
visitors’ season, in particular during Hajj and Ramadan, more than one million
people can be accommodated by using the roof and the open space surrounding the
Mosque. Similarly the area of the
Prophet’s Mosque was expanded from 16,500 sq m to 16,5000
sq m, thus increasing the accommodation capacity of the Mosque from 28,000
worshippers to 700,000 worshippers.
The
opening of the King Fahd Complex for the publication
of the Noble Quran in the Holy city of
The
Kingdom’s Aid to the Developing Countries
The
Kingdom is at the forefront of the aid providing countries relative to its GNP.
While the UN has recommended that the donor countries provide 0.7% of their
GNP, the average annual aid provided by the Kingdom is 5.45% of GNP. In
contrast, the foreign aid of the most industrialized countries did not exceed
0.20 % of GNP in 1992. In the last two decades, the Kingdom has released $71
billion in form of soft loans and grants. Seventy-two countries from different
continents— 38 from Africa, 24 from
The
Saudi Development Fund (SDF) is considered the principal body for channelling
development loans to the developing countries. In the period from 1975 to 1997,
the SDF financed 308 projects spread across 63 countries. The total value of
the aid in this period amounted to SR 21.4 billions. The total contribution of
the Kingdom to the international banks and monetary funds reached $19.8
billion. The Kingdom’s Government and people have been at the forefront of
countries that rush to the aid of Arab and Islamic states that have been hit by
natural calamities and civil wars. The Kingdom has done this through people’s
committees and bodies that were formed by orders from the Custodian of the Two
Holy Mosques.
Industrial
Sector
The
Kingdom’s exports, in particular petrochemicals, are marketed in as many as 118
countries. Also, the Kingdom has achieved self-sufficiency in a number of
products that were earlier imported from outside.
In
1999, the total number of factories operating in the Kingdom exceeded 3275. The
value of their combined funds touched SR 233.7 billion. They employed more than
300.3 thousand workers. In contrast, only 199 factories existed in 1970 with a
combined capital of SR 2.8 billion, employing 14000 workers. Thus, there was
more than twelve-fold increase in the number of factories during that period.
The share of the industrial sector in the GNP rose from 6.5% in 1980 to 12.3%
in 1996. The production of the 17 complexes of Saudi Basic Industries (SABIC)
rose to 25 million tonnes of petrochemicals, fertilizers, iron and steel.
Agricultural
Sector
The
Kingdom has achieved self-sufficiency in the major agricultural crops in
particular wheat and dates, as well as in dairy and poultry products. The
surplus products are exported.
Since
the early eighties, the agricultural sector has been able to achieve record
production of most of the agricultural commodities. The area under cultivation
has expanded from 600,000 hectares in 1980 to 1.3 million hectares in 1997. The
agricultural sector registered a growth of 8.6% in 1997, and its contribution
to the GDP rose to SR 34 billion ($9 billion). In 1992, the production of wheat
in the Kingdom touched 4.2 million tonnes. However, due to rationalization of
water consumption, wheat and barley production fell to levels sufficient to
meet local demands. The storage capacity of silos increased to 2.38 million
tonnes and the production capacity of flourmills rose to 1.61 million tonnes in
1998.
Production
of vegetables rose to more than 2.7 million tonnes; fruits production crossed
1.2 million tonnes, of which dates production constituted 648 thousand tonnes.
In
the field of animal produce, milk products reached 883 thousand tonnes, whereas
the egg production touched 2500 million. Poultry meat production reached 451
thousand tonnes. Red meat production hit 157 tonnes, while the fishery products
touched 55 thousand tonnes.
Development
of Water Resources
In
the field of development of water resources, 189 dams have been constructed
across the Kingdom to store rain and flood water. The combined storage capacity
of these dams is estimated to be 780 million cubic metres approximately. The
Kingdom has also directed efforts towards desalinating the seawater in order to
meet the demand for drinking water. By the year 1998, the Kingdom had built 27
stations for desalinating the seawater on the shores of the Red Sea and the
Currently,
four new stations are under construction. Once these stations start
functioning, the daily production will increase to 3 million cubic metres of
sweet water, and raise the electricity production to 4500 megawatts.
It
is worth mentioning that the Kingdom occupies the first position in the world
in the desalination of salty water, as it produces approximately 30% of
desalinated water in the world.
Credit
Funds
Established
by the Government, the Credit Funds have contributed towards providing funds
for moving the wheel of development in various fields. By 1998, the amount of
loans disbursed by the Real Estate Fund totalled SR 115.7 thousand million.
This amount
facilitated the construction of more than 535.2 housing units.
Similarly,
the loans disbursed by the Industrial Development Fund exceeded SR 35 thousand
millions. These loans were
used to finance 1636 industrial enterprises.
Likewise,
the Saudi Arabian Agriculture Bank provided loans worth SR 30.4 thousand millions which contributed to the expansion of land
under agriculture, the establishment of more than three thousand agricultural
projects for producing vegetables and fruits and dairy and meat products. The
bank also gave away more than SR 11
thousand million to the farmers to help them secure
inputs for production.
The
value of loans provided by the General Investment Fund to the national business
corporations and firms reached SR 56.7 thousand million. Similarly, the value
of loans provided by the Saudi Credit Bank to the citizens with limited
resources reached SR 6.4 thousand million. These loans were disbursed to
facilitate marriage, treatment of illnesses, repair and renovation of houses
and for engaging in technical trades and vocations.
In
addition, there are loan programs for hotels, private hospitals, bakeries,
contractors and newspapers. The value of these types of loans reached
approximately SR 4.1 thousand million.
