Creation and Development of Qatar until 1868

Political situation: Al - Ahsa Region and its Geographical

Boundaries
• We should refer to the fact that the history of Qatar, since the beginning of the
modern era until the middle of the nineteenth century (i.e before Al‐Thani
became the rulers there and after the emergence of Qatar as an independent
emirate), was part of the history of Al‐Ahsa province (‫)ﺍﻗﻴﻠﻢ ﺍﻹﺣﺴﺎء‬.
• The region extended on the west coast of the Arabian Gulf region from Basra
to the north to Oman in the south. This extension included Kuwait, Al‐Ahsa,
Awal Island, Al‐Qatif, Qatar and the Omani coasts, and Qatar was part of this
region. This means that Qatar did not have an independent political entity. At
that time, the history of Qatar, therefore, was part of the history of this region
affected by all events and developments that were located on the province of
Ahsa whether these events were positive or negative.
Al - Ahsa Region and its
Geographical Boundries
The political situation in the province of Al-Ahsa before
the origin of Qatar
• The region’s historical name:
This region was also called “Al-Bahrain Countries”, a phrase that means “countries of two seas”,
for a long period with the beginning of the Islamic conquest.
• The region’s historical capital:
“Hajr” was the capital until it was destroyed by the Qarmatians and they established a new
capital, Al Ahsa.
• The region’s rulers: AlAhsa was ruled respectively by different tribes:
• Firstly it was ruled by Al-Ayoniyon (currently called Al-Boanian)
• Secondly it was ruled by Al-Zamel Al-Jabry
• Thirdly it was ruled by Al-Moghamis
Until the Portuguese occupied it in 1517 and continued to control it until the coming of the
Ottoman Turks who expelled the Portuguese in the middle of the sixteenth century.
The Ottoman presence in the region

• Since the Ottoman conquest of the area, Al-Ahsa had one political history. Then Awal Island
was separated and became independent under the name of Bahrain Island.
• When the Ottomans arrived in Basra on the Arabian Gulf, within their wave to adjoin the
Arab World, they could not establish a strong marine base in Basra to enable them to really
control the Gulf because of many reasons:
1- Basra was not suitable at that time for building a strong naval base .
2- They also were faced by the problems of the Bedouin tribes who did not welcome them
3- In addition to that, they faced the Safavid in Iran, who also had their ambitions in the region
and wanted to assure their presence and greed to get the area.

Therefore, historians state that the Arabian Gulf did not witness an effective Ottoman control
until last third of the nineteenth century.
 The Ottoman presence in the region
However, later on the Ottomans
conquered and controlled Al-Ahsa in the
16th century and subjugated the tribe of
Ajwad Bin Zamel Al-Jabri to their
authority. This authority also had a
weak nominal authority, which was
brought down later on by the Hamid
tribe of Bani Khalid under the
leadership of Brak Ibn Arair, who had
fought and resisted the Ottomans for
nearly 80 years.
Ottoman Empire in 1680
 The Ottoman presence in the region

• When the Turkish Empire in east Arabian Peninsula collapsed in 1670,

the area was ruled by Bani Khalid who managed to set up a strong
authority in Al-Ahsa region. In spite of their strong control, Bani Khalid
preferred to declare their loyalty to the Ottoman state through keeping a
good relation with the Ottoman rulers in Basra till the end of eighteenth
century when the first Saudi country was founded by Mohammed Bin
Saud.
 Political system in Qatar during the reign of Bani Khalid

• The Qatari Peninsula was under the rule of Bani Khalid until the end of the 
eighteenth century before destroying their authority by the Saudis. 
• Bani Khalid did not have a direct control over Qatar and its tribes, but they 
relied on their in‐laws from Al‐Mosalam family, which made Huwala a 
headquarter for them at this time. 
• Al‐Ahsa prince assigned Al‐Mosalam to collect the yearly taxes from Qatar’s 
tribes to be sent to Al‐Ahsa. As a result they managed Qatar’s affairs. By 
doing so they gained control over the residents for a period of time. 
• But this control was partial as the local Sheikhs, who subject to the 
authority of Bani Khalid, have some degree of self‐independence.
 ‫ﺣﻛﻡ ﺑﻧﻲ ﺧﺎﻟﺩ ﻹﻗﻠﻳﻡ ﺍﻹﺣﺳﺎء‬
Political system in Qatar during the 
reign of Bani Khalid

Tribal authority

The authority of Al‐
Mosalamin
(Al‐Huwailah)

The authority of Bani
Khalid
General questions
• Why did Al‐Mosalam not develop their authority to a political power 
that governs Qatar?
• What causes migration?
• Why was there migration to Qatar?
• How do you compare Qatar and Najid?
The Tribal Migrations
• Al‐Utub and Al‐Ma’adid along with other tribes migrated from the middle
of the Arabia peninsula and from Najid between the late seventeenth
and the early eighteenth century.
• Causes of the migration:
• severe drought
• the proliferation of the tribal disputes.
• They turned towards the western coast of the Gulf looking for prosperity, which
could come from the coast.
 The first migration of the Al-Atub confederation to Qatar
• Utub migrated from Najid and settled with their three branches in 
Qatar’s coast Al‐Zubara under the care and hospitality of Al‐Mosalam

