General

Qatar's defense expenditures accounted for approximately 4.2% of gross national product in 1993. Qatar maintains a modest military force of approximately 11,800 men, including an army (8,500), navy (1,800) and air force (1,500). In August 1994, Qatar signed a defense agreement with France in which it agreed to purchase several Mirage 2000-5 aircraft. Qatar has also recently signed defense pacts with the United States and United Kingdom. Qatar plays an active role in the collective defense efforts of the Gulf Cooperation Council (the regional organization of the Arab states in the Persian Gulf; the other five members are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, and Oman). Qatari forces played an important role in the Persian Gulf War.

Overview

Military branches :
Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN), Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF)

Military manpower - military age and obligation :
18 years of age for voluntary military service; Land Force's enlisted personnel are largely nonprofessional foreign nationals (2005)

Military manpower - availability :
males age 18-49: 302,873
note: includes non-nationals (2005 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service :
males age 18-49: 238,566 (2005 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually :
males: 7,851 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure :
$723 million (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP :
10% (FY00)