Transportation
The
Kingdom has witnessed spectacular progress in the field of transportation and
communication. All the cities and villages of the Kingdom have been a connected
to a wide network of roads designed in line with the highest world standards.
The
combined length of the Kingdom’s double and single highways reached 45.5
thousand km, while the length of agricultural roads reached 100,000 km.
The
late King Abdul Aziz had inaugurated the railroad
linking the
In
the field of air transportation, the number of airports in the Kingdom
increased from 16 in 1970 to 25 in 1995. Three of these airports are
international airports. The three international airports are located in
The
Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) owns the largest
fleet in the
In
the field of sea transportation, the number of companies working in the
navigation sector reached 114 companies and institutions. The number of docks
at the eight ports on the Red Sea and the
Communications
The
State’s accomplishments in the field of telecommunications are embodied in the
various types of networks that cover all regions of the Kingdom. In 1970, there
were only 29000 telephone lines. However, in 1999, the number of telephone
lines exceeded three millions and the number of mobile phones surpassed one
million lines, and the landline telephone connections numbered more than
439000. In addition, there are 30,000 telex lines. The Kingdom now has
direct telephone lines with 200 countries. The Kingdom is currently undertaking
the biggest network expansion that includes 1.5 million additional landlines,
and one million mobile lines. This will raise the number of telephone lines to
6 million in the next few years.
Media
The
Kingdom’s Media Policy emanates from true Islam. The Ministry of Culture and
Information implements this policy accordingly. The Saudi Media is known for
pursuing a balanced approach based on objectivity and realism. The Saudi
Arabian radio disseminates programs via integrated networks from broadcast and
booster stations spread all over the Kingdom.
The radio network includes the General Program, the Second Program, the
Holy Quran Radio, and Radio Nida-ul-Islam
from the Holy Makkah. Programs are broadcasted in
numerous languages of the Islamic world with a view to disseminating Islamic
culture and to serve the Muslims, to call the people to the religion of Allah
through benign persuasion.
The
programs of the Saudi Arabian Television are transmitted via four satellite
channels: the First Channel, the Second Channel (English with a French news
bulletin), Al-Ikhbariyah, and the Sports Channel.
The
First Channel and the Sports Channel are also transmitted terrestrially as well
as by satellite. The Saudi News Agency (WAS) renders news services 24 hours in
Arabic, English and French.
Education
The
During
the past 25 years, there has been a seven-fold increase in the number of
students in the various stages of the general education. This means that there
is an annual growth rate of 7.9%. Illiteracy among those above the age of 15
has registered a fall of 15% in 1999.
The
total number schools for all levels increased from 3283 in 1970 to
approximately 23000 in 1999. In the academic year 1419-20 AH (1999 AD), the
total number of male and female students at the various levels was 4,700,000
(four million and seven hundred thousand). More than four millions of those
students were enrolled in the general education. There were 51% males and 49%
females. The number of male and female students studying in the universities
and teacher’s colleges, and medical colleges exceeded 360,000. Nearly 38000
students were enrolled in the technical institutes and colleges. Another 10,000
students were receiving training in the various vocational training centres
spread across the Kingdom.
It
is worth mentioning that the state provides free education to the citizens as
well as expatriates. Scholarship is provided to students at certain levels of education. In
many cases, students are provided with healthcare, accommodation, and
transportation.
Health
Services
The
Kingdom provides sophisticated health services, similar to that provided by the
developed countries in this field.
There
are hospitals, clinics, and health centres equipped with the best medical
paraphernalia and staff throughout the country. The hospitals provide free
medical services to the citizens as well as expatriates.
The
Health Services can be divided into three levels: Primary Health Care Centre,
In
1999, the number of hospitals totalled 313, of which 186 were under the
Ministry of Health. The remaining hospitals belong to the various government
bodies and the private sector. There were 2348 Primary Health Centres, of which
1756 were under the Health Ministry. The Kingdom’s hospitals have a total of
45500 beds, of which 27000 were in the hospitals of the Health Ministry. The
total number of physicians in all areas of the health sector was 30,600. There
were 63000 nursing staff, and 34000 paramedical staff. Average number of beds
per thousand population was 2.34, and there was one
doctor for every 601 persons in the population.
Social
Welfare
The
State has focused on social welfare and services for the citizens requiring
special care owing to their adverse medical and social conditions. It helps
them overcome their adverse situations and problems so that they may live a
dignified, stable and normal life. For this purpose, the State has established
more than 80 institutions and homes for the male and female orphans, juvenile
delinquents (who are vulnerable to deviance), paralysed children and those with
special needs. These institutions and homes also provide integrated services
to the aged, the disabled and the extremely disabled.
Social
Security
This
service, which the government is keen to provide, includes disbursal of regular
financial help for the needy orphans, widows, and those who are totally
incapable of working. Help is also provided to those who are partially
incapable of working, families of prisoners, and those who have been afflicted
by individual tragedies as well as those who have been deserted by their
families. Assistance is also provided on an emergency as well as regular basis.
Moving chairs are given to the disabled and their cars are adjusted to suit
their needs. Allocations for social security have been on the increase. In
1993, the annual allocation for this sector increased from SR 1.5 billion to SR
2.7 billion. The amount is distributed to the needy through 76 centres spread
across different parts of the country.
Social
Insurance
In
order to protect the workers from want due to debility and old age and
occupational accidents, the State has established Public Corporations for
Social insurances to execute the social insurance law. Presently, it includes
more than 26,658 installations with a combined workforce of 2,536316, of which
1.6 million are currently working. Since the implementation of the system in
1393 AH /1979 AD until 1418-1419 AH / 1998 AD, the institution had disbursed SR
19.7 billion as compensation to the workers, of which 18 billion were given out
by the pension branch and approximately one billion by the occupational risks
branch.
