1878    The Al-Thani family become the rulers of the state of Qatar

1971    Qatar becomes an independent state

1971    Bahrain, Bhutan and Qatar join the United Nations.

1981    In Riyadh, the Gulf Cooperation Council is created between Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

1995    Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani deposes his father Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, in a bloodless coup.