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, where the majority of the population resides. The terrain is predominantly flat, low-lying desert. Qatar is separated from Bahrain by the Gulf of Bahrain.
In 1913, the Anglo-Ottoman Convention stipulated that the Ottomans would renounce their claim to Qatar and withdraw their garrison from Doha.
In 1915, Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani, with British support, persuaded the remaining Ottoman troops to abandon the fort in Doha, leading to its desertion.
In November 1916, Qatar officially became a British protectorate through a treaty with Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani, placing Qatar under the Trucial System of Administration.
In 1916, Qatar became a British protectorate following an agreement with the United Kingdom, reserving foreign affairs and defence to the UK while granting internal autonomy to Qatar.
In May 1935, Abdullah signed a treaty with the British government, while agreeing an oil concession with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, granting Qatar protection against internal and external threats.
In 1939, oil reserves were first discovered in Qatar, although their exploitation and development were delayed by World War II.
In 1940, oil was discovered in Qatar at Dukhan Field, which transformed the state's economy.
Qatar's economic growth has been almost exclusively based on its petroleum and natural gas industries, which began in 1940.
In 1949, the appointment of the first British political officer in Doha, John Wilton, and the beginning of oil exports, signified a strengthening of Anglo-Qatari relations.
Qatar joined the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 1961.
In 1968, after Britain announced its withdrawal from the Persian Gulf, Qatar joined talks with Bahrain and other Trucial States to create a federation, but later withdrew to become an independent state.
At the time of the first census, held in 1970, the population was 111,133.
In 1970, Qatar witnessed the introduction of its first short story anthology due to increasing formal education and societal changes.
TV broadcasting was started in Qatar in 1970.
In September 1971, Qatar's "special treaty arrangements" with the United Kingdom, which were "inconsistent with full international responsibility as a sovereign and independent state," were terminated.
In 1971, Qatar gained independence after the termination of "special treaty arrangements" with the United Kingdom, achieving full international responsibility as a sovereign and independent state.
In 1973, Qatar University, the country's oldest and largest institution of higher education, was founded.
Qatar's economy faced a downturn from 1982 to 1989 due to OPEC-imposed quotas on crude oil production and declining oil prices.
Qatar has played host to the ninth edition of the AFC Asian Cup in 1988.
The late 1980s saw improvements, with profits around QR420 million in 1989.
In 1991, Qatar played a significant role in the Gulf War, particularly in the Battle of Khafji, and allowed coalition troops to use the country as an airbase.
In 1991, the economy was boosted by completion of the $1.5-billion Phase I of North Field gas development.
In 1993, the first locally authored novels were published in Qatar.
In 1995, Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani took control of Qatar from his father, Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, with support from the armed forces and neighboring states.
Al Jazeera initially launched in 1996 as an Arabic news and current affairs satellite TV channel.
In 1996, Qatar became part of the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity.
In 1996, the Qatargas project began exporting liquefied natural gas to Japan.
In 1996, under Emir Hamad, Qatar experienced a moderate degree of liberalization, including the launch of the Al Jazeera television station.
Qatar held its first-ever elections for a Central Municipal Council on March 8, 1999, which was International Women's Day. The country enfranchised women at the same time as men.
In 1999, Qatar endorsed women's suffrage, granting women the right to vote in municipal elections.
Since 1999, the Qatar Cricket Association has been a member of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
In 2001, Qatar's population began a period of rapid growth, which tripled between 2001 and 2011, mainly due to the influx of foreigners.
In November 2002, Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani created The Supreme Education Council to direct and control education from pre-school through university levels.
In 2002, The FIFA World Cup held in Japan and South Korea.
Since 2002, Qatar has hosted the annual Tour of Qatar, a cycling race in six stages.
The Doha Cultural Festival, organized by the Qatari Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, began in 2002 with the aim of promoting Qatari culture.
In 2003, Qatar adopted a constitution providing for the direct election of 30 out of 45 members of the legislature.
In 2003, Qatar served as the United States Central Command headquarters and a primary launching site for the invasion of Iraq.
Qatar introduced anti-terrorism laws in 2004 and updated them in subsequent years.
