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 country's population. The landscape is predominantly flat, low-lying desert. Qatar is separated from Bahrain by the Gulf of Bahrain.

1913: Anglo-Ottoman Convention

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

1915: Withdrawal of Ottoman Garrison

In 1915, Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani persuaded the remaining Ottoman troops to abandon the fort in Doha, following the presence of British gunboats.

November 1916: British Protectorate Treaty

In November 1916, Qatar officially became a British protectorate with the signing of a treaty between the United Kingdom and Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani.

1916: British Protectorate

In 1916, Qatar became a British protectorate after signing a treaty with the United Kingdom, bringing it under the Trucial System of Administration.

May 1935: Treaty with British Government

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

1939: Discovery of Oil Reserves

In 1939, oil reserves were first discovered in Qatar, though 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 Qatar

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

1947: Creation of Pakistan

In 1947, the creation of Pakistan and the independence of India led to a shift in British interests in Qatar after the Second World War.

1949: First British Political Officer

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

1961: Qatar Joins OPEC

Qatar joined the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 1961.

1968: Withdrawal from Federation Talks

In 1968, Qatar joined talks to create a federation with Bahrain and other Trucial States after Britain announced its withdrawal from the Persian Gulf; however, Qatar eventually withdrew from the talks.

1970: First Census Population

At the time of the first census, held in 1970, the population was 111,133.

1970: First Short Story Anthology

Due to increasing numbers of Qataris receiving formal education, 1970 witnessed the introduction of the first short story anthology.

1970: Qatar Football Association FIFA affiliation

Shortly after the Qatar Football Association became affiliated with FIFA in 1970, the country achieved one of its earliest international accolades.

1970: TV Broadcasting Started

TV broadcasting was started in 1970.

September 1971: Termination of Treaty Arrangements

In September 1971, Qatar terminated the "special treaty arrangements" with the United Kingdom, marking a move towards full international responsibility as a sovereign and independent state.

1971: Independence

Qatar gained independence in 1971 following Ottoman rule and a period as a British protectorate.

February 1972: Deposition of the Emir

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

1973: Establishment of Qatar University

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

1981: FIFA World Youth Championship

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

1982: Downturn in Qatar's Economy

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

1988: AFC Asian Cup Hosting

Qatar hosted the ninth edition of the AFC Asian Cup in 1988.

1989: Improvements in Qatar's Economy

Despite challenges, the late 1980s saw improvements in Qatar's economy, with profits around QR420 million in 1989 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, including providing fire support during the Battle of Khafji and allowing coalition troops to use its territory as an airbase.

1991: Completion of North Field Gas Development

In 1991, the $1.5-billion Phase I of North Field gas development was completed, boosting Qatar's economy.

1993: First Locally Authored Novels

In 1993, the first locally authored novels were published in Qatar.

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.

1996: Al Jazeera Launch

Al Jazeera initially launched in 1996 as an Arabic news and current affairs satellite TV channel.

1996: Launch of Al Jazeera

In 1996, Emir Hamad launched the Al Jazeera television station.

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1996: Unsuccessful Counter-Coup

In 1996, an unsuccessful counter-coup was staged against Emir Hamad.

1996: Start of Liquefied Natural Gas Exports to Japan

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

1996: Qatar Joins Rio Convention on Biological Diversity

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

March 1999: Women Enfranchised and First Elections Held

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

1999: Women's Suffrage Endorsed

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).

2001: Population Growth

In 2001, the population began to triple due to an influx of foreigners.

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 for all ages.

2002: Doha Cultural Festival

In 2002, the Qatari Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage began the Doha Cultural Festival with the aim of spreading Qatari culture.

2002: Reference to Previous World Cup

Reference to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea, as Qatar became the third Asian country to host it in 2022.

2002: Qatar Hosts Annual Tour of Qatar

Since 2002, Qatar has hosted the annual Tour of Qatar, a six-stage cycling race.

2003: Adoption of Constitution

In 2003, Qatar adopted a constitution that provided for the direct election of members of a legislature.

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.

2003: Women's Participation in Society

In 2003, women's participation in society increased in Qatar.

2004: Introduction of Anti-Terrorism Laws

In 2004, Qatar introduced anti-terrorism laws, which were later updated, but the country faced allegations of supporting groups like Hamas.

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 First Written Constitution

In 2005, Qatar drafted its first written constitution.

2005: Qatar Hosts 2005 FIBA Asia Championship

In 2005, Qatar hosted the FIBA Asia Championship.