Al-Sabah led by
Sheikh Suliman
bin Ahmed

Al-Khalifa led by Sheikh

Khalifa Bin Mohammed

Al‐Atub

Al-Jalahima led by
Sheikh Jaber bin Ataba
The move of the Utub confederation outside
Qatar
• Utub settlement in Al‐Zubara lasted for 20 years. 
• They left Al‐Zubara after the dispute with Al‐Mosalam and Qatari 
tribes, who felt afraid of them till the two parties entered into a battle 
at Ras Al‐Tanora. 
• The Utub were the victors, however, they were obliged to sail to the 
Kuwaiti coast to settle there for approximately fifty years (1716‐
1766). 
 Back to Qatar: Al Khalifa’s relationship with Qatar
 Al Khalifa one of the branch of the Utub confederation, helped in establishing the rule of
the Al Sabah in Kuwait, but left Kuwait after a dispute with the Al Sabah.
 They headed with their ships towards Bahrain, which was ruled by the Al-Mathkour and
hosted a Persian garrison.
 After they failed to enter Bahrain, Al Khalifa returned to Zubarah in 1766 where they
landed peacefully without any conflict with the people of Qatar.
 Their sheikh, Mohammed bin Khalifa, began to strengthen ties with the people around
him by lending them money, buying their pearl harvest, and marrying into Al bin Ali, a
Qatari tribe.
 After accumulating a fortune during their stay in Zubarah and forging closer ties with the
Qatari tribes, the Al Khalifa looked to extend their power over Bahrain.
 Their ambitions were larger than Zubarah and expanding beyond Zubarah into inland
Qatar would have led them to clash with the tribes of Qatar. Their second reason was
their bad relationship with Bahrain's rulers, Al Mathkour, and the latter's attempts to
submit Zubarah to their own rule.
 Conquering Bahrain
• The eyes of Al-Khalifa looked at Bahrain after their society changed from a
Bedouin to a capitalist one. They formed a danger for the Persian rulers of
Bahrain who were excited by the flourishing of Al-Zubara and the activity of
Al-Khalifa, thus, the ruler of Bahrain Nasser Al-Mathkor attempted to
occupy Al-Zubara between (1777-1781), but he failed. It became clear that
this enemies from Al-Khalifa became stronger and looked forward to
expanding in Bahrain after realizing that Al-Zubara is no longer sufficient for
their great ambitions and realizing that expansion in Qatar will lead them to
fight with Qatar’s tribes and Al-Mosalam and Bani Khalid.
• Al-Khalifa managed to mobilize their
assistants Al-Sabah and Al-Jalahima
and obtained assistance from Qatar
tribes, such as Al-Mosalam, Al bin Ali,
Al-Sudan, Al-sulita, Al-Buainain, Al-
kobaysat, Al-Mananha..ect. They
managed to conquer Bahrain Island in
1783 and establishing Al-Khalifa’s rule
over Bahrain ever since . However,
Sheikh Ahmed Ibn Khalifa “the
Conqueror” preferred to spend his
following years in Al-Zubara looking
after his business, leaving the ruling of
Bahrain to his two sons. When he died
in 1794, the family moved finally to
Bahrain. Since that date Bahrain
became an Arab emirate governed by
Al-Khalifa.
 The downfall of Bani Khalid rule in Al-Ahsa & the Establishment of the First
Saudi State (1744-1818)
• Since the middle of the eighteenth century, Bani
Khalid’s rule of the area started to weaken as they
could not face the military sweeping Saudi force of
the area.
• Mohammed Bin Soud who adopted the principles of
“Al-Wahabia” and collaborated with Mohammed Bin
Abd Al-wahab, succeeded in annexing Al-Ahsa and
destroying the authority of Bani Khalid since 1793.
The Saudi controlled Ahsa in 1793, after violent
fighting. They used Al-Ahsa as a base to launch their
assaults towards Oman, Al-Baremy, Qatar, Bahrain
and the rest of the Arab Gulf countries. At that time
the Ottoman state had a lot of problems in Europe and
Bulkan to deal with.
 The downfall of Bani Khalid rule in Al-Ahsa & the
Establishment of the First Saudi State (1744-1818)

As for Qatar, its relation with the Saudis started in 1788,

when Suliman Bin Ofeisan, the Emir of Al-Kharj,
prepared a campaign, crossing Al-Ahsa to invade Qatar.
There, he defeated men from Al-Bormeih tribe. Then he
withdrew to Naged. Between the years (1793-1794) led
the campaign to spread the Saudi sovereignty over Qatar .
Ibrahim bin Ofeisan succeeded in controlling Qatar when
he sieged Al- Zubara and ordered his men to isolate the
city from Doha to control it without fighting. However, the
attempt failed, so he attacked the castle and entered into a
confrontation in which a large number of men were killed,
and then Ibn Ofeisan took control of other cities of Qatar,
such as Huwala, Al-Yosfia, Al-Roeda and Al-Forehia. The
Saudi forces got assistance from Al-Jalahima and managed
to spread their control over the Qatari Peninsula for about
8 years from 1808-1816.
New Province