Youth
Welfare and Sports
Brilliant
achievements in the field of youth and sports indicate the great attention that
is being paid by the government to this sector. It also reflects the efforts
being made by the General Presidency of Youth for the development and growth of
sports, cultural, literary activities, and technical activities in the country.
These efforts have lead to the Saudi youth winning championships and achieving
high positions in sports competitions, seminars, exhibitions, as well as
international and regional art and cultural festivals.
Aside
from supporting sports clubs and federations, the Presidency also nurtures
talent through literary clubs and the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and
Arts. The Presidency has established more than 72 installations for the youth
in which the youth conduct various activities. In all, there are six sports
stadiums, 19 sports and culture centres and cities, 5 public arenas, 20 youth
houses, and two permanent camps and 12 literary societies. There are 153 sports
clubs in the Kingdom now. In contrast, there were just 53 clubs in 1970. The
number of sports federations has increased to 21 and, 25 centres have been established for the clubs.
There
is an academy for the development of leaders, and a specialist sports hospital.
There are a number of other achievements that reflect the Kingdom’s keen
interest in the youth of the country, as they are the pillars of the nation and
wealth of the future.
General
Information
Entry
Visa
Those
who wish to enter the territory of the
Important
Numbers
Ambulance 997
Fire 998
General
Security Patrol 999
Road Accidents 993
Hotels
There
are first class hotels all over the Kingdom. Information about them may be
obtained from the official entry points into the Kingdom.
In
appreciation of the historic role of the Kingdom in the field of culture and in
advancement of cultural institutions and resources, and in preserving the
cultural heritage within the contemporary framework, UNESCO selected
Numerous
cultural events were organised in various parts of the Kingdom from the
beginning to the end of the year 2000.
Development
Plans
The
|
Official Name |
Sultanate of |
||
|
System of Governance |
Hereditary Sultanic (monarchical) system
passed down from Turki Bin Saeed
Bin Sultan to his male descendants. |
||
|
Head of State |
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed Al-Muazzam |
||
|
Capital |
|
||
|
Area |
309,500 sq km |
||
|
Population |
2,331,39 |
||
|
National Day |
18 November |
||
|
Population Density |
7.5/km2 |
||
|
Currency |
Omani Riyal(OR) |
||
|
Religion |
Islam |
||
|
Climate |
Hot and humid in summer, mildly cold in winter |
||
|
Measurement System |
Metric system |
||
|
Time Zone |
+4 GMT |
||
|
Int. Dialling Code |
00968 |
||
|
Flag The Omani flag was approved by a Sultanic decree, and it was unfurled for the first time
on 18 Shawwal 1391AH corresponding to 17 December 1970 AD. The flag contains
the national emblem, which comprises of two crossed swords, in the middle of
which is the Omani dagger. The flag has three horizontal rectangular bands of
white, red, green, colours which are equal in size (6.66cm). Location Sultanate of at Musandam in the North to overlook the point, Governorates and Regions - Muscat
Governorate (6 districts) - Musandam Governorate (4 districts) - Al-Batinah Region (12 districts) - Ad
Dakhliliyah Region (8 districts) - Al-Wusta Region (4 districts) - Az-Zahira Region (3 districts) - Ash-Sharqiyah Region ( 11 districts) -
Buraimi (3 districts) Islands of the Sultanate - - Salamah and its daughters in the Airports Seaports History The Ya’aruba
Dynasty, which rose to power in 1624, played a key role in liberating the
Omani coastline, the Arabian Gulf and the As for the name The Basic Law of the State The Basic Law was promulgated by a Sultanic decree on 6/11/1996. This historic document
defines the State and the system of governance therein. It outlines the
principles and policies as well as general rights and duties. The basic law
separates the powers of the Head of State, the Council of Ministers and the
Judiciary. It has referred to the specialized councils, financial affairs and
the Council of Oman. This Law is regarded as the fundamental base from which The Council of The Omani Majlis
was established by the Sultanic decree no. 86/1997
with a view to broadening the base for seeking opinion, and to achieve
optimum coordination between government bodies. It is bicameral, comprising
of the State Council and the Shourah (Consultative
Council). The State Council (Majlis
Ad-Dawlah) The Members of the State Council are
nominated from amongst the experienced and qualified Omani personalities in
the various fields. The President of the Council is appointed by a decree of
the Sultan. The State Council is regarded as vital plank for national
participation and for contribution towards studying the various issues with
objectivity. The Consultative Council (Majlis As-Shourah) The Consultative Council was constituted
in 1991 within the framework and pattern of the traditional Omani Shourah, which is based on the principles of the Islamic
jurisprudence and is rooted in the Omani heritage and culture. The
Consultative Council was preceded by similar bodies like Agriculture,
Fishery, and Industry Council and the Consultative Council of State (81-91).
The Fourth Consultative Council has witnessed a broadening of public
participation in terms of number of candidates, which reached 175,000. The
percentage of women’s participation reached 30%. Vision for the Future Omani Economy The vision covers the period between
1996 and 2020. It was intended as the launching pad towards the 21st
century. It envisions an Omani economy of the future, which is not dependant
upon oil, government spending, and immigrant labour. Some of its goals include: evolving of
an efficient private sector with the ability to compete and contribute
effectively to the development process; achieving advancement in the
development of human resources; creating a dynamic and diversified economy
that can interact with the world economy, and realizing sustainable development
within a balanced and stable macroeconomic framework. Sixth Five Year Plan (2001-2005) Five-year plans are being regularly and
successfully implemented since 1976. It is a natural extension of the
performance of the national economy and a conduit for achieving the goals set
forth in the Future Vision of the Omani economy until the year 2020. Liquefied Natural Gas Project This project at Qalhat
in Ash-Sharqiyah region is part of the efforts of
the government of the Sultanate of Oman, aimed at diversifying the sources of
income, and cutting down the dependence on oil. The Qalhat
project produces approximately 10.1 million tons of liquefied gas annually.