In March 2005, a suicide bombing at the Doha Players Theatre resulted in the death of a British teacher, marking a rare act of terrorism in Qatar.
In 2005, Qatar drafted its first written constitution, marking a step towards liberalization under Emir Hamad.
In 2005, Qatar hosted the FIBA Asia Championship.
In 2005, Qatar produced a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
The Qatar Investment Authority, specializing in foreign investment, was established in 2005.
In 2006, Qatar introduced codified family law, which is influenced by Sharia law, particularly in areas like family matters, inheritance, and criminal acts.
In 2006, Qatar mediated between the rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas, showcasing its role as a mediator in Middle Eastern conflicts.
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.
In 2006, there were 23.12 physicians and 61.81 nurses per 10,000 inhabitants in Qatar.
In 2006, there were 25 beds, 27.6 doctors, and 73.8 nurses per 10,000 people in Qatar.
As of 2024, the latest official greenhouse gas emissions details for Qatar are for 2007 emissions.
In 2008, Qatar facilitated the formation of a political agreement among Lebanese leaders during a crisis, highlighting its role as a mediator.
In 2008, Qatar inaugurated a Roman Catholic church, reflecting a moderate degree of liberalization under Emir Hamad.
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 energy alternatives to preserve the environment.
In 2008, Qatar's military expenditure was US$2.6 billion, which was 2% of the country's GDP.
Since 2008, Christians in Qatar have been allowed to build churches on ground donated by the government.
The Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha hosted the WTA Tour Championships in women's tennis starting in 2008.
The Museum of Islamic Art opened in 2008 and is regarded as one of the best museums in the region.
In March 2009, the Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) was established by the Qatar Foundation to help the country transition to a knowledge economy.
In 2009, Qatar established the Qatar Science & Technology Park in Education City to link universities with industry.
Since 2009, Qatar Holding has received $30–40bn per year from the state.
On December 2, 2010, Qatar won the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first Middle Eastern nation to be selected for the event.
In December 2010, Qatar won the bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, marking the first time a Middle Eastern country would host the tournament, sparking both enthusiasm and controversy.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Qatar was the 46th-largest arms importer in the world from 2010 to 2014.
Construction of Hamad Port, Qatar's main seaport south of Doha, began in 2010.
In 2010, Qatar launched the Al-Bairaq program, which provides high school students with a research environment in the Center for Advanced Materials at Qatar University.
In 2010, Qatar's population was 67.7% Muslim, 13.8% Christian, 13.8% Hindu, and 3.1% Buddhist; other religions and religiously unaffiliated people accounted for the remaining 1.6%.
In 2010, healthcare spending rose by $2.1 billion.
In 2010, spending on healthcare in Qatar accounted for 2.2% of the country's GDP, the highest in the Middle East.
In 2010, the Qatar Museums Authority sponsored exhibitions by Takahashi Murakami in Versailles.
Qatar first overtook Luxembourg as richest country in 2010.
Since the successful World Cup bid of 2010, $220 billion has been spent on infrastructure, boosting the tourism industry.
The 2010 census recorded Qatar's population at 1,699,435.
The Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha hosted the WTA Tour Championships in women's tennis until 2010.
By 2011, Qatar's population had tripled since 2001, primarily due to the influx of foreign workers.
Following the Arab Spring events in 2011 and a diplomatic incident in 2014, Qatar began to expand its armed forces.
In 2011, Qatar's increased influence and role during the Arab Spring, particularly during the Bahraini uprising, heightened existing tensions with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain.
In 2011, the number of beds decreased to 12 per 10,000 people, while the number of doctors increased to 28 per 10,000 people in Qatar.
Qatar has played host to the fifteenth edition of the AFC Asian Cup in 2011.
In May 2012, Qatari officials announced their intention to permit the establishment of an independent trade union.
In 2012, Qatar retained its title of richest country in the world (according to per capita income) for the third time in a row. The per capita GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) was $106,000.
In 2012, Qatar was ranked third from the bottom of the 65 OECD countries participating in the PISA test.
In 2012, it was estimated that Qatar would invest over $120 billion in the energy sector in the next 10 years.
In 2012, the Qatar Museums Authority sponsored exhibitions by Damien Hirst in London.
