First signs of human habitation in the Qatar peninsula date from 4000BC. Archaeological expeditions from Denmark (1965), Britain (1973) and France (1976) found rock carvings and groups of pottery that indicate human presence at that time. Qatar also appears on ancient maps, a clear sign that travellers and explorers knew of the presence of civilised settlements there. Some historical texts claim that the first inhabitants of Qatar are the ancient Canaanites, a people known for their trade and navigation skills.

Qatar strategic location on the Arabian Gulf was the main reason for the seasonal migration of Arab tribes from the Arabian Peninsula and particularly from the Nejd desert. When the ancient Mediterranean flourished with many civilisations, the Arabian Gulf area, with its strategic location, found commercial prosperity. Many fishing centres like Al Bida, Al Khor, Al Wakra and Al Zubara appeared which encouraged pearl trading. The Gulf suffered from a commercial decline during the Roman era as trade concentrated in the Red Sea area. However, from the third century AD the Gulf area regained its important trading position.

With the appearance of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula, Qatar converted in the mid seventh century AD and had a role in the spread of Islam beyond the seas. According to historical documents, Qatar became renowned for the skill of its people in weaving and cloth making as well as for the quality of its horses and camels. Some historians considered it part of the region then known as Bahrain, which covered the area from Basra in Iraq to Oman.
Qatar thrived in the Abbasid period and had excellent relations with the Caliphs in Baghdad. Abbasid artifacts were discovered in Moab fort in western Qatar. The fort itself is a good example of Abbasid architecture.

At the beginning of the sixteenth century, Qatar fell under the influence of the Portuguese, who succeeded in establishing their control over many areas in the Arabian Gulf and controlled trade and navigation. Their small forts can still be seen today. However, in 1538 AD, the Ottomans managed to expel the Portuguese and for four centuries Qatar, like other areas in the Gulf, was under Ottoman influence. Ottoman sovereignty was mostly a formality and real power stayed in the hands of local sheikhs.

Qatar remained a British protectorate until 1971 when Britain decided to withdraw from the Arabian Gulf area. Qatar then adopted a provisional constitution declaring it an independent Arab country with an official religion of Islam, using Shari’ah as the prime source of legislation and Arabic as an official language. The Al Thani family formally became the ruling dynasty. This period witnessed the arrival of a large number of workers particularly from Arab countries.

Qatar became an independent country on 3 September 1971. In 1974, the Qatar General Petroleum Corporation took control of all oil operations in the country.

Qatar rapidly became a rich country with a modern and well-developed infrastructure.

On 27 June 1995, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani assumed power with the support of the ruling family and the Qatari people. With his accession Qatar entered a new era of modernisation and embarked on the development of a strong base for democracy.
A great social and political transformation is under way.