Claim: A strait separates Qatar from Bahrain.

Qatar -LRB- -LSB- ˈkætɑːr -RSB- , -LSB- kəˈtɑːr -RSB- قطر -LSB- ˈqɑtˤɑr -RSB- Local vernacular pronunciation : -LSB- ˈɡɪtˤɑr -RSB- -RRB- , officially the State of Qatar , is a sovereign country located in Western Asia , occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula . Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south , with the rest of its territory surrounded by the Persian Gulf . A strait in the Persian Gulf separates Qatar from the nearby island country of Bahrain , as well as sharing maritime borders with the United Arab Emirates and Iran .   Following Ottoman rule , Qatar became a British protectorate in the early 20th century until gaining independence in 1971 . Qatar has been ruled by the House of Thani since the early 19th century . Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani was the founder of the State of Qatar . Qatar is a hereditary monarchy and its head of state is Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani . Whether it should be regarded as a constitutional or an absolute monarchy is a matter of opinion . In 2003 , the constitution was overwhelmingly approved in a referendum , with almost 98 % in favour . In early 2017 , Qatar 's total population was 2.6 million : 313,000 Qatari citizens and 2.3 million expatriates .   Qatar is a high income economy , backed by the world 's third largest natural gas reserves and oil reserves . The country has the highest per capita income in the world . Qatar is classified by the UN as a country of very high human development and is the most advanced Arab state for human development . Qatar is a significant power in the Arab world , supporting several rebel groups during the Arab Spring both financially and through its globally expanding media group , Al Jazeera Media Network . For its size , Qatar wields disproportionate influence in the world , and has been identified as a middle power . Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup , becoming the first Arab country to do so .