It is expected to contribute 9.2% to
the national income by 2010. The Sultanate of Oman has played a vital
role in the establishment of this association, and in formulating the rules
and regulations of this economic bloc. This is within the strategic outlook
of the Omani economy and its fundamental pillars. It demonstrates Education In the year 2005-2006, there were 1046
schools in which 568074 male and female students were enrolled. Healthcare In the first analysis of the health
systems undertaken by the World Health Organizations (WHO), which included 91
countries, the Sultanate of Oman occupied first position in the world in
terms of the efficacy of the health system and proper utilization of the
financial resources in providing health services. It was ranked ninth in
terms of providing the best integrated health services in the world. There are 49 hospitals, 13 referral
hospitals with an overall capacity of 4542 beds. Moreover, there are 127
health centres and 13 health complexes. Agriculture Agricultural exports constitute 26.5% of
the total non-oil exports. The value of agricultural and fisheries production
rose from OR 162.8 million in 1991 to OR 205.7 million in 2000. The
agricultural exports recorded a growth rate of 9.5% as it increased from OR
26.5 million in 1991 to OR 61 million in 2001. The fishery and agricultural
production meet 53.8% of food requirements of the country. Transportation The length of the paved roads exceeded
10,000 km covering most parts of the Sultanate. The civil aviation sector
accomplished stupendous development in all its units. Industry As aresult of
constant support and encouragement of the government to this sector, there
are six industrial areas in Sultanate including Raseel
industrial are in Environment The Government is concerned with the
wellbeing of the environment. The 8th of January is celebrated as
the environment day in Tourism The Sultanate is blessed with a number
of features that make it a tourist attraction for different groups of
tourists all round
the year. Between the months of June to September
every year, the Dhofar
province transforms into an extremely beautiful and splendid summer resort in
the midst of scorching heat that rages in the Locations
of Historical and Tourist Importance They are Al-Jalali
and Al-Mirani Forts in Museums - - - Armed
Forces Museum at Beit Al-Falaj - - - - - Festivals and Official Holidays - Official
weekly holidays on Thursdays and Fridays in the government sector, and Friday
in the private sector. - 18th
November: National Day - 1st
Muharram : The Prophet’s (PBUH)
Migration - 12
Rabiul Awwal: The
Prophet’s (PBUH) Birthday - 27
Rajab : Commemoration of the
Prophet’s Journey by Night and Ascent to the Seven Heavens - 1
Shawwal : Eid-ul-Fitr - 10
Zul Hijjah: Eid-ul-Adha The
State of Head of State His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the country |
|||
|
Heir apparent |
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad
Bin Khalifa Al-Thani |
||
|
Capital |
|
||
|
Area |
11,521 sq km |
||
|
Population |
Estimated to be about 743,000 |
||
|
National Day |
18 December |
||
|
Currency |
1 Riyal = 100 dirhams $1= Q.R 3.65 |
||
|
Official Time |
+3 |
||
|
Int. Dialling Code |
00974 |
||
|
Introduction Location and Topography History Archaeological discoveries, inscriptions
and a collection of exquisite pottery, which were found in different areas in
the country, have proven that the land of present day The title Al-Thani
goes back to the Head of the Sheikh Thani Bin
Muhammad’s family, who was the first ruler of the His family descended from to the Arabian
tribe called Banu Tamim.
The family moved from Najd in the Arabian Peninsula
in the 18th century and settled in the North before migrating once
again to On 27 June 1995, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani assumed power with the support and blessings of the
ruling family and the Qatari people. Political System The system of governance in the State is
hereditary, and the power is transferred to the male members of Al Thani family i.e. in the line of the male descendants of Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Hamad Bin Abdullah Bin Jassim
Al-Thani. The rule is inherited by the son named as
Heir Apparent by the Emir, after consultations with the members of the Ruling
Family and the people of wisdom (Ahal Alhal wal agd)
in the State. In the case that there is no such son, the prerogatives of rule
shall pass to the member of the family named by the Emir as Heir Apparent. In
this case, his male descendants shall inherit the rule. In August 2003, His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani accepted the abdication of the office of the Heir
Apparent by His Highness Sheikh Jasem Bin Hamad Al Thani. His Highness
the Emir of Qatar appointed in his place His Highness Sheikh Tameem Bin Hamad Al Thani as the Heir Apparent. Sheikh Jasem
was the Heir Apparent since November 1996. Powers of the Emir The Emir is the head of State. His
person is inviolable and he must be respected by all. He is the chief of the
armed forces, and represents the State internally and externally and in all
international relations. The Emir discharges the following functions: -Ratification and promulgation of laws
and decrees and overseeing their
execution; -The Emir appoints the Prime Minister,
accepts his resignation and removes him from office by an Emiri
order; and the resignation of the Prime Minister or his removal from office
shall entail all Ministers. In the event of acceptance, resignation or
removal from the office, the same Council shall continue to run urgent
matters until such time the new Council is appointed; -The Emir appoints Ministers upon
nomination by the Prime Minister, and he accepts resignations of Ministers
and relieves them from office in a like manner; -The Emir summons the Council of
Ministers to convene at any time deemed necessary for public interest, and
the Emir presides over the meetings of the Council of Ministers that he
attends; -Establishment and organization of such
consultative bodies to assist him in directing, supervising, and specifying
the functions. -The Emir may dissolve the Council if
required by the higher national interests on the condition that the reasons for the dissolution are stated;
where the Council is dissolved, the elections of the new Council shall take
place within a period not exceeding six months as of the date of dissolution.
