The history of Qatar: From 1700s till now
By Web Report
Published: Wed 7 Jun 2017, 3:16 PM
Last updated: Thu 8 Jun 2017, 1:40 AM
1700s - Pearling and trading settlements established along coast by migrants
1867 - Doha nearly destroyed during conflict with Bahrain over territorial claims
Britain signs treaty recognising Qatar as a separate entity, rather than a dependency of Bahrain
1871-1913 - Qatar Emir invites Turkish Ottoman forces to establish garrison
1916 - Britain and Qatar sign agreement that Britain would protect Qatar and would control its external affairs
OIL DISCOVERED
1939 - OIL RESERVES DISCOVERED. It became Qatar's main source of revenue, replacing pearling and fishing.
1950s - Oil revenues fund the expansion and modernisation of Qatar's infrastructure.
1968 - Britain announces withdrawal from Gulf. Qatar negotiates with Bahrain and United Arab Emirates on forming a federation.
INDEPENDENCE
1971 - Qatar becomes independent on September 3.
1971 -The construction of gas plant started in Qatar after the discovery of world's largest gas field.
1972 - His Highness Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani gains power in a palace coup after infighting in the ruling family. Emir Sheik Khalifa reorganises government, amends constitution and expands Cabinet.
1981 - Qatar becomes one of the founding nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council
1990 - Following invasion of Kuwait by Iraq, Qatar says it will allow foreign forces on its soil. Qatari forces later help liberate Kuwait
1995 - Sheikh Khalifa dethroned by his son, Sheik Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, in a bloodless coup.
1995 - Women given right to vote
1996 - Al Jazeera satellite TV launched. It establishes a reputation for its news coverage and willingness to tackle controversial issues.
1999 - First democratic municipal elections held since 1971. Women allowed to vote and stand as candidates for municipal councils.
2000 (February) - Emir's cousin and 32 other people jailed for planning failed coup in 1996.
2001 - Long-running border disputes with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain settled by Qatar.
2002 - Qatar looms large in US plans for a possible war against Iraq. Its air base is developed and expanded. Washington says it will deploy US Central Command staff to Qatar.
IRAQ WAR
2003 March - US Central Command forward base established in Qatar, serves as nerve center during the US-led military campaign in Iraq.
April - New constitution providing for 45-member parliament with 30 elected members approved
August - The Emir names his younger son Prince Tamim as crown prince, replacing his other son Prince Jassim
2004February
Exiled former Chechen president Zelimkhan Yanderbiyev is killed in an explosion in Doha, where he had been living.
Relations with Russia deteriorates when Qatar hands two Russian agents to life sentences in killing of Yandarbiyev
2005March - Suicide car bomb kills one Briton, injures 12 other people at a theatre frequented by Westerners in Doha
June - First written constitution goes into effect, providing for some democratic reforms
November - $14 billion joint project to build world's largest liquefied natural gas plant launched by Qatar and US. Most of the gas to be exported to the US
2006 - Qatar hosts Asian Games2007April - Prime Minister Sheik Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani resigns; Emir appointed the foreign minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al Thani , as his replacement
September - Qatar and Dubai become two largest shareholders of the London Stock Exchange, the world's third largest stock exchange.
2008March - St Mary's Roman Catholic Church becomes the first official Christian church inaugurated in Qatar. Christians allowed to worship openly.
December - Saudi Arabia and Qatar agree to delineation of borders and pledge to boost co-operation.
2009 - Trade ties with Israel cut over Gaza offensive
2010 - Qatar and Iran sign defence pact
2010 - Qatar wins bid to host 2022 Fifa World Cup.
2011 March - Qatar joins international military operations in Libya
April - Qatar hosts meeting of international contact group, calls on Muammar Gaddafi, Libyan leader, to quit.
July - Qatar Embassy in Damascus suspends operations due to protests against Al Jazeera's coverage of Syrian uprising. Qatar reportedly arms Libyan opposition.
November - Qatar Emir says elections to the advisory council will be held in 2013, in what would be Qatar's first legislative elections.
2012Sheikh Hamid proposes Arab countries should send troops into Syria to stop government forces from killing civilians
October - Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani visits Gaza, the first head of state to do so since Hamas took power there five years previously.
2013June - Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani takes over as Emir after his father abdicates.
June - Taleban announces the opening of a political office in Qatar to work on political solution to Afghanistan war
2014February - 12 people are killed when gas tank explodes in Turkish restaurant in Doha
March - Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt temporarily withdraw ambassadors from Qatar due to its support to the Muslim Brotherhood and various terrorist outfits.
September - Qatar and four other Arab states take part in US-led air strikes on Daesh in Syria.
2015 - Qatar and four other GCC states take part in Saudi-led air strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen.
2016December
Qatar government says it is abolishing the controversial labour sponsorship system or 'Kafala' that forces foreign workers to seek their employers' consent to change jobs or leave the country.
2017Qatar restarts development of world's biggest gas field after 12 years
UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt snap ties with Qatar in the worst diplomatic crisis to hit Gulf Arab states in decades