2005: Production of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

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

2005: Establishment of Qatar Investment Authority

In 2005, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) was established as the country's sovereign wealth fund, specializing in foreign investment.

2006: Mediation between Palestinian Factions

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

2006: Introduction of Codified Family Law

In 2006, codified family law was introduced in Qatar, where Sharia is applied to family law, inheritance, and criminal acts.

2006: Launch of Qatar National Research Fund

In 2006, the Qatar National Research Fund was launched as part of an initiative by the Qatar Foundation to secure public funds for scientific research.

2006: Physicians and Nurses per Inhabitants

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

2006: Hospital Beds, Doctors and Nurses

In 2006, there were 25 beds per 10,000 people, and 27.6 doctors and 73.8 nurses per 10,000 people in Qatar.

2007: Latest Official Details of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

As of 2024, the latest official details Qatar has published about its greenhouse gas emissions are for 2007 emissions.

2008: Mediation of Lebanese Political Agreement

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

2008: Launch of National Vision 2030

In 2008, Qatar launched its National Vision 2030, emphasizing environmental development as a key goal for the next two decades and pledging to develop sustainable alternatives to oil-based energy.

2008: Qatar's Military Spending

In 2008, Qatar spent US$2.6 billion on its military, equivalent to 2% of its GDP.

2008: Inauguration of a Roman Catholic Church

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

2008: Doha Hosts WTA Tour Championships

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

2008: Museum of Islamic Art Opening

In 2008, the Museum of Islamic Art opened and is regarded as one of the best museums in the region.

2008: Churches Construction

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

March 2009: Establishment of Qatar Science & Technology Park

In March 2009, the Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) was established by Qatar Foundation as an attempt to assist the country's transition towards a knowledge economy.

2009: Qatar Establishes Qatar Science & Technology Park

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

2009: Qatar Holding Receives Funds from the State

Since 2009, Qatar Holding, the international investment arm of QIA, has received $30–40 billion per year from the state.

December 2, 2010: Won Right to Host 2022 FIFA World Cup

On December 2, 2010, Qatar won the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

December 2010: Qatar wins bid to host 2022 FIFA World Cup

In December 2010, Qatar won the bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, marking the first time a Middle Eastern country was selected to host the tournament. This decision led to the construction of seven new stadiums and the expansion of one existing stadium. However, it also sparked controversy, including bribery allegations and concerns about the impact of warm temperatures on players.

2010: Qatar Ranked as 46th Largest Arms Importer

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), between 2010 and 2014, Qatar was the 46th-largest arms importer in the world.

2010: Increase in Healthcare Investment

Healthcare investment in 2014 saw a $2.1 billion increase from 2010.

2010: Takahashi Murakami Exhibition

In 2010, Qatar Museums Authority sponsored artistic events abroad, such as major exhibitions by Takahashi Murakami in Versailles.

2010: Launch of Al-Bairaq Program

In 2010, Qatar launched the Al-Bairaq program to provide high school students with research opportunities at Qatar University's Center for Advanced Materials.

2010: Religion Demographics

In 2010, Qatar's population was 67.7% Muslim, 13.8% Christian, 13.8% Hindu, and 3.1% Buddhist.

2010: Hamad Port Construction

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

2010: Healthcare Spending

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

2010: Doha Hosts WTA Tour Championships

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

2010: Qatar Overtakes Luxembourg as Richest Country

Qatar first overtook Luxembourg as the richest country in the world in 2010.

2010: World Cup bid

Since winning the World Cup bid of 2010, Doha has spent $220 billion on infrastructure to boost the hotel and hospitality market.

2010: 2010 Census Population

The 2010 census recorded the population at 1,699,435.

2011: Expansion of Armed Forces After Arab Spring

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

2011: Qatar Deploys Fighter Jets to Libya

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

2011: Airline of the Year

Hamad International Airport won Airline of the Year in 2011.

2011: Role in the Arab Spring

In 2011, Qatar's increased influence and role during the Arab Spring, particularly in the Bahrain uprisings, worsened tensions with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain. Qatar also joined NATO operations in Libya.

2011: Hospital 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 in Qatar.

2011: Population Growth

In 2011, the population had tripled since 2001, mostly from an influx of foreigners.

2011: AFC Asian Cup Hosting

Qatar hosted the fifteenth edition of the AFC Asian Cup in 2011.

May 2012: Qatari Officials Declare Intention to Allow Independent Trade Union

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

2012: Airline of the Year

Hamad International Airport won Airline of the Year in 2012.