The Legislative Authority The number of members of the Shoura Council was increased to forty five, in accordance
with Article 77 of the permanent constitution of the State; thirty members
are directly elected through secret ballot, while the emir appoints fifteen
members as Ministers or ordinary members. The membership of the Council
expires upon resignation by the member or his being relieved from his post.
In the past, membership of the Council did not exceed 30 members, and its
term was six years. It is the function of the Shoura Council to take charge of the legislative affairs,
adopt the general budget of the State, and monitor the executive authority in
accordance with the provisions of the constitution. Each member of the Council is entitled
to address an interpellation to the Prime Minister or any other Minister to
seek clarification on matters within their jurisdiction. The members
are also entitled to quiz the Ministers after the approval of two-thirds of
the members, and a two-thirds majority of the Council can withdraw confidence
in a Minister. The Minister of the Council shall under
no circumstance be accountable for opinions or statements he makes in respect
of matters within the jurisdiction of the Council. The Council of Ministers The Council of Ministers represents the
highest executive organ of the country. It has the mandate to administer all
the internal and external affairs falling within its jurisdiction as
determined by Constitution and the provisions of the law. The Council of Ministers approves the
regulations and decisions prepared by the Ministries and other Government
organs. It assumes higher control of the financial and administrative system
of the Government. It is also entrusted with the administration of the
finance of the State and preparation of its draft budget as determined by the
Constitution and the provisions of the law. It approves economic projects and
methods of their implementation. The Council of Ministers is authorized
by the constitution to supervise measures for preserving the interests of the
State abroad and maintenance of its international relations and foreign
affairs. The Council, as per the law, prepares a
report at the beginning of every fiscal year, including a detailed survey of
the tasks accomplished, as well as the future plans that the State intends to
implement. The report is submitted to the Emir for approval. The Prime Minister and the Ministers are
collectively responsible before the Emir for the implementation of the
general Government policy; and each one of them is individually responsible
before the Emir for the manner in which he carries out his duties and
exercises his function. The Council of Ministers consists of a number of
State Ministers besides the main Ministers. The Judicial Authority
The judicial authority is independent
and it is vested in courts of different types and grades. Judges are
independent and they are not subject to any power in the exercise
of their judicial functions as provided by the law and no interference
whatsoever is permitted with court proceedings and the course of justice. The constitution strengthens the status
and immunity of the judges by stating, “Judges shall not be subject to
removal from office save in cases specified by the law”. His Highness Sheikh Hamad
Bin Khalifa Al-Thani,
Emir of the State of Qatar, promulgated the Judicial Authority Law on 13
August 2003. This law affirmed the independence of the judiciary, and
prohibited the infringement of and interference in its affairs. The new law
has provided for the creation of the Supreme Judicial Council, and authorizes
it to achieve the independence of the judiciary, and entrusts it with all
matters pertaining to the justice. The law also provides for the creation of
the court of cassation to look into the appeals in cases determined by the
law. The Law merges the Shariah
and the Civil Courts under one judicial organ. Special budgets have been
earmarked for the courts. Foreign Policy At the GCC Level: At the level of Gulf countries, the
State of Qatar is keen on supporting the process of cooperation and
integration among the GCC States by actively participating in and attending
the GCC conferences and meetings, and by discussing the problems and threats
facing the region. At level of the Arab countries: Since its accession to the League of
Arab States in 1971,the State of Qatar has been supporting
all the efforts being expended by the League to clear the air, effect
reconciliation, and reinstate Arab solidarity. At the level of Islamic Countries: The State of Qatar makes efforts aimed
at strengthening the bonds of cooperation between her and the Islamic
Countries. Based on this, the Qatari diplomacy actively seeks to bring about
bilateral reconciliation, and convene conferences with the intention of
reinforcing relations between Islamic countries. At the International Level: The State of Qatar believes in the importance
of resolving all disputes peacefully, and strengthening ties with all
countries of the world. Economic Development The Qatari economy has registered a
significant growth in the past five years. This has resulted in surplus in
the general budget for the year 2001-2002, reaching QR 497 million. The GNP
increased to QR 58823 million in 2001, while in 1996 it was QR 32976 million,
thereby achieving the growth rate of 34.9%. Economic growth has also lead to
improved surplus in the
balance of payments current account, stabilization of inflation
and exchange rates. In the economic sphere, The State supports the private sector by
giving priority to the locally manufactured products. Major corporations have
invested in the various industries including, oil, gas, petrochemicals and
metals. The State contributes towards promoting the local products in the
world markets. The Government has participated in setting up big joint-stock
companies such as the Qatar Manufacturing Industries Corporation, which has
achieved significant returns. There are five other investment projects including:
projects for manufacturing nitrogen,
iron &steel, plastic bags, olive oil packaging, and date processing. The
Government has also established a joint stock company in the General Qatari
Company for Water and Electricity in 2000 with a capital of QR 1billion. External trade is of great importance to
the State of Qatar, as its value reached QR 52 billion in 2000. Exports
amounted to QR 39.1 billion, whereas the value of imports was QR13.6 billion.
