History of Qatar in Timeline

Qatar is a country located on the Qatar Peninsula in West Asia, sharing a land border with Saudi Arabia. Its capital city is Doha, where the majority of the population resides. The landscape is primarily characterized by flat, low-lying desert terrain, bordered by the Persian Gulf, including the Gulf of Bahrain which separates it from Bahrain.

1913: Anglo-Ottoman Convention

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

1915: Withdrawal of Ottoman Garrison

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

November 1916: Qatar becomes a British Protectorate

In November 1916, Qatar became a British protectorate when 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 after signing a treaty with the United Kingdom, which reserved foreign affairs and defense to the UK while granting Qatar internal autonomy.

May 1935: Treaty with the British Government

In May 1935, Abdullah signed a treaty with the British government, granting 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, but exploitation and development were delayed by World War II.

1940: Start of petroleum and natural gas industries

In 1940, Qatar's economic growth began almost exclusively based on its petroleum and natural gas industries.

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.

1949: Strengthening of Anglo-Qatari Relations

In 1949, the appointment of the first British political officer in Doha, John Wilton, signified a strengthening of Anglo-Qatari relations. Also in 1949, oil exports began, becoming the country's main source of revenue.

1961: Joined OPEC

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

1968: Qatar joins talks to create 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: Introduction of First Short Story Anthology

Due to societal changes and an increase in formal education, 1970 witnessed the introduction of the first short story anthology in Qatar.

1970: Qatar Football Association Affiliates with FIFA

In 1970, the Qatar Football Association became affiliated with FIFA.

1970: Television Broadcasting Starts in Qatar

Television broadcasting in Qatar began in 1970 with the inauguration of Qatar TV.

September 1971: Termination of "special treaty arrangements" with the United Kingdom

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

1971: Independence

In 1971, Qatar gained independence after being a British protectorate since 1916.

February 1972: Deposition of Emir Ahmad bin Ali

On February 22, 1972, Khalifa bin Hamad deposed Ahmad bin Ali, who was the emir of Qatar at the time.

1981: Qatar National Under-20 Team Runners-Up

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

1982: Economic downturn begins

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

1988: Qatar Hosts AFC Asian Cup

In 1988, Qatar played host to the ninth edition of the AFC Asian Cup.

1989: Economic improvements

In 1989, the late 1980s saw improvements, with profits around QR420 million and increased production in sectors like ethylene and sulfur.

1991: Qatar's Role in the Gulf War

In 1991, Qatar played a significant role in the Gulf War, notably during the Battle of Khafji, by providing fire support and allowing coalition troops to use the country as an airbase.

1991: Completion of North Field gas development Phase I

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

1993: Publication of First Locally Authored Novels

In 1993, the first novels authored by local Qataris were published.

1995: Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Seizes Control

In 1995, Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani seized control of Qatar from his father, Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani.

1996: Launch of Al Jazeera

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

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1996: Part of the 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 faced an unsuccessful counter-coup.

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1996: Qatargas project begins exporting liquefied natural gas to Japan

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

March 1999: First elections in Qatar and enfranchisement of women

In March 1999, Qatar held its first-ever elections for a Central Municipal Council, intentionally held on International Women's Day. Women were enfranchised at the same time as men.

1999: Endorsement of Women's Suffrage

In 1999, Qatar endorsed women's suffrage, granting women 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 Increase

From 2001 the population tripled between 2001 and 2011.

2002: Doha Cultural Festival Begins

In 2002, the Qatari Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage initiated the Doha Cultural Festival to promote Qatari culture both domestically and internationally.

2002: FIFA World Cup

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

2002: Qatar Hosts Annual Tour of Qatar

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

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.

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 killed a British teacher at the Doha Players Theatre in Qatar.

2005: Drafting of First Written Constitution

In 2005, Qatar drafted its first written constitution.

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), the country's sovereign wealth fund, was established.

2005: Qatar Hosted the 2005 FIBA Asia Championship

Qatar hosted the 2005 FIBA Asia Championship.

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.