After their control over the three regions of Bahrain, Al-Qatif and Qatar,
the Saudis establish a province using Bahrain as its headquarter and
authorized Abdulla bin Ofeisan to rule it. The province entered
voluntarily into the Al-Salfy doctrine. Thus, the annual taxes were
collected by Bahrain’s Sheikh Suleiman bin Ahmed from the three
regions in the name of Saudis and then sent to the Saudi capital of Najd.
The collection of the taxes by Bahrain gave them the authority on
controlling the affairs of the province under the Saudi sovereignty. They
began to intervene in an exaggerated manner in the internal affairs of
Qatar. This led to many clashes between Bahrainis and Qatari tribes that
rejected these unjustified actions and interventions.
 The downfall of the First Saudi State by the Ottoman governor
in Egypt in 1818
The Saudi dominance over the province did not last more than
few years as the Saudi country formed a danger over the
Ottoman sovereignty in the Arab Peninsula. Especially after
the Saudi armies controlled Al-Hejaz. How the first Saudi
State collapsed? The Ottoman Sultan referred to his ruler in
Egypt Mohammed Ali Pasha who sent several campaigns
during the periods (1812-1818) that managed to weaken the
authority of Saudi state and destroy its capital Al-Dara’aya.
 The downfall of the First Saudi State by the
Ottoman governor in Egypt in 1818
Mohammed Ali Pasha’s armies led by his son Ibrahim Pasha
advanced to end the Saudi authority over Al-Ahsa and the Gulf in
general. At that time the Saudi faced a lot of troubles of the attacks
of their western boarders by Sultan Of Muscat, who led the marine
campaign over Qatar and expelled the Saudi garrisons from Al-
Zubara and Khor Hassan where Al-Zubara was completely
destroyed. The result was the expulsion of the Saudi garrisons from
Qatar and Bahrain, the province’s ruler was captured. Al-Khalifa
regained control over Bahrain and continued to collect the tax that
used to be collected in the past for the sake of the Saudi, however,
this time for themselves.
The downfall of the First Saudi State and its impact on the relationship between Al
Khalifa and Qatari tribes

The Saudi influence receded from the Gulf and Al‐Ahsa after 1818.  Results:

The power of the local Qatari tribes

became clear. The Al‐Buainain tribe
became prominent when its sheikh killed
a man from Bahrain in Doha in 1828
The Al‐Buainain tribe refused to 
This incident strained the relationship  hand over its sheikh and 
between Bahrain and the Qatari tribes  announced a rebellion. In response, 
when the Sheikh of Bahrain, Abdullah  the Sheikh of Bahrain destroyed Al‐
bin Ahmad, ordered the arrest and  Buainain fort in Doha and moved 
imprisonment of Al‐Buainain’s sheikh them to Al‐Ruwais and Al‐Fuwairit.
 Britain’s Presence in the Gulf and its relation with Qatar
Britain’s relations in the Gulf really began with the establishment of the Eastern
Indian‐British Company. The relations flourished after Britain's conquest of the
Gulf. Britain justified this conquest with pretexts:
1‐ To abolish piracy, weapons and slave trade.
2‐ To safeguard the navigation.
3‐ To achieve public peace in the see.
Britain used different methods to perform its policies, which resulted in imposing
the agreements, treaties and avowals, in which the sheikhs were committed to
perform these imposed policy by force. These commitments started since 1820;
and ended with the Britain protection treaties of Marine truce. Britain succeeded
through the treats to use force, to make itself a ruler and a hangman in all local
and regional disputes in the area. This resulted in problems of the boarders, which
the area still suffers today.
 Britain’s Presence in the Gulf and its relation with Qatar

Although Britain signed the Peace General treaties with the Gulf’s emirates, Qatar
was the only emirate that Britain did not singe a treaty with. As for the Qatari
Peninsula, it is noticed that holding relations between Qatar’s tribes and Sheikhs
with Britain was late compared to the other political and tribal entities in the Gulf.
These relations were established only at beginning of the twenties of the
nineteenth century and there is no authorized information about the contact of the
English with the Qatari before 1821. After Britain’s approval of peace general
treaties in 1820, the British authorities in the Gulf headed by the British Political
Resident stayed in Boshahr, believed that the lengths of the Qatari coast are
included within these treaties.
 Rahma Bin Jabir Al-Jalahma: The presence of the British in the Gulf
region and their Relationship with Qatar
Before the end of Saudi authority over the area, the Saudis
spread their protection over Rahma Bin Jabir Al-Jalahima,
with whom they had close relations. Rahma had shared the
rule with the Saudi’s envoy over Al-Zubara. From his base in
Khor Hassan in northern Qatar, Rahma directed his attacks
towards his enemies’ ships in the Gulf more specifically
towards Al-Khalifa’s. The defeat of his allies “the Saudis”,
made him get involved in a desperate fight against Al-Atub’s
ships. Where he was forced to transfer his headquarters from
Qatar to Al-Damam on Al-Ahsa coast. He soon conflicted with
the Saudis and in