History of Qatar in Timeline

Qatar is a country located on the Qatar Peninsula in West Asia, sharing a land border with Saudi Arabia and otherwise surrounded by the Persian Gulf. Its capital is Doha, which houses the majority of the population. The country is predominantly flat, low-lying desert. It's separated from Bahrain by the Gulf of Bahrain.

1913: Anglo-Ottoman Convention

In 1913, the Ottomans agreed to renounce their claim to Qatar and withdraw their garrison from Doha through the Anglo-Ottoman Convention.

1915: Withdrawal of Ottoman Garrison

In 1915, Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani persuaded the remaining Ottoman troops to abandon the fort in Doha, leading to its desertion when British troops approached.

November 1916: Qatar becomes a British protectorate

In November 1916, Qatar officially became a British protectorate, as the United Kingdom signed a treaty with Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani, bringing Qatar under its Trucial System of Administration.

1916: British Protectorate

In 1916, Qatar became a British protectorate, with the United Kingdom controlling foreign affairs and defence while allowing internal autonomy.

May 1935: Treaty with the British government

In May 1935, Abdullah signed a treaty with the British government which granted Qatar protection against internal and external threats while agreeing to an oil concession with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company.

1939: Discovery of Oil Reserves

In 1939, oil reserves were first discovered in Qatar, though their exploitation was delayed by World War II.

1940: Start of petroleum and natural gas industries

Economic growth in Qatar has been almost exclusively based on its petroleum and natural gas industries, which began in 1940.

1940: Discovery of oil in Dukhan Field

Oil was discovered in Qatar in 1940, in Dukhan Field, transforming the state's economy.

1947: Independence of India and Creation of Pakistan

In 1947, the independence of India and the creation of Pakistan influenced British interests in Qatar after the Second World War.

1949: Strengthening of Anglo-Qatari relations

In 1949, the appointment of the first British political officer in Doha, John Wilton, and the start of oil exports signified a strengthening of Anglo-Qatari relations.

1961: Joins OPEC

In 1961, Qatar became a member state of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

1968: Talks for the Federation of Arab Emirates

In 1968, Qatar joined talks with Bahrain and seven other Trucial States to create the Federation of Arab Emirates after Britain announced its withdrawal from the Persian Gulf.

1970: First census held in Qatar

At the time of the first census in 1970, Qatar's population was 111,133.

1970: Qatar TV Inauguration

In 1970, Qatar TV was inaugurated, marking the start of television broadcasting in the country.

1970: First Short Story Anthology Introduced

In 1970, Qatar witnessed the introduction of its first short story anthology due to the increasing number of educated Qataris and societal changes.

1970: Qatar Football Association Affiliated with FIFA

Shortly after the Qatar Football Association became affiliated with FIFA in 1970, the country began to achieve international recognition.

September 1971: Termination of Treaty Arrangements with the United Kingdom

In September 1971, under an agreement with the United Kingdom, the "special treaty arrangements" that were "inconsistent with full international responsibility as a sovereign and independent state" were terminated.

1971: Independence

In 1971, Qatar gained independence from Britain, marking a significant shift in its political status.

February 1972: Deposition of Ahmad bin Ali

In February 1972, Ahmad bin Ali, the emir of Qatar, was deposed by Khalifa bin Hamad.

1973: Qatar University founded

Qatar University, the country's oldest and largest institution of higher education, was founded in 1973.

1981: Qatar U-20 Team Runners-Up in FIFA World Youth Championship

In 1981, the Qatar national under-20 team emerged as runners-up to West Germany in the FIFA World Youth Championship.

1982: Economic downturn

In 1982 Qatar's economy faced a downturn from 1982 to 1989 due to OPEC-imposed quotas on crude oil production and declining oil prices, which led to reduced oil earnings.

1988: Qatar Hosts AFC Asian Cup

In 1988, Qatar hosted the ninth edition of the AFC Asian Cup.

1989: Economic improvement

In 1989, there were improvements in Qatar's economy, with profits around QR420 million and increased production in sectors like ethylene and sulfur.

1991: Role in the Gulf War

In 1991, Qatar played a significant role in the Gulf War, particularly during the Battle of Khafji, and allowed coalition troops to use the country as an airbase.

