Officially name: State of Qatar
Capital: Doha
Largest city: Doha
Official language: Arabic
Government: Absolute monarchy
Weddings in any culture are a cause for expensive fanfare and hectic preparations. In the Arabian Gulf, however, weddings are conducted in a unique manner, observant of the gender segregation maintained between nationals in other facets of their private lives.
Qatar, a nation rich in oil and gas natural reserves, is located in the Middle East and is neighboured by Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. With a land area of 4,184 square miles, the population was estimated to be 825,000 at the start of 2008.