Qatar
Due to its gas and oil reserves, Qatar is one of the richest economies in the world in terms of GDP per capita. The country’s long-standing border disputes with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were resolved in 2001.1 Qatar is one of the leading arms importers in the world. It also provides financial support and arms to a number of militant factions across the Middle East and Africa. Organised crime groups operate in the country and are mainly involved in smuggling, terrorism, drugs and human trafficking.2
The country’s guiding gun control legislation includes the Law of 1999 on Weapons, Ammunition and Explosives.3 Qatar has signed a number of regional and international agreements aiming to enhance cooperation in fighting transnational crime, terrorism and corruption.4
1 “Qatar,” One World Nations Online, 2022, https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/qatar.htm.
2 "Global Organized Crime Index: Qatar,” Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, 2021, https://ocindex.net/country/qatar.
3 Philip Alpers and Miles Lovell, Qatar – Gun Facts, Figures and the Law (GunPolicy.org, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, 2022), https://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/qatar.
4 “Global Organized Crime Index: Qatar,” Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime.
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Further information
Accidental explosions
Since the Small Arms Survey began collecting data in 1979, no accidental explosions have been reported in Qatar.
Source: “Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites (UEMS) Database,” Small Arms Survey, updated December 15, 2021, https://smallarmssurvey.org/database/unplanned-explosions-munitions-sites-uems.
Cases of diversion
Insufficient information on cases of diversion in Qatar.
Disposal
Insufficient information on the disposal of ammunition in Qatar.
Needs
To further enhance safe and secure ammunition management, the following needs have been identified for Qatar:
- Development or refinement of standards and procedures on stockpile management; and
- Capacity development for the destruction of surplus stockpiles.
Source: Qatar, National Report on the Implementation of the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PoA) and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI) (New York: Permanent Mission of Qatar to the UN, 2022), https://unoda-poa.s3.amazonaws.com/reports/QAT-Arabic-1222-SUBMITTED.pdf.