1991: Phase I of North Field gas development completion

Qatar's economy was boosted in 1991 by completion of the $1.5-billion Phase I of North Field gas development.

1993: First Locally Authored Novels Published

In 1993, the first novels authored by local Qataris were published, marking a significant development in Qatari literature.

1995: Emir Hamad seizes control

In 1995, Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani seized control of Qatar from his father, Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, with the support of the armed forces and cabinet.

1996: Al Jazeera Launched

In 1996, Al Jazeera was initially launched as an Arabic news and current affairs satellite TV channel in Doha before expanding into a global network.

1996: Rio Convention on Biological Diversity

In 1996, Qatar became part of the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity.

1996: Launch of Al Jazeera and Unsuccessful Counter-Coup

In 1996, Qatar launched the Al Jazeera television station and experienced an unsuccessful counter-coup.

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1996: Liquefied natural gas exports to Japan

In 1996, the Qatargas project began exporting liquefied natural gas to Japan.

1999: Endorsement of Women's Suffrage

In 1999, Qatar endorsed women's suffrage, granting them the right to vote in municipal elections.

1999: Qatar Cricket Association Joins ICC

In 1999, the Qatar Cricket Association became a member of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

1999: First elections in Qatar on International Women's Day

The first-ever elections in Qatar were intentionally held on 8 March 1999, International Women's Day, and the country enfranchised women at the same time as men in connection with the elections for a Central Municipal Council.

2001: Population increase

In 2001 the population began to increase rapidly.

November 2002: Creation of The Supreme Education Council

In November 2002, Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani created The Supreme Education Council to direct and control education.

2002: Doha Cultural Festival Started

In 2002, the Qatari Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage initiated the Doha Cultural Festival with the goal of promoting Qatari culture both within Qatar and internationally.

2002: Inaugural Tour of Qatar

Since 2002, Qatar has hosted the annual Tour of Qatar, a cycling race in six stages.

2002: The 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea

The 2022 FIFA World Cup was the third Asian country to host it following the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

2003: Adoption of a Constitution

In 2003, Qatar adopted a constitution that provided for the direct election of 30 of the 45 members of a legislature, though with limited powers.

2003: Participation of women in society

In 2003, Qatar saw increased participation of women in society.

2003: US Central Command Headquarters

In 2003, Qatar served as the United States Central Command headquarters and a main launching site for the invasion of Iraq.

March 2005: Suicide bombing at Doha Players Theatre

In March 2005, a suicide bombing at the Doha Players Theatre killed a British teacher, marking a rare act of terrorism in Qatar.

2005: Drafting of the first written constitution

In 2005, Qatar drafted its first written constitution.

2005: Qatar Hosted the FIBA Asia Championship

In 2005, Qatar hosted the FIBA Asia Championship.

2005: National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

In 2005, Qatar produced a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.

2005: Establishment of Qatar Investment Authority

Qatar Investment Authority, the country's sovereign wealth fund, was established in 2005.

2006: Introduction of Codified Family Law

In 2006, Qatar introduced codified family law, while also maintaining Sharia law as a main source of legislation, particularly for family law, inheritance, and certain criminal acts.

2006: Launch of Qatar National Research Fund

In 2006, Qatar launched the Qatar National Research Fund to secure public funds for scientific research.

2006: Mediation between Palestinian factions

In 2006, Qatar mediated between the rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas.

2006: Number of physicians and nurses

In 2006, there were 23.12 physicians and 61.81 nurses per 10,000 inhabitants in Qatar.

2007: Details of its greenhouse gas emissions

As of 2024 the latest official details are for 2007 emissions.

2008: Military spending

In 2008 Qatar spent US$2.6 billion on its military, which was 2% of the GDP.

2008: Mediation of Lebanese political agreement

In 2008, Qatar helped unite Lebanese leaders into forming a political agreement during the Lebanese crisis.

2008: Launch of National Vision 2030

In 2008, Qatar launched its National Vision 2030, emphasizing environmental development and sustainable energy alternatives.

2008: Inauguration of a Roman Catholic church

In 2008, a Roman Catholic church was inaugurated in Qatar.

2008: WTA Tour Championships in Doha

In 2008, the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha hosted the WTA Tour Championships in women's tennis.

