Qatar Timeline

Rahamah bin Jaber

Rahmah bin Jaber bin Athbi Al Jalahmah was born in Al-Qurain (Kuwait) in 1757 AD. Khor Hassan became an area of strength and the center of his political activity with the surrounding forces. In spite of being known for his ferocity and courage, Rahma bin Jaber dealt diplomatically with the British authorities in the Arabian Gulf. Nevertheless, he refused to sign the General Peace Treaty with Britain in 1820 AD.

1757-1826 AD

Isa bin Tarif

Isa bin Tarif was born in Al Zubarah in 1790. His lineage goes back to Aal bin Ali tribe. He had a good reputation in the Arabian Gulf, where he was characterized by courage, strength and wisdom. Isa bin Tarif participated with the ruler of Muscat and Zanzibar, Sayyid Saeed bin Sultan Al Said in the conquest of Mombasa in East Africa.

1790-1874 AD

Agreement of the Year

On 12 of September 1868 AD, Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani signed an agreement with the British Political Resident in the presence of a number of Qatari sheikhs. It represented the first official Interaction between Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani, the Sheikh of Qatar and the British authorities.

1868 AD

Ottoman Forces Enter Qatar

In 1871 AD, Sheikh Muhammad bin Thani and his son Sheikh Jassim called on the Ottoman to help defend Qatar against the political changes resulting from the decline o second Saudi State.

1871 AD

Sheikh jassim appointed qaim makam of Qatar

In 1872 AD, Sheikh Jassim was appointed as an honorary Qa'im-Maqam (District administrator) of the Ottoman Empire as a step to organize the Ottoman administration in Najd region. Sheikh Jassim officially assumed this position with all its entitlements

1872 AD

The Hardship Years

During this period, Qatar passed through very difficult years. Epidemics and famine swept the Arabian Gulf region during the period from 1903 to 1919 AD, causing the death of many people and the displacement of others. The death of the founder Sheikh Jassim bin Muhammad bin Thani in 1913 AD came at a difficult period in the history of Qatar. In 1914 AD, World War I broke out resulting in economic, political and humanitarian repercussions. With the outbreak of war, all shipping lines were disrupted and people clung to what they had to survive.

1913-1930 AD

Ottoman forces withdraw from Qatar

During World War I, the Ottoman Empire joined Germany against the Western alliance. In 1915 AD, the British Political Agent to Qatar asked Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani to evacuate the Ottoman soldiers from the castle. They left their positions without affecting the good relations that were uniting Qatar with the Ottoman Empire.

1915 AD

Collapse of the Gulf Pearl Trade

On 29 October 1929 AD, the Wall Street market collapsed in what was known as "Black Tuesday", as many people lost their money and the industrial world entered a period of economic depression for several years. This affected the pearl trade in the Gulf region and pearl prices began to drop quickly due to declining demand. In 1930 AD, the pearl markets in the Gulf region received the final blow when the Japanese discovered a way to produce cultured pearls at a much lower cost.

1929-1935 AD

Discovery of Oil in Dukhan Area

In 1939 AD, oil was discovered in Dukhan area after drilling operations were carried out by the British Oil Production Company in the first experimental known as Dukhan.

1939 AD

The First Shimpment of Crude Oil

By the end of 1949 AD, oil began to be pumped from Dukhan fields and Qatar was able to export its first shipment of crude oil from Dukhan to Europe through the Port of Mesaieed on 31 December 1949 AD, thus beginning the stages of general development in Qatar.

1949 AD

Establishment of the Governmental Institutions

This period witnessed the establishment of many country-development projects, such as the establishment of regular police force. In 1950, the first post office was opened in which English stamps printed by the government of India and marked with rupees were used. In the same year, Qatar Primary School was established, which merged between Quran recitation centers (Kuttab) and the old primary school. The Public Health Department was also established with the aim of developing health services in the country. Various activists also established several clubs, which had positive effects in the fields of culture and sports in Qatar.

1949-1951 AD

Establishment of Qatar National Bank

In 1964, Qatar National Bank was established and received growing financial returns. Then its activity began to expand globally, opening branches in all major capitals and cities. Currently, it is one of the most prominent financial institutions in the MENA region and one of the largest international banks.

1964 AD

Qatar Declaration of Independence

On 3 September 1971, Qatar gained its independence and accordingly the British Protectorate Treaty was abolished and replaced by a Treaty of Friendship.

1971 AD

Issuance of Qatari Riyal

In 1973, Qatar Monetary Agency issued the first Qatari riyal, to replace the currencies circulating in Qatar at the time, such as the Indian rupee, the Indian Gulf rupee, the Qatari riyal, the Dubai riyal and the Saudi riyal.

1974 AD

The Establishment of the Gulf Cooperation Council

On 20 May 1981, the Gulf Cooperation Council agreement was signed between the State of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the State of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman and the State of Kuwait to establish a form of cooperation between them due to their geographical, historical and social links with each other, with the aim of strengthening the bonds of cooperation between them in the economic, cultural and social fields in addition to health and education.

1981 AD

Production Begins in Qatar's Al Shamal Natural Gas Field

In 1991, the first natural gas production operations began in Al Shamal Field in Qatar, the largest natural gas field in the world. It is a joint field between Doha and Tehran and extends over an area of 6,000 square kilometers on the Qatari side, which is equivalent to half the area of the State of Qatar.

1990 AD

The Establishment of Qatar Airways

In 1993, Qatar Airways was established as the national airline of The State of Qatar. The airline launched its first flight in 1994.

1993 AD

Qatar and the World

During the reign of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the State of Qatar achieved tremendous social and economic progress, while retaining its cultural identity. His reign was marked by the acceleration of development projects that included education, health, sports, culture, infrastructure and the media. During that period, Qatar took several measures to follow the democratic approach, hence the first municipal elections were held in 1999...

1995-2013 AD

During the reign of HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

Qatar continues to lead human development at the local and international levels and is keen on knowledge-based investment to achieve its National Vision 2030. This has contributed to achieving vital and humanitarian achievements both inside Qatar and abroad, and to helping countries affected by natural disasters and wars in cooperation with various institutions. Qatar continues the journey of crossing into the future by implementing targeted projects, achieving comprehensive development in all sectors and providing humanitarian aid to countries afflicted by wars and natural disasters.

Qatar Today and A Promising Future

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Old Maps

Portuguese Map of the Arabian Gulf and Qatar 1563 AD

This is a copy of a map made by the Portuguese cartographer Lázaro Luís. The Portuguese were the first to put the name of Qatar on maps. The map shows the phrase “Sidade de Catar”, which means “the city of Qatar”. The experts, however, are not entirely sure of the name of the city mentioned on the map and they believe that it may be Al-Ruwaidah - a city located north of Qatar, which has a fortress built in the Portuguese style.

Map of Carsten Niebuhr 1772 AD

The map drawn by Niebuhr of the Arabian Gulf is considered the best map of the region before the end of the eighteenth century. It was published in the book that included the news of the journey he made to the region in 1772 under the title: "A Description of Arabia". In this map, Niebuhr mentions the most important Qatari cities at the time: Fariha, Al Yusufiyah and Al Huwaila.

Archeology Map

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