Petroleum and fuels occupy the top
position in terms of export constituting 93.3% of the total exports. It is
followed by petrochemicals. Exports to the Arab countries reached $631.8
million in 2000 from $594 million in 1999, representing an increase of
6.4%. Exports to the UAE occupy the highest
position accounting for 74.1% of the total exports to the Arab countries. It
is followed by On the other hand, Balance of trade surplus rose from QR
18.1billion in 1999 to QR 31.5 billion in 2000. This increase in surplus is
due to the increase of exports by QR 15.9 billion approximately. In contrast,
the imports rose by
QR 2.5 billion. The balance of trade surplus rose to QR 11.8 billion in 2000, in comparison it reached QR 9.6 billion in 1999. In
2001 the surplus leaped to QR 19.7 billion, and achieved the official gross
capital transfers. Social Development The State has endeavoured to safeguard
the status of women in the political and social fields by undertaking
numerous initiatives in order to enable them to play their complete role in
public life. It has also worked towards evolving mechanisms and arrangements
for enabling the participation of women in political life. In 1999, the
percentage of registered women in the election lists was 43.8% for the
Municipal Council; their actual participation in the casting of ballots was
42.7%. In 2001, six women filed their nomination; although none could win in
2001, one woman was able to win a seat in the 2003 elections. Women
constitute 25% of the national workforce and they have occupied important
positions, foremost among them was the appointment of two Qatari women as the
Minister of Education and the Director of the In the past few years, enrolment of
females has increased in the schools and universities as more and more
opportunities have opened up for women in the different courses of higher
studies. It is expected that an increased number of women are likely to take
up courses in
medicine, because In the field of economy, the
participation of women in the workforce has become an important indicator of
improvement in the women’s social status and of her
changing role in the Qatari society. Women’s entry into the job market has
brought them more economic freedom, and increased participation in public
life. Qatari women
are also actively participating in voluntary work through
non-governmental organizations that work for the welfare of the family in
general. NGOs play an important role in the social development of women by
organizing training sessions and lectures on the issue. The establishment of the Social
Development House in 1998 is regarded as a crucial achievement for Qatari
women, as it was the first non-governmental organization founded by Qatari
women with the support from the consort of His Highness the Emir of Qatar.
The House is managed by a board of directors composed of nine women. The
organization works for the emancipation and advancement of women by
introducing various creative, training and awareness programs. Childcare The Qatari child enjoys free and
compulsory education by virtue of the Emiri decree
no. 25 of the year 2001. The Supreme Council for the Affairs of the Family pays
great attention towards spreading awareness about the rights of the child and
child care via the Mother and Child Committee, which is subordinated to it.
It has used means such as holding seminars, conferences, and lectures, which
deal with the psychological and social influences on the child. The Council
coordinates its activities with the concerned institutions and ministries
such as the ministries of education, health, interior, and civil services via
a joint committee that looks into the condition of child in In 1993 Supreme Commission for Family Affairs
(SCFA) The Commission is dedicated to protecting
the family and strengthening its position in the social fabric. SCFA has a
number of goals, which can be summarized as reinforcing the cohesion of the
family and protecting it from problems that hinder its proper functioning by
contributing towards reviewing and amending the current legislations, and by
laying down plans, programs, and projects aimed at improving the life of
individuals. The Council, since its inception, has
strived towards a number of goals set before it. Following are its major
achievements: Welfare of the mother, the child and the
aged; mainstreaming of the of children with special needs in the society;
supporting and consolidating social and institutional partnership in programs
and projects that contribute towards achieving the goals of the organization
and dissemination of its messages. Education Formal education in Education has witnessed quick
development in the country, encompassing the whole population, including both
sexes, and all levels of education right up to the university level. The Government has launched a new
initiative for developing the general education under the slogan, “Education
for a New Era”. The initiative aims at making available the best educational
methods to the students in order to prepare them for meeting the requirements
of the process of economic and social development. The State of Qatar also encourages the
establishment of different types of private institutes, providing them with
legal and institutional support. Private Education The Ministry of Education supports the
private schools by providing them with educational guidance, healthcare and
exemption from water and electricity charges. The number of private schools and
kindergartens in Besides, there are foreign universities,
including University Education The State of Qatar attaches great
importance to higher education . The Foundation is a private non-profit
organization. It was established in 1995 at the gracious initiative of His
Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa
Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar. It was inaugurated on 13
October 2003. This foundation is a pioneering project that aims at cadre
building and investing in the human resources. The Foundation works towards
strengthening the future outlook and generating creative solutions. The scientific specializations and
courses of study offered by Qatar Foundation are those that have priority in Culture and Information Censorship has been lifted from local
newspapers since October 1995. Law No 5 of 1998 abolished the Ministry of
Information and Culture, and its functions were devolved, and some of its
departments were transformed into independent bodies. In October of the same
year, the National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage was established. In
the beginning of 2001, Qatar TV Satellite Channel went
on the air, and in May 1997 Qatar Public Broadcasting and Television
Corporation was set up. The Corporation includes External Media Agency,
Qatari News Agency, Department of Printing and Publication. In November 1996,
Al Jazeera Satellite TV Channel started
transmitting from Local press has flourished in recent years,
benefiting from the prevailing democratic atmosphere and available incentives
to grow and spread, covering all social and economic areas of interest. These
publications are self-contained and independent entities issuing from private
publishing houses, which have their own modern presses and successful
investments.