2007: Latest official details on greenhouse gas emissions

As of 2024, the latest official details of Qatar's greenhouse gas emissions are for 2007.

2008: Military spending

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

2008: Mediation in Lebanese political agreement

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

2008: Inauguration of a Roman Catholic Church

In 2008, Qatar inaugurated a Roman Catholic church.

2008: Opening of the Museum of Islamic Art

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

2008: Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex Hosts WTA Tour Championships

The Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha hosted the WTA Tour Championships in women's tennis between 2008 and 2010.

2009: Qatar Holding receives funds from the state

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

December 2010: Qatar Wins Right to Host 2022 FIFA World Cup

On December 2, 2010, Qatar won the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first country in the Middle East to be selected to host the tournament.

2010: Richest country in the world

In 2010, Qatar first overtook Luxembourg to become the richest country in the world, according to per capita income.

2010: Takahashi Murakami Exhibition in Versailles

In 2010, the Qatar Museums Authority sponsored an exhibition by Takahashi Murakami in Versailles.

2010: Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex Hosts WTA Tour Championships

The Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha hosted the WTA Tour Championships in women's tennis between 2008 and 2010.

2010: Arms importer

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) found that in 2010 Qatar was the 46th-largest arms importer in the world.

2011: Expansion of armed forces begins

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

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 and special forces to train Libyan rebels.

2011: Qatar's role during the Arab Spring

In 2011, Qatar joined NATO operations in Libya, armed Libyan opposition groups, funded weapons for Syrian rebels, and participated in the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen.

2011: Qatar Hosts AFC Asian Cup Again

In 2011, Qatar played host to the fifteenth edition of the AFC Asian Cup.

2011: Population Increase

The population tripled between 2001 and 2011, mostly from an influx of foreigners.

May 2012: Intention to allow independent trade union

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

2012: Qatar retains title of richest country

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.

2012: Investment in the 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 a major exhibition by Damien Hirst in London.

2012: QIA ranking among sovereign wealth funds

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

June 2013: Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani 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

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

2013: Introduction of conscription

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

2013: Qatar's NRI Ranking in 2013

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

2013: Qatar Hosted the 2013 FIBA Asia 3x3 Championship

Qatar hosted the 2013 FIBA Asia 3x3 Championship.

May 2014: Release of DLA Piper report on immigrant labor system

In May 2014, DLA Piper released a report with recommendations for reforming the kafala system, including abolishing exit visas and introducing a minimum wage.

May 2014: Accusations of Bribery in Qatar's World Cup Bid

In May 2014, Qatari football official Mohammed bin Hammam was accused of making payments to officials in return for their support for the Qatar bid.

November 2014: FIFA Inquiry Clears Qatar of Wrongdoing

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

2014: The Guardian Reports Abuse of Migrant Workers

A 2014 investigation by The Guardian reported on the abuse and exploitation of migrant workers preparing for the 2022 World Cup.

2014: Investments around the world

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: Cybercrime Prevention Law Passed

In 2014, Qatar passed a Cybercrime Prevention Law which was said to restrict press freedom.

2014: Qatar's NRI Ranking in 2014

In 2014, Qatar ranked number 23 overall in the World Economic Forum's Network Readiness Index, unchanged from 2013.

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 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: Diplomatic incident with Saudi Arabia

In 2014, a diplomatic incident with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries occurred, after which Qatar expanded its armed forces.

2014: Modesty Campaign

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

2014: Qatar Hosted the 2014 FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship

Qatar hosted the 2014 FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship.

2014: Arms importer

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) found that in 2014 Qatar was the 46th-largest arms importer in the world.

2015: Participation in Yemeni civil war intervention

From 2015, Qatar sent troops, armored vehicles, and Apache helicopters to assist in Saudi-led military operations in the Yemeni civil war.

2015: Arms importer

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

2015: Qatar National Parachute Team Performs at World Handball Championship

In 2015, the Qatar National Parachute team performed during Qatar's National Day and at the World Handball Championship.

2015: Qatar 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.