2012: Damien Hirst Exhibition

In 2012, Qatar Museums Authority sponsored artistic events abroad, such as major exhibitions by Damien Hirst in London.

2012: Qatar Retains Title of Richest Country

In 2012, Qatar retained its title of richest country in the world for the third time in a row, with a per capita GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) of $106,000.

2012: Qatar's Ranking in PISA Test

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

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: Illiteracy Rate in Qatar

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

2012: QIA Ranked Among Richest Sovereign Wealth Funds

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

January 2013: Population Estimate

In January 2013, the Qatar Statistics Authority estimated the population at 1,903,447, comprising 1,405,164 males and 498,283 females.

June 2013: Sheikh Tamim Becomes Emir

In June 2013, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani became the emir of Qatar after his father handed over power.

June 2013: Unemployment Rate in Qatar

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

2013: Qatar Hosts 2013 FIBA Asia 3x3 Championship

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

2013: Introduction of Conscription

In 2013, Qatar introduced conscription, becoming the first Gulf state to do so in recent years, mandating Qatari male citizens to serve for up to 4 months.

2013: Network Readiness Index Ranking

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

May 2014: Recommendations for Reforming the Kafala 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 pledged to implement.

May 2014: Qatari Official Accused of Bribery

In May 2014, Qatari football official Mohammed bin Hammam was accused of making payments totaling £3 million to officials in return for their support for Qatar's bid to host 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 regarding the allegations of bribery.

2014: Qatar Ranked as 46th Largest Arms Importer

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), between 2010 and 2014, Qatar was the 46th-largest arms importer in the world.

2014: Investments by Qatar Holding

As of 2014, Qatar Holding had 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: Diplomatic Incident and Expansion of Armed Forces

Following a diplomatic incident with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries in 2014, Qatar expanded its armed forces.

2014: Healthcare Investment

In 2014, $4.7 billion was invested in healthcare.

2014: Qatar Hosts 2014 FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship

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

2014: Cybercrime Prevention Law

In 2014, Qatar passed a Cybercrime Prevention Law, which has been criticized for restricting press freedom.

2014: Network Readiness Index Ranking

In 2014, Qatar ranked number 23 overall in the World Economic Forum's Network Readiness Index (NRI).

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

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

2014: Report on Migrant Worker Abuse for 2022 World Cup

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

2014: US Officials Claim Qatar Failed to Act Against Blacklisted Individuals

In 2014, U.S. officials, including David S. Cohen, claimed that Qatar had failed to take action against blacklisted individuals living freely in the country.

2014: Modesty Campaign Launched

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

2014: Life Expectancy

In 2014, the life expectancy at birth in Qatar was 82.08 years.

2014: Freedom of the Press Classification

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

September 2015: Qatar Sends Troops to Yemen

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

2015: Airline of the Year

Hamad International Airport won Airline of the Year in 2015.

2015: Qatar hosts World Men's Handball Championship

In 2015, Qatar hosted the World Men's Handball Championship, where the national team finished as runners-up to France. However, the tournament was marred by numerous controversies regarding the host nation and its team.

2015: Qatar Ranked as 16th Largest Arms Importer

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

2015: Qatar National Parachute team performs during the 2015 World Handball Championship

The Qatar National Parachute team performed during the 2015 World Handball Championship.

December 2016: Hamad Port Operational

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

2016: Qatar's GDP per Capita

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

2016: Qatar's Proven Oil Reserves

As of 2016, Qatar's proven oil reserves were estimated at 25.2 billion barrels, positioning it as the 13th largest globally, accounting for approximately 1.53% of the world's total reserves.

2016: Qatar Ranked as 11th Largest Arms Importer

In 2016, Qatar was the 11th largest arms importer, according to SIPRI.

2016: Laws Reformed to Ensure 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. Human Rights Watch claimed that the changes might fail to address some labour rights issues.

2016: Plans to Levy Taxes on Junk Food and Luxury Items Announced

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

June 2017: Qatar Withdraws Forces from Yemen

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

June 2017: Diplomatic Ties Broken

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

2017: Start of Qatar Diplomatic Crisis

Concerns over Qatar's alleged support for groups like Hamas contributed to the Qatar diplomatic crisis that started in 2017 and lasted until 2021.

2017: Airline of the Year

Hamad International Airport won Airline of the Year in 2017.

2017: QSTec commissioned polysillicon plant in Ras Laffan

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

2017: International Tourist Visits

In 2017, Qatar saw more than 2.3 million international tourist visits.