In 2012, the illiteracy rate in Qatar was 3.1% for males and 4.2% for females, the lowest in the Arab-speaking world.
In 2012, with assets of $115bn, QIA was ranked 12th among the richest sovereign wealth funds in the world.
In January 2013, the Qatar Statistics Authority estimated the population at 1,903,447, with a significant gender imbalance due to the influx of male laborers.
In June 2013, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani succeeded his father as the Emir of Qatar, prioritizing domestic welfare improvements and infrastructure development.
In June 2013, the unemployment rate in Qatar was 0.1%.
In 2013, Qatar hosted the FIBA Asia 3x3 Championship.
In 2013, Qatar introduced conscription, making it mandatory for Qatari male citizens to serve for up to 4 months. It was the first Gulf state to do so in recent years.
Qatar ranked number 23 overall in the 2013 World Economic Forum's Network Readiness Index (NRI).
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.
In May 2014, Qatari football official Mohammed bin Hammam was accused of making payments totalling £3 million to officials in exchange for their support of the Qatar bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
In November 2014, a FIFA inquiry into the bidding process cleared Qatar of any wrongdoing regarding its successful bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Qatar was the 46th-largest arms importer in the world from 2010 to 2014.
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.
Following the Arab Spring events in 2011 and a diplomatic incident with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries in 2014, Qatar began to expand its armed forces.
In 2014, Qatar hosted the FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship.
In 2014, Qatar invested $4.7 billion in healthcare.
In 2014, Qatar launched a modesty campaign to remind tourists of the country's restrictive dress code, advising against wearing revealing clothing in public.
In 2014, Qatar passed a Cybercrime Prevention Law, which is said to restrict press freedom and carries prison sentences and fines for broad reasons.
In 2014, Qatar ranked number 23 overall in the World Economic Forum's Network Readiness Index (NRI), unchanged from 2013.
In 2014, Qatar won the world championship in men's 3x3 basketball.
In 2014, The Guardian reported on the abuse and exploitation of migrant workers constructing infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup, including unpaid wages and poor living conditions, with a high death rate among Nepalese migrants.
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.
In 2014, the life expectancy at birth in Qatar was 82.08 years, making it the highest in the Middle East.
Qatar's media was classified as "not free" in the 2014 Freedom of the Press report by Freedom House.
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.
In 2015, Qatar ranked as the 16th largest arms importer globally, according to SIPRI.
In 2015, the Qatar National Parachute team performed at the 2015 World Handball Championship.
In 2015, the Qatar national handball team emerged as runners-up to France in the World Men's Handball Championship, which was hosted in Qatar.
Hamad Port became operational in December 2016.
As of 2016, Qatar had the fourth highest GDP per capita in the world, according to the International Monetary Fund.
As of 2016, Qatar's proven oil reserves were estimated at 25.2 billion barrels, positioning it as the 13th largest globally.
In 2016, Qatar saw job cuts in its petroleum companies and other sectors in the government due to the fall in oil prices and a deficit the country faced.
In 2016, Qatar was the 11th largest arms importer in the world, according to SIPRI.
In 2016, laws were reformed in Qatar 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.
As a result of the diplomatic crisis with Saudi Arabia that began in June 2017, Qatar withdrew its forces from Yemen.
In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, and Yemen severed diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism.
Concerns of Qatar allowing terror financiers to operate within its borders contributed to the Qatar diplomatic crisis from 2017 to 2021.
In 2017, Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) commissioned its polysilicon plant in Ras Laffan, with a capacity of 1.1 MW of solar power.
In 2017, Qatar saw more than 2.3 million international tourists, according to World Tourism rankings.
In 2017, South Asians represented over 1.5 million people (60%) in Qatar, with Indians being the largest community (650,000), followed by Nepalese (350,000), Bangladeshis (280,000), Sri Lankans (145,000), and Pakistanis (125,000).
In early 2017, Qatar's population reached 2.6 million, with a significant expatriate and migrant worker population of 2.3 million, while Qatari citizens numbered only 313,000.
In early 2017, Qatar's population was 2.6 million, with foreigners making up a vast majority (2.3 million) and Qatari citizens numbering 313,000 (12%).
