HISTORY
Qatar has been inhabited for millennia.
In the 19th century, the Bahraini Al Khalifa family dominated
until 1868 when, at the request of Qatari nobles, the British
negotiated the termination of the Bahraini claim, except for the
payment of tribute. The tribute ended with the occupation of Qatar
by the Ottoman Turks in 1872.
When the Ottomans left at the beginning of World War I, the British recognized Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani as ruler. The Al Thani family had lived in Qatar for 200 years. The 1916 treaty between the United Kingdom and Sheikh Abdullah was similar to those entered into by the British with other Gulf principalities. Under it, the ruler agreed not to dispose of any of his territory except to the U.K. and not to enter into relationships with any other foreign government without British consent. In return, the British promised to protect Qatar from all aggression by sea and to lend their good offices in case of a land attack. A 1934 treaty granted more extensive British protection.
In 1935, a 75-year oil concession
was granted to Qatar Petroleum Company, a subsidiary of the Iraq
Petroleum Company, which was owned by Anglo-Dutch, French, and
U.S. interests. High-quality oil was discovered in 1940 at Dukhan,
on the western side of the Qatari Peninsula. Exploitation was
delayed by World War II, and oil exports did not begin until 1949.
During the 1950s and 1960s gradually
increasing oil reserves brought prosperity, rapid immigration,
substantial social progress, and the beginnings of Qatar's modern
history. When the U.K. announced a policy in 1968 (reaffirmed
in March 1971) of ending the treaty relationships with the Gulf
sheikdoms, Qatar joined the other eight states then under British
protection (the seven trucial sheikdoms--the present United Arab
Emirates--and Bahrain) in a plan to form a union of Arab emirates.
By mid-1971, however, the nine still had not agreed on terms of
union, and the termination date (end of 1971) of the British treaty
relationship was approaching. Accordingly, Qatar sought independence
as a separate entity and became the fully independent State of
Qatar on September 3, 1971.
In February 1972, the Deputy Ruler
and Prime Minister, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad, deposed his cousin,
Emir Ahmad, and assumed power. This move was supported by the
key members of Al Thani and took place without violence or signs
of political unrest.
On June 27, 1995, the Deputy Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa, deposed his father Amir Khalifa in a bloodless coup. An unsuccessful counter-coup was staged in 1996. The Amir and his father are now reconciled, though some supporters of the counter-coup remain in prison. The Amir announced his intention for Qatar to move toward democracy and has permitted a freer and more open press and municipal elections as a precursor to expected parliamentary elections. Qatari citizens approved a new constitution via public referendum in April 2003, which came into force in June 2005.
