Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Disarmament Database

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Country Profile: Qatar

BASIC FACTS

Qatar is a Member Country of the NAM Movement since 1973 

Qatar occupies a small peninsula on the northeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East region. Its only land border is with Saudi Arabia. Regarded as one of the most advanced Arab states in terms of development, Qatar has the highest per capita income in the world. For its size, Qatar is surprisingly influential in the region: its political and economic alignment with Iran has resulted in recurring conflict with its neighbors Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. In 2017, these states as well as Egypt instituted a land, sea, and air embargo against Qatar.  

Capital: Doha

There are no nuclear power plants or research reactors in Qatar, although the state is very vocal in recommending IAEA inspection and supervision of the nuclear programs in neighboring states, such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Qatar in December of 2021 joined Britain's Roll-Royce in developing small nuclear power plants capable of delivering low carbon energy to around 1 million homes each. The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) said it would invest 85 million pounds ($112.2 million) for a 10% stake in the project, joining existing shareholders Rolls-Royce, BNF Resources UK and Exelon Generation in the British government-backed project. The SMRs will not be available until the early 2030s and all new nuclear power projects need approval from Britain's Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and its Generic Design Assessment, which can take around four years to complete for large plants

TREATIES AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

  • IAEA Membership (1976) 

  • Accession to Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) (1989) 

  • Geneva Protocol (1976) 

  • Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (1998) 

  • Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) (1997) 

  • Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) (1975) 

  • Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) (1997)  

  • Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (2009) 

  • Outer Space Treaty (2012) 

  • Sea-bed Treaty (1974) 

  • International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) (2014) 

 

AGREEMENTS (In Force)

  • Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (2004) 

  • Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (2016) 

  • Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident (2005) 

  • Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency (2005) 

  • Convention on Nuclear Safety (2021) 

  • Revised Supplementary Agreements Concerning the Provision of Technical Assistance by the IAEA (RSA) (1991) 

  • Co-operative Agreement for Arab States in Asia for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (the 2017 ARASIA) (2024) 

  • Agreement between the State of Qatar and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards in Connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (2009) 


REGIONAL GROUPS

  • Member of the G-77
  • Member of the Asia-Pacific Group
  • Member of the Gulf Cooperation Council
  • Member of OPEC
  • Member of the Arab League


RECENT REPRESENTATION IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

  • President of the 66th General Session of the UN General Assembly in 2011
  • Chairperson of the G-77 in 2004
  • Member of the 1540 Committee in 2006/2007
  • Non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2006/2007

 

LINKS

The State of Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations

UN State Summary

Ratification of Treaties & Membership in International Organizations Related to Disarmament

Qatar backs UK's Rolls-Royce in small nuclear power project

Country List (Office of Legal Affairs): Qatar (iaea.org)