2008: Museum of Islamic Art Opened

In 2008, the Museum of Islamic Art opened and was considered one of the best museums in the region under the Qatar Museums Authority.

2008: Christians allowed to build churches

Since 2008, Christians have been allowed to build churches on land donated by the government in Qatar.

March 2009: Establishment of Qatar Science & Technology Park

In March 2009, the Qatar Foundation established the Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) with a seed capital of $800 million.

2009: Establishment of Qatar Science & Technology Park

In 2009, Qatar established the Qatar Science & Technology Park in Education City to link universities with industry.

2009: Investment arm of QIA

Since 2009, Qatar Holding has received $30–40bn per year from the state.

December 2010: Qatar wins the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup

On December 2, 2010, Qatar won the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, marking the first time a Middle Eastern country was selected for the tournament.

2010: Arms importer

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in 2010, Qatar was the 46th-largest arms importer in the world.

2010: Healthcare spending increase

Healthcare spending in Qatar increased by $2.1 billion from 2010 to 2014.

2010: Launch of Al-Bairaq program

In 2010, Qatar launched Al-Bairaq, an educational outreach program providing high school students with research experience in STEM fields at Qatar University.

2010: Construction of Hamad Port began

In 2010, construction of Hamad Port began south of Doha in the Umm Al Houl area.

2010: Healthcare spending accounted for 2.2% of the country's GDP

In 2010, healthcare spending accounted for 2.2% of Qatar's GDP, the highest in the Middle East.

2010: WTA Tour Championships in Doha

In 2010, the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha hosted the WTA Tour Championships in women's tennis.

2010: Takahashi Murakami Exhibition in Versailles

In 2010, the Qatar Museums Authority sponsored artistic events abroad, including a major exhibition by Takahashi Murakami in Versailles.

2010: Qatar overtakes Luxembourg as richest country

Qatar overtook Luxembourg in 2010 to become the richest country in the world.

2010: Successful World Cup bid

Since the successful World Cup bid of 2010, $220 billion has been spent on infrastructure, boosting Doha's hotel and hospitality industry.

2011: Expansion of armed forces

After the Arab spring events in 2011, Qatar started expanding its armed forces.

2011: Population Growth

By 2011, Qatar's population had tripled since 2001, mostly due to an influx of foreigners.

2011: Military intervention in Libya

During the 2011 military intervention in Libya, Qatar deployed six Mirage 2000 fighter jets to assist the NATO air campaign against the Libyan government and special forces to provide training to Libyan rebels.

2011: HIA won Airline of the Year

In 2011, Hamad International Airport (HIA) won Airline of the Year.

2011: Qatar Hosts AFC Asian Cup

In 2011, Qatar hosted the fifteenth edition of the AFC Asian Cup.

2011: Qatar's Role in the Arab Spring

In 2011, Qatar's increased influence during the Arab Spring, especially during uprisings in Bahrain, heightened tensions with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain. Qatar joined NATO operations in Libya and supported rebel groups in Syria.

2011: Number of beds and doctors

In 2011, the number of beds decreased to 12 per 10,000 people, whereas the number of doctors increased to 28 per 10,000 people.

May 2012: Intention to allow trade union

In May 2012, Qatari officials declared their intention to allow the establishment of an independent trade union.

2012: HIA won Airline of the Year

In 2012, Hamad International Airport (HIA) won Airline of the Year.

2012: Richest country in the world

In 2012, Qatar retained its title of richest country in the world (according to per capita income) for the third time in a row.

2012: Qatar ranked low on PISA test

In 2012, Qatar was ranked third from the bottom of the 65 OECD countries participating in the PISA test.

2012: Investment in energy sector

In 2012, it was estimated that Qatar would invest over $120 billion in the energy sector in the next 10 years.

2012: Damien Hirst Exhibition in London

In 2012, the Qatar Museums Authority sponsored artistic events abroad, including a major exhibition by Damien Hirst in London.

2012: Illiteracy rates

In 2012, the illiteracy rate in Qatar was 3.1% for males and 4.2% for females.

2012: Ranked 12th richest sovereign wealth fund

In 2012, with assets of $115bn, QIA was ranked 12th among the richest sovereign wealth funds in the world.

