4000 BC | Ubaid pottery from Mesopotamia found in Qatar is thought to be the world’s earliest evidence of international trade. |
3000 - 1000 BC | Qatar flourishes as a trading port between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley. |
2nd Century AD | Greek geographer identifies “Qatara” on his map of the Arab world. |
628 | Qatar is one of the first civilizations to convert to Islam. |
1515 | The country comes under Portuguese influence. |
1847 | Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani, predecessor of the current ruling family, relocates its base to Doha. |
1850 | Three Bedouin tribes, the ancestors of the majority of contemporary Qataris, moved to the peninsula in search of fresh water. |
1868 | Treaty with Britain recognizes Qatar’s independence from Bahrain. |
1893 | Sheikh Qassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, the founder of the modern state of Qatar, defeats Ottoman forces. |
1940 | Oil is discovered at Dukhan. |
1971 | 3 September, Qatar becomes an independent state. |
1973 | Qatar University |
1975 | Qatar National Museum |
1991 | Production of gas begins in Qatar’s North Field |
1996 | Al Jazeera launches the first independent Arab satellite news channel, breaking the monopoly of state controlled media in the region. |
2008 | Qatar National Research Fund |
2009 | Qatar Science and Technology Park opens; an important step in realizing a knowledge-based society |
2012 | New Doha International Airport will open, effectively tripling Qatar’s international passenger capacity to meet growing demand. |