The history of Qatar is inextricably bound to that of the surrounding region, while the nomadic lifestyle of much of the population of the Arabian Peninsula has resulted in the same family names reappearing around the Gulf.

As the State of Qatar, the country is very ‘new’ and its history brief. But archaeological discoveries have uncovered isolated evidence of habitation dating back to the 6th millennium BC with speculation that man’s presence on the peninsula could pre-date that by tens of thousands of years. Certainly tools, pottery and other artifacts show the existence of permanent or semi-permanent populations on the Qatari peninsula from the 5th millennium BC.