Climate: The State of Head of State His Highness Sheikh Heir Apparent His Highness Sheikh Nawwaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Nasir Al-Muhammad
Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Capital Area 17,818 sq km Population 1,575,983 (according to 1995 census) National Day 25 February Liberation Day 26 February Currency 1 Official Time +3 GMT Public Holidays 1st day of the Gregorian New Year, 1st
Day of the New Hijri Year, Eid-ul-Fitr, Arafat Day, Eid-ul-Adha,
National Day, Liberation Day, the Prophet’s Birthday, Commemoration of the Prophet’s
Journey by Night and Ascent to the Seven Heavens Int. Dialling Code 00965 |
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Introduction
According to the local version, Sheikh Barak
Bin Ghurair Al-Humayyd
assumed the leadership of Bani Khalid
in the period between 1669-1682.
Political System
The Constitution has outlined three principles for the political system
of
Location
Climate
Flag of
The Kuwaiti flag has developed over the ages and it has assumed
different shapes and sizes since
White denotes our deeds, Black our battles
Green is our Land, and Red our sacrifices
Emblem of the State
The Kuwaiti emblem is denoted by a falcon spreading its wings to embrace
a ship over white and blue waves, which represent
Official Language: Arabic
Official Religion: Islam
External Relations
At the GCC level,
At the Arab level,
With respect to Islamic countries,
In the international arena,
Kuwait calls for international cooperation to protect the
humanity—individuals and groups—from the threat of terrorism in all its forms,
while at the same time differentiating between terrorism and the legitimate
right to defend one’s nation, and the right to seek the restoration of one’s
usurped rights in accordance with UN charter.
Economy
Manufacturing and petrochemical industries as well as agricultural and
animal husbandry projects have all flourished in
In performing its activities, the Kuwait Fund is guided by its faith in
the need to reinforce cooperation with the sister Arab and Islamic countries by
providing loans and aid at the regional and Arab level. The idea is to play a
prominent role in all the fields of development and growth. The ambit of the
Fund’s activities has increased to cover a number of Asian and African
countries as well as other developing countries. The Kuwaiti Fund has been
operating for over 45 years. Its financial functions have included provision of
soft loans to the developing nations, and providing necessary technical support
to select projects of high priority for the economies of the aid-receiving
countries. The aim is to improve their managerial and technical capabilities.
The Fund has been following up the ongoing projects to ensure the
continuity of the implementation of the project, and to provide them with
recommendations and suggestions.
The number of loans that have been disbursed touched 716, and the total
amount loaned had reached KD 3854 million by the end of the year 2006-2007.
Healthcare
The history of healthcare in
There are 13 government hospitals and clinics and 72 health centres and
complexes. Moreover, there are private hospitals, health centres, clinics and
therapeutic units, which are furnished with the best facilities and equipments.
Education
Education is the main pillar of comprehensive development. It
contributes to the creation of the human resources. Therefore,
The Education System has the following components:
1. General Education:
General Education has three stages: Primary, Middle and Secondary. There
are 608 government schools, and 322 private schools. The total enrolment was
425865 (male & female) in 1999, of which 303596 students were studying in
Government schools. The number of teachers in the government schools totalled
28829, whereas the private school teachers numbered 6841. The schools are distributed
with respect to population density.
2. University Education:
The
3. Applied Education:
On 28 December 1982, a law was promulgated to set up the General
Authority for Applied Education and Training with the objective of training and
developing the national workforce to fill the shortage of the technically
trained national manpower and to fulfil the demands of the development in the
country.
The institutes of applied education have been integrated with the
university and the higher education, covering four faculties including, Faculty
of Education, Faculty of Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, and Faculty of
Commerce. It also includes a number of institutes and training centres in the
field of communications, surveying, electricity, water, industry, parallel
education and nursing.
Adult Education Centres
Adult Education Centres are spread across
Youth Welfare
The State of Kuwait focuses great attention to the youth issues, and to
exploring ways of appropriate utilization of their time. Based on this, the
General Authority of Youth Welfare and Sports was formed on 4 April 1979. Over
the years the following infrastructure for youth and sports has been developed:
- There are seven youth and
sports centres spread across the different regions of
- The attention given to
youth is manifested in the existence of youth houses and camps as well as
excursion groups for the youth in the age group of 17-25 years.
- There are 14 clubs in
- There is a club for the
disabled and another for girls. These clubs are run by the public benefit
societies. There 16 sports confederations that supervise the various sports
events.
1. Asian Olympic Committee
2. Asian Handball Federation
3. Asian Federation of
Sports Journalists.
Information
1. Ministry of Information
Radio:
The efforts in the field of media have yielded four radio channels
within the framework of radio
Television:
Media Publications:
The Ministry of Information publishes
books and periodicals such as the Yearbook, Facts and Figures, Al-Kuwait
Al-Youm—the official newspaper, Al-Arabi Magazine and Al-Kuwait Magazine as well as occasional
publications such as brochures, greeting cards, and posters.
External Media Centres:
These centres are concerned with implementing
a) Foreign Countries:
b) Arab Countries:
c) GCC Countries:
2. Kuwaiti News Agency (KUNA):
KUNA collects news with a view to presenting the facts to the news
organizations and individuals. The idea is to provide clients with optimum news
services. KUNA draws its information from the local sources. It also has a web
of external offices and correspondents. KUNA has 28 offices spread across the
important world capitals.
3. The Local Press
The Kuwaiti constitution guarantees the freedom of press and printing
and publication subject to the terms and conditions stated in the constitution.