2016: GDP per capita ranking

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

2016: Proven oil reserves estimation

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

2016: Arms importer

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

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

In 2016, authorities announced plans to levy taxes on junk food and luxury items. The country also saw job cuts in 2016 from its petroleum companies and other sectors in the government.

2016: Reforms to ensure timely payment of wages

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.

June 2017: Diplomatic Crisis with Several Nations

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

2017: Withdrawal from Yemen due to diplomatic crisis

In 2017, Qatar withdrew its forces from Yemen due to the diplomatic crisis with Saudi Arabia.

2017: Population Statistics

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

2017: Purchase of equipment from European countries and the United States

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

2018: Extension of conscription service term

In 2018, Qatar extended the conscription service term, requiring male Qatari citizens to serve one year.

January 2019: Left OPEC

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

December 2019: Qatari Officials Plan Desert Campsites

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

2019: Qatar Wins AFC Asian Cup

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: Strip-search incident at Hamad International Airport

In October 2020, Qatari authorities strip-searched 13 Australian women on a plane at Hamad International Airport, leading to an international incident with Australia.

January 2021: End of the Diplomatic Crisis

In January 2021, the diplomatic crisis ended with the signing of the al-Ula declaration; however, Qatar did not fulfill the original 13 demands.

February 2021: Report of Migrant Worker Deaths

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

October 2021: First General Election

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

2021: Hotel Rooms Expected to Increase

By the end of 2021, the available hotel rooms were expected to increase to 70,000 in preparation for the 2022 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: Minimum wage set

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

2022: Qatar Hosts the FIFA World Cup

In 2022, Qatar hosted the FIFA World Cup.

2022: Major non-NATO ally and corruption scandal

In 2022, Qatar was designated as a major non-NATO ally of the United States. Also in 2022, the Qatar corruption scandal at the European Parliament emerged, leading to the arrest of four people.

2022: Increased military spending

In 2022, Qatar's military spending increased to US$7.49 billion.

2022: Alcohol Restrictions at the 2022 FIFA World Cup

In 2022, Qatari officials announced that alcoholic beverages would not be permitted within the stadiums during the FIFA World Cup.

2022: Qatar Estimated to Host 1.6 Million Football Fans

It was estimated that Qatar would host a football fanbase of 1.6 million for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

2022: Qatar Hosted the 2022 FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship

Qatar hosted the 2022 FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship.

September 2023: Mediation of US-Iran prisoner swap

In September 2023, Qatar mediated the US-Iran prisoners swap deal, involving the release of prisoners and transfer of frozen Iranian money.

October 2023: U.S. President thanks Qatar for mediation efforts

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

2023: Qatar Retains AFC Asian Cup Title as Hosts

In 2023, as hosts and defending champions, Qatar successfully retained their title in the eighteenth edition of the AFC Asian Cup, 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), facilitating travel for Qatari citizens to the United States.

November 2024: Military expenditure growth

According to research published in November 2024, Qatar has dramatically increased its military power, as its expenditure grew by 434%.

November 2024: Reversion to Fully Appointed Assembly

In November 2024, Qatar reverted to being fully appointed by the emir, ending the country's "short-lived experiment in electing members of the advisory Shura Council".

2024: Global Peace Index ranking

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

2024: Corruption Perceptions Index Ranking

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

2024: Lack of recent data on greenhouse gas emissions

As of 2024, the latest official details of Qatar's greenhouse gas emissions are for 2007.

2024: Abolishment of Shura Council Elections

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

2025: Democracy Report

According to the 2025 Democracy Report, Qatar ranked poorly on the Electoral Democracy Index among Middle Eastern countries and worldwide.

2025: Ongoing labor abuses and discrimination

As of 2025 Qatar continues to face global criticism for ongoing labor abuses, discrimination against women and LGBTQ+ people, and limitations on free speech and assembly.

2027: Qatar to Host 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup

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

2030: Qatar National Vision 2030

By 2030, as part of Qatar National Vision 2030, Qatar aims for 20% of its energy to come from solar power to reduce dependence on oil and gas and is expanding in schooling, tourism, and green energy.