June 2013: Sheikh Tamim becomes Emir

In June 2013, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani became the emir of Qatar, succeeding his father.

June 2013: Unemployment rate

The unemployment rate in Qatar in June 2013 was 0.1%.

2013: Qatar Hosted the FIBA Asia 3x3 Championship

In 2013, Qatar hosted the FIBA Asia 3x3 Championship.

2013: Introduction of conscription

In 2013, Qatar introduced conscription, the first Gulf state to do so in recent years.

2013: Qatar's NRI Ranking

In 2013, Qatar was ranked number 23 overall in the World Economic Forum's Network Readiness Index (NRI).

May 2014: DLA Piper report on labor system

In May 2014, DLA Piper released more than 60 recommendations for reforming the kafala system, including the abolition of exit visas and the introduction of a minimum wage, which Qatar has pledged to implement.

May 2014: Mohammed bin Hammam Accusations

In May 2014, Qatari football official Mohammed bin Hammam was accused of making payments totalling £3 million to officials in return for their support for the Qatar bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

November 2014: FIFA Inquiry Clears Qatar of Wrongdoing

In November 2014, a FIFA inquiry into the bidding process for the 2022 FIFA World Cup cleared Qatar of any wrongdoing.

2014: Arms importer

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in 2014, Qatar was the 46th-largest arms importer in the world.

2014: Expansion of armed forces

After a diplomatic incident with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries in 2014, Qatar started expanding its armed forces.

2014: Investments around the world

As of 2014, Qatar Holding has investments around the world in Valentino, Siemens, Printemps, Harrods, The Shard, Barclays Bank, Heathrow Airport, Paris Saint-Germain F.C., Volkswagen Group, Royal Dutch Shell, Bank of America, Tiffany, Agricultural Bank of China, Sainsbury's, BlackBerry, and Santander Brasil.

2014: Qatar Hosted the FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship

In 2014, Qatar hosted the FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship.

2014: $4.7 billion invested in healthcare

In 2014, Qatar invested $4.7 billion in healthcare, marking a $2.1 billion increase from 2010.

2014: Qatar Wins World Championship in Men's 3x3 Basketball

In 2014, Qatar won the world championship in men's 3x3 basketball.

2014: Qatar's NRI Ranking Unchanged

In 2014, Qatar's Network Readiness Index (NRI) ranking remained unchanged at number 23 overall.

2014: Qatar's Media Classified as "Not Free"

In 2014, Qatar's media was classified as "not free" in the Freedom of the Press report by Freedom House.

2014: Reports of Migrant Worker Abuse for 2022 World Cup

In 2014, The Guardian reported that migrant workers constructing offices for the 2022 World Cup organizers had not been paid in over a year. Additionally, Nepalese migrants involved in constructing infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup died at a rate of one every two days.

2014: Cybercrime Prevention Law Passed

In 2014, a Cybercrime Prevention Law was passed in Qatar, which was said to restrict press freedom and carries prison sentences and fines for reasons such as jeopardising local peace or publishing false news.

2014: Modesty Campaign

In 2014, a modesty campaign was launched in Qatar to remind tourists of the country's restrictive dress code, advising against revealing clothing.

September 2015: Intervention in Yemeni civil war

During the Saudi-led intervention in the Yemeni civil war in September 2015, Qatar sent 1,000 troops, 200 armored vehicles, and 30 Apache helicopters to assist with Saudi military operations.

2015: HIA won Airline of the Year

In 2015, Hamad International Airport (HIA) won Airline of the Year.

2015: Arms importer

In 2015, Qatar was the 16th largest arms importer in the world, according to SIPRI.

2015: Qatar National Parachute Team Performance

In 2015, the Qatar National Parachute team performed during Qatar's National Day and at other large events, such as the World Handball Championship.

2015: National Handball Team Runners-Up

In 2015, the national handball team emerged as runners-up to France in the World Men's Handball Championship as hosts.

December 2016: Hamad Port became operational

In December 2016, Hamad Port became operational, capable of handling up to 7.8 million tonnes of products annually.

2016: Highest GDP per capita

As of 2016, Qatar has the fourth highest GDP per capita in the world, according to the International Monetary Fund.