2017: South Asian Population

In 2017, South Asians represented over 1.5 million people (60%) of Qatar's population, with Indians being the largest community at 650,000.

2017: Population Statistics

In early 2017, Qatar's population was 2.6 million, with foreigners making up a vast majority, as only 313,000 (12%) were Qatari citizens and the remaining 2.3 million were expatriates.

2017: Equipment Purchases from European Countries and the United States

Since 2017, Qatar has purchased large quantities of equipment from European countries and the United States, bolstering its air force.

2018: Extension of National Service Term

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

January 2019: Qatar Leaves OPEC

Qatar left the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in January 2019, after having joined in 1961.

December 2019: Qatari officials approach festival organizers for campsite planning

In December 2019, Qatari World Cup officials contacted the organizers of the Glastonbury and Coachella Festivals to plan desert campsites for football fans. The campsites were planned to have licensed bars, restaurants, entertainment, and washing facilities.

2019: Airline of the Year

Hamad International Airport won Airline of the Year in 2019.

2019: Qatar's Ranking in Global Innovation Index

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

2019: Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Survey

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

2019: AFC Asian Cup Win

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

October 2020: Qatari Authorities Strip-Search Australian Women

In October 2020, Qatari authorities strip-searched 13 Australian women on a plane at Hamad International Airport after a premature baby was found in a bathroom at the terminal, leading to an international incident with Australia.

2020: Foreign Travelers Earnings Projection

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

January 2021: AlUla Declaration

In January 2021, the diplomatic crisis ended with the signing of the AlUla declaration.

February 2021: Report of Migrant Worker Deaths

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

October 2021: First Consultative Assembly Elections

In October 2021, the Consultative Assembly held its first elections after several postponements.

2021: Institution of a Minimum Wage

A minimum wage was instituted in Qatar in 2021.

2021: Hotel room preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup

By the end of 2021, the available 37,000 hotel rooms in Qatar were expected to increase to 70,000 in preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

2021: End of Qatar Diplomatic Crisis

Concerns over Qatar's alleged support for groups like Hamas contributed to the Qatar diplomatic crisis from 2017 to 2021.

2021: Minimum Wage Set

In 2021, Qatar set a minimum wage as part of reforms to improve workers' rights.

2021: Increase in International Visitors

In the first half of 2022, Doha saw a 19% increase in international visitors compared to the full year of 2021.

2022: Increased Military Spending

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

2022: HIA Expansion Phase 1

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

2022: Qatar Hosts 2022 FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship

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

2022: Hosted 2022 FIFA World Cup

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

2022: FIFA World Cup Alcohol Policy

In 2022, Qatari officials initially considered allowing alcohol in "fan zones" at the FIFA World Cup but later prohibited alcoholic beverages within the stadiums.

2022: International Visitors

In the first half of 2022, Doha welcomed more than 729,000 international visitors, a 19% increase compared to the full year of 2021.

2022: Major non-NATO ally

Since 2022, Qatar has been a major non-NATO ally of the United States.

2022: 2022 World Cup in Qatar

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was held. Despite controversies and criticisms, the World Cup in Qatar was the most expensive in the competition's history and had many modern technologies, with many expressing their satisfaction with the country's handling of the tournament.

September 2023: Qatar Mediates US-Iran Prisoner Swap Deal

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

October 2023: U.S. President Thanks Qatar for Mediating 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: Democracy Indices

According to the V-Dem Democracy indices, in 2023 Qatar is the second least electoral democratic country in the Middle East.

2023: AFC Asian Cup Hosting and Win

As hosts and defending champions in the 2023 edition, Qatar successfully retained their title in the AFC Asian Cup, defeating Jordan in the final.

2023: Ceasefire in Israel-Hamas war

Qatar played a major role in establishing the first ceasefire in the 2023 Israel-Hamas war and the concurrent initial hostage exchange.

September 24, 2024: Qatar Designated for U.S. Visa Waiver Program

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

November 2024: Increase in Military Power and Corruption in Arms Trading

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

2024: Corruption Perceptions Index Ranking

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

2024: Latest Official Details of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

As of 2024, the latest official details Qatar has published about its greenhouse gas emissions are for 2007 emissions.

2024: Qatar's Ranking in Global Innovation Index

In 2024, Qatar was ranked 49th in the Global Innovation Index.

2024: Qatar Global Peace Index Ranking

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

2027: Qatar to Host 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup

In 2027, Qatar will host the FIBA Basketball World Cup, becoming the first Arab country to host the event.

2030: Target for Green Energy Production

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