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.
In 2018, Qatar extended the national service term to one year.
Qatar left the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in January 2019.
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 desert campsites for football fans.
For the first time in the country's history, the Qatar national football team won the AFC Asian Cup in the 2019 edition hosted in the United Arab Emirates, beating Japan 3–1 in the final.
In 2019, Qatar was ranked 65th in the Global Innovation Index.
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.
In October 2020, Qatari authorities at Hamad International Airport strip-searched 13 Australian women on a plane following the discovery of a premature baby in a bathroom, causing an international incident with Australia.
By examining the statistics of recent years and upcoming events, it has been predicted that by 2020, Qatar will earn 11 billion and 900 million dollars from attracting foreign travelers.
In January 2021, the diplomatic crisis between Qatar and several Arab nations concluded with the signing of the AlUla declaration.
According to a February 2021 article in The Guardian, approximately 6,500 migrant construction workers had died in Qatar.
In October 2021, Qatar held its first elections for the Consultative Assembly, which is composed of 30 popularly-elected members and 15 appointed members.
A minimum wage was instituted in Qatar in 2021.
Concerns of Qatar allowing terror financiers to operate within its borders contributed to the Qatar diplomatic crisis from 2017 to 2021.
Construction work in Qatar was expected to increase the available hotel rooms from 37,000 to 70,000 by the end of 2021 in preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
In 2021, The tourism sector continues to witness a strong recovery
Qatar set a minimum wage for workers in 2021.
As of 2022, Qatar's military spending increased to US$7.49 billion.
In 2022, HIA launched the first phase of expansions, which introduced a new terminal, hotel, and the ORCHARD tropical garden.
In 2022, Qatar hosted the FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship.
In 2022, Qatar hosted the FIFA World Cup, marking the first time the tournament was held in an Arab and Muslim-majority country.
In 2022, despite initial indications of allowing alcohol in "fan zones" at the FIFA World Cup, Qatari officials announced that alcoholic beverages would not be permitted within the stadiums two days before the games began.
In the first half of 2022, Qatar saw more than 729,000 international visitors, marking a 19% increase compared to the full year of 2021.
Qatar was estimated to host a football fanbase of 1.6 million for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and two cruise ships were reserved as temporary floating accommodations for nearly 40,000 people during the tournament.
Since 2022, Qatar has been designated as a major non-NATO ally of the United States, reflecting its international profile and active role in international affairs.
In September 2023, Qatar played a pivotal role in mediating a prisoner swap deal between the US and Iran. This involved Iran releasing five Americans in exchange for five Iranians held in the US, along with the transfer of $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds from South Korea to Qatar.
According to the V-Dem Democracy indices, Qatar is the second least electoral democratic country in the Middle East as of 2023.
Qatar has played host to the eighteenth edition of the AFC Asian Cup in 2023 and successfully retained their title.
On September 24, 2024, Qatar became the first Gulf country to join the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP), enabling Qatari citizens to travel to the United States for tourism or business up to 90 days without a visa. Reciprocally, U.S. citizens can now stay in Qatar for up to 90 days without a visa.
According to recent research, later published in November 2024, Qatar has dramatically increased its military power, as its expenditure grew by 434%.
According to the 2024 Global Peace Index, Qatar is the 29th most peaceful country in the world.
As of 2024, Qatar is ranked 40 out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index.
As of 2024, Qatar is supposed to publish details of its greenhouse gas emissions two years after they occur, however, the latest official details are for 2007 emissions.
In 2024, Qatar was ranked 49th in the Global Innovation Index.
Qatar will host the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, becoming the first Arab country to host the event.
As part of Qatar National Vision 2030, they want 20% of their energy to come from solar power.
By 2030, Qatar aims to raise tourism to 12% of its GDP.
By 2030, Qatar has set the goal of attaining 20% of its energy from solar power, capitalizing on its high global horizontal irradiance value.
Qatar is on course to experience a major jump in athletic and corporate tourism with hosting world-class tournaments such as the 2030 Asian Games.
Qatar's changes to improve workers' rights are in line with Qatar's National Vision 2030 and are meant to make working conditions better as the country becomes more famous around the world.
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