Overview
The State of Qatar has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 2002. Being a coastal State, its economy and security depends heavily on the sea. It has formed an Ad Hoc Committee to study the provisions of the convention. This will enable the committee to determine the rights and obligations of the State in accordance with those provisions. The recommendations submitted by the competent authorities was to convert the Ad Hoc Committee to a Standing Committee in accordance with the Resolution No. (37) issued by the Council of Ministers in 2009. The Standing Committee of the Convention of the Law of the Sea consists of two representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of which one of them is the Chairman of the Standing Committee. There are members of representatives from each of the following entities:
- Amiri Diwan
- Ministry of Defense
- Ministry of Interior
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ministry of Energy and Industry
- Ministry of Municipality and Environment
- Ministry of Transport and Communications
- Ministry of Justice
- Qatar University
The Standing Committee has formed two Sub-Committees. One of them is to determine the Baselines. The other is to determine the maritime zone of the State, and to determine the States rights and obligations in these areas. The Sub-Committees are required to compose a technical team to carry out special studies and researches that are requested by the Standing Committee.