Freedom of expression has enabled the Kuwaiti newspapers to excel amongst the
newspapers published in the Arab world. The Kuwaiti newspapers play a crucial
role in shaping the public opinion. Nine Arabic newspapers are being published,
Al-Rai, Al-Siyasah, Al-Qabs, Al-Watan, Al-Anbaa, Alam alyom,
Al-Wasat, and those two papers were published after
the issuance of the new publication law that opened the door for bublisheing daily, weekly and monthly papers according with
the rules that were set by the publication law, and there are other daily
papers that were given authorization waitng to be
published. Kuwait Times and Arab Times are published in English, Urdu,
Malayalam and Hindi. The press is not just limited to licensed newspapers and
magazines; in fact, there are a mumber of private
magazines published by different organizations, corporations, and banks, maney which are distributed free of cost.
Culture
1. National Council for
Culture, Arts, and Literature:
The Council is an independent body dedicated to the affairs of culture,
arts and literature. It is concerned with development, advancement and
enrichment of the cultural output, and with creation of a climate conducive to
artistic and literary creativity. The
Council disseminates culture, undertakes studies in this field and makes
efforts to preserve the heritage.
The Council’s major periodicals include, Alam Al-Fikr magazine, Alam Al-Ma’arifah series, Al-Thiqafah Al-Alamiah magazine, and
Ibda’at Alamiyah series. In
addition, the Council holds the Al-Qarin cultural
carnival, the Kuwait Arabic Book fair, the Cultural Carnival for the Children,
and Fine Arts exhibitions.
2. Archaeology and Museums
Built in 1975, the
The Failaika islands, situated 20km away from
the John Gateway to
The
3. Theatre
Theatre is regarded as one of the important tributaries of culture in the
society. It has attained great heights in
4. The Role of Cinema
There are 29 cinema screens in
5. Tourism
There are a number of other tourist facilities, including Al-Sha’ab Park, Aqua park, Showbiz,
Every year
In mid-June, a carnival called Ahla Saif (Sweetest Summer) is held every year. The carnival
lasts until August. A number of entertainment events are held at tourist
locations and commercial centres.
There are more than 20 hotels in
Population
According to the latest demographic figures, there are 2,484,344 Kuwaiti
citizens.
Cooperation Council
for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC)
Introduction
The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf is a political,
economic, social, and regional organization according to the principles and
goals outlined in its founding Charter. The GCC is a regional cooperation
organization formed by the States of the
Its field of activity encompasses politics, economics, security,
culture, health, media, and education. It also covers legislative,
administrative, and industrial affairs along with minerals, agriculture, and
water and animal resources.
Member States of the Council
United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
Sultanate of Oman, State of
Geographical Location of the GCC States
The GCC States are situated in the Arabian Peninsula in West Asia
occupying the region lying between the latitudes 15° and 35° north and
longitude of 35° and 60° east of
Population
According to the 2000 figures, the total population of the GCC States is
31,015,200.
Area
The total area is estimated to be 2,667,000 sq km according to 1998
data.
Establishment of the GCC
Shared geographic features, existence of similar systems and social
bonds, and the similar nature of challenges facing them, were the essential
characteristics that lead to the formation of the GCC. Given these shared
characteristic, the Foreign Ministers of the six countries met in Riyadh,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the 4th of February 1981. The closing
statement issued at the end of the meeting stated, “ … the Ministers agreed to
establish a council for cooperation between the States of the Arabian Gulf, and
to form a Secretariat-General to achieve this goal, and to convene regular summit meetings at the Ministerial level so
as to realise the desired goals of these countries and their people.” On 25 May
1981, the first GCC summit conference was held in
Goals of the GCC
1. To
achieve cooperation, coordination, integration and cohesion between the members
states in all fields, culminating into their unity;
2. To deepen and reinforce
the bonds and links and the cooperation existing between their people in the
various fields;
3. To adopt similar
systems/laws in the various fields including the following:
a. Economic and Financial
Affairs,
b. Commerce, Customs, and
Transportation,
c. Educational and Cultural
Affairs
d. Social and Health Affairs
e. Media and Tourism
f. Legislative and
Administrative Affairs
4. To push forward the wheel
of scientific and technological progress
in the field of minerals, agriculture, water and animal resources; to build scientific research
centres; and to establish joint ventures; to encourage cooperation of the
private sector, so that it may bring good results upon its peoples.
Organs of the GCC
The GCC is composed of the following major organs:
1- The Supreme Council
It is the highest authority of
the GCC. It is composed of the Heads of State of
The Commission for the Resolution of Disputes is subordinated to the
Supreme Council. It is composed of GCC citizens who are not a party to the
dispute. Their numbers cannot be less than three. The Commission looks into the
disputes arising between the
2. The Ministerial Council
The Ministerial Council is composed of the Foreign Ministers of the
Member States of the GCC or their deputies. The presidency of the Ministerial
Council remains with the country that has assumed the presidency of the last
ordinary session of the Supreme Council. The Ministerial Council convenes its
ordinary sessions once in every three months. It may hold emergency sessions.
Its sessions are deemed to be valid if attended by two-thirds of the Member
States.
3. The Consultative Commission of the Supreme Council
The Supreme Council of the GCC resolved, in the 18th session
held in the State of Kuwait in December 1997, to set up a Consultative
Commission of the GCC Supreme Council, consisting of thirty members (five
members from each country for a term of 3 years, subject to extension). The
Consultative Commission held its first meeting in the State of
4. The Secretariat-General
It is headed by the
Secretary-General who is aided by Assistant Secretaries-General and the
supporting staff. Its official headquarters is in
§ Secretary-General’s office
§ Political Affairs Sector
§ Economic Affairs Sector
§ Military Affairs Sector
§ Human and Environmental
Affairs Sector
§ Legal Affairs Sector
§ Financial and
Administrative Affairs Sector
§ Information Centre
§ Internal Control Unit
§ Administrative Development Unit
§ GCC Delegation in
Patents Bureau for the GCC
States §