1825 - Al-Thani dynasty establishes control over Qatar and tries to establish independence from Bahrain.
1916 - Deal signed under which Britain controls Qatar’s external affairs in return for guaranteeing its protection.
1939 - Oil reserves discovered. Distribution is delayed by World War II, but oil comes to replace pearling and fishing as Qatar’s main source of revenue.
1950s - Oil revenues fund the expansion and modernization of Qatar’s infrastructure.
1971 - Qatar becomes independent on 3 September.
1985 - It was established that Qatar’s North Field was the largest non-associated natural gas field in the world.
1990 August - After Iraq invades Kuwait, Qatar says it will allow foreign forces on its soil. Qatari troops later take part in the liberation of Kuwait.
1995 - Sheikh Khalifa replaced by his son, Hamad, as Emir.
1996 - Al-Jazeera satellite TV launches as an independent channel. Based in Qatar but broadcasting to much of the Arab world, it establishes a reputation for its candid news coverage, something new to much of the region.
2002 - Qatar looms large in US plans for a possible war against Iraq. The al-Udeid air base is developed and expanded. Washington says it will deploy US Central Command staff to Qatar.
2003 March-April - Qatar-based US Central Command forward base serves as the nerve centre in the US-led military campaign in Iraq.
2005 June - Qatar’s first written constitution comes into effect, providing for some democratic reforms.
2005 November - Qatar and the US launch a $14 billion joint project to build the world’s largest liquefied natural gas plant. Most of the gas will be exported to the US.
2006 - Qatar became the first Arab country to host the Asian Games. Biggest event in the 55-year history of the Games
2008 December - Saudi Arabia and Qatar agree final delineation of borders and pledge to boost co-operation after diplomatic relations restored in March.
2009 January - Qatar cuts trade ties with Israel over Gaza offensive. Was sole Gulf state to have trade ties with Israel.
2010 December - Qatar wins bid to host 2022 Fifa World Cup.
2011 March - Qatar joins international military operations in Libya, and goes on to arm Islamist opposition groups.
2012 January - The Afghan Taliban say they are setting up a political office in Qatar to facilitate talks.
2012 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.
2013 June - Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani takes over as Emir after his father abdicates.
2014 September - Qatar and four other Arab states take part in US-led air strikes on Islamic State militants in Syria.
2015 March - Qatar and four other GCC states take part in Saudi-led air strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen.
2017 June - Diplomatic crisis as Saudi Arabia leads an air, land and sea blockade against Qatar by four Arab countries.
2018 December - Qatar announces that it will withdraw from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in January, citing its greater priority on gas exports.
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