Qatar

Qatar An emirate since 1766, in the early nineteenth century it came under the sovereignty of the Emir of Bahrain, since when the two countries have had difficult relations. It gained independence in 1868, though in 1872 it came under the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire. It became a British protectorate in 1916, remaining completely autonomous in its internal affairs. In 1968 it joined the Federation of Arab Emirates, but on 1 September 1971 it declared its own independence. Ruled in authoritarian manner by Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani, in 1986 it became engaged in a military conflict with Bahrain over the Hawar islands, where considerable oil and gas reserves are suspected. On 27 June 1995, Sheikh Khalifa was deposed by the Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamad bin Kahlifa at-Tani, who was immediately recognized by his neighbours and the USA. He continued his predecessor's attempt to diversify the country's industry, and to substitute for the export of crude oil, of which its reserves were declining, through exports of gas, which it possessed in abundance. In 1996 a coup attempt led by a member of the royal family failed, and in 2001 the perpetrators were sentenced to death. In 2000, Qatar's long-standing border disputes with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were settled.