2016: Oil reserves

As of 2016, Qatar's proven oil reserves were estimated at 25.2 billion barrels, positioning it as the 13th largest globally.

2016: Plans to levy taxes on junk food and luxury items

In 2016 authorities announced plans to levy taxes on junk food and luxury items. The rollout of these initial taxes is believed to be the result of the fall in oil prices and a deficit that the country faced in 2016. Additionally, the country saw job cuts in 2016 from its petroleum companies and other sectors in the government.

2016: Reforms to mandate timely wage payments

In 2016 laws were reformed to mandate that companies that fail to pay workers' wages on time could temporarily lose their ability to hire more employees.

June 2017: Withdrawal from Yemen

As a result of the diplomatic crisis with Saudi Arabia that began in June 2017, Qatar withdrew its forces from Yemen.

June 2017: Diplomatic Crisis

In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, and Yemen broke diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism.

2017: South Asians represented over 1.5 million people

According to a 2017 report, South Asians represented over 1.5 million people in Qatar, with Indians being the largest community at 650,000.

2017: HIA won Airline of the Year

In 2017, Hamad International Airport (HIA) won Airline of the Year.

2017: QSTec commissioned polysilicon plant in Ras Laffan

In 2017, Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) commissioned its polysilicon plant in Ras Laffan, with a solar power capacity of 1.1 MW.

2017: 2.3 million international tourists visited Qatar

In 2017, Qatar experienced a surge in tourism, attracting over 2.3 million international visitors according to World Tourism rankings.

2017: Population Statistics

In early 2017, Qatar's population was 2.6 million, with only 313,000 Qatari citizens and 2.3 million expatriates and migrant workers.

2017: Purchase of equipment

Since 2017, Qatar has purchased large quantities of equipment from European countries and the United States, making its air force one of the largest among the Gulf states.

2018: National service term extended

In 2018, the national service term was extended to one year.

January 2019: Leaves OPEC

In January 2019, Qatar left the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

December 2019: Plans for Desert Campsites for Football Fans

In December 2019, Qatari World Cup officials approached organizers of the Glastonbury Festival in England and the Coachella Festival in the United States to plan huge desert campsites for thousands of football fans attending the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

2019: HIA won Airline of the Year

In 2019, Hamad International Airport (HIA) won Airline of the Year.

2019: Qatar ranked 65th in Global Innovation Index

In 2019, Qatar was ranked 65th in the Global Innovation Index.

2019: Qatar Wins AFC Asian Cup

In 2019, the Qatar national football team won the AFC Asian Cup held in the United Arab Emirates, beating Japan 3–1 in the final.

2019: Qatar in top eight in market climate in the Middle East

In 2019, the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Survey of the World Economic Forum ranked Qatar in the top eight in market climate in the Middle East.

October 2020: Hamad International Airport incident

In October 2020, Qatari authorities strip-searched 13 Australian women on a plane at Hamad International Airport over a premature baby found in a bathroom, causing an international incident with Australia.

2020: Prediction of 11.9 billion dollars earned from foreign travelers

Gulf News predicted that Qatar would earn $11.9 billion from attracting foreign travelers by 2020, due to increased hospitality and attention to culture.

2020: Qatar's population exceeded 2.8 million

In 2020, Qatar's population was over 2.8 million, with foreigners making up the vast majority.

2020: Population by religion

In 2020, Qatar's total population was 75.9% Muslim, 12.5% Christian, and 10.6% Hindu.

January 2021: End of Diplomatic Crisis

In January 2021, the diplomatic crisis ended with the signing of the al-Ula declaration, though Qatar did not fulfill the original demands.

February 2021: Migrant Worker Deaths Reported

According to a February 2021 article in The Guardian, approximately 6,500 migrant construction workers had died in Qatar.

October 2021: First General Election

In October 2021, Qatar held its first general election for the legislature after several postponements.

2021: Minimum wage instituted

A minimum wage was instituted in Qatar in 2021.

2021: Hotel Rooms in Qatar

By the end of 2021, the construction work in Qatar was expected to take the available 37,000 hotel rooms to 70,000 for the FIFA world cup.

2021: Partial Shura Council Election

In 2021, Qatar held a partial Shura Council election, where two-thirds of the seats were elected.

2021: Tourism increase compared to full year

In the first half of 2022, the tourism sector saw a 19% increase compared to the full year of 2021.

2022: Increased military spending

As of 2022 Qatar's military spending increased to US$7.49 billion.

2022: Launch of the first phase of HIA expansion

In 2022, Hamad International Airport (HIA) launched the first phase of substantial expansions, introducing a new terminal, hotel, and the ORCHARD tropical garden.

2022: Major non-NATO ally and corruption scandal

In 2022, Qatar became a major non-NATO ally of the United States. Also in 2022, four people were arrested due to corruption, in what became known as the Qatar corruption scandal at the European Parliament.

2022: Qatar Hosted the FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship

In 2022, Qatar hosted the FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship.

2022: Qatar Hosts the FIFA World Cup

In 2022, Qatar hosted the FIFA World Cup, becoming the first Arab and Muslim-majority country to do so.

2022: Qatar Estimated to Host Football Fanbase

In 2022, Qatar was estimated to host a football fanbase of 1.6 million for the FIFA World Cup.

2022: Alcohol Regulations during the FIFA World Cup

In 2022, Qatari officials initially indicated a willingness to allow alcohol in "fan zones" at the FIFA World Cup, but later announced alcoholic beverages would not be permitted within the stadiums.

2022: 729,000 international visitors in the first half of the year

In the first half of 2022, Doha's tourism sector saw a strong recovery with over 729,000 international visitors.

September 2023: US-Iran prisoners swap deal

In September 2023, Qatar mediated the US-Iran prisoners swap deal, where Iran freed five Americans in exchange for five Iranians held in the US and the transfer of $6 billion in frozen Iranian money from South Korea to Qatar.

October 2023: US President thanks Qatar for help with prisoner swap

In October 2023, United States President Joe Biden thanked Qatar's Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for his help in mediating a landmark prisoner swap deal with Iran.

2023: Qatar Hosts AFC Asian Cup and Retains Title

In 2023, Qatar hosted the eighteenth edition of the AFC Asian Cup, and the Qatar national football team successfully retained their title, defeating Jordan in the final.

September 2024: Qatar joins U.S. Visa Waiver Program

On 24 September 2024, Qatar was designated as the first Gulf country to join the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP), allowing its citizens to travel to the United States for up to 90 days for business or tourism without a visa.

November 2024: Increase in military power and corruption

According to research published in November 2024, Qatar has dramatically increased its military power, with expenditure growing by 434%. Corruption in arms trading has been one consequence.

November 2024: Return to Fully Appointed Shura Council

In November 2024, Qatar reverted to a fully appointed Shura Council, ending the country's experiment with electing members of the advisory body.

2024: Corruption Perceptions Index

As of 2024 Qatar is still ranked 40 out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index.

2024: Greenhouse gas emissions

As of 2024 the latest official details are for 2007 emissions.

2024: Global Peace Index

In 2024 Qatar is the 29th most peaceful country in the world, according to the Global Peace Index.

2024: Abolishment of Shura Council Elections

In 2024, Qatar abolished the partial Shura Council elections and reverted to a fully appointed Assembly.

2025: Democracy Report of V-Dem Democracy indices

According to the 2025 Democracy Report of V-Dem Democracy indices, Qatar was second-last on the Electoral Democracy Index among Middle Eastern countries, and seventh-last worldwide from among the 179 countries rated.

2025: Ongoing labor abuses

As of 2025 Qatar continues to face global criticism for ongoing labor abuses. Many migrant employees still suffer wage theft and harsh work, and they cannot form unions.

2025: Qatar ranked 48th in Global Innovation Index

In 2025, Qatar was ranked 48th in the Global Innovation Index, up from 65th in 2019.

March 2, 2026: Iranian drones strike Ras Laffan and Mesaieed

On March 2, 2026, during the Iran conflict, Iranian drones struck Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesaieed Industrial Area. QatarEnergy ceased natural gas production, declared Force Majeure, and gas prices increased globally.

2027: Qatar to Host FIBA Basketball World Cup

Qatar will host the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2027, becoming the first Arab country to do so.

2030: Qatar National Vision

As part of Qatar National Vision 2030, the country is making its economy less dependent on oil and gas by expanding its range of industries. By 2030, they want 20% of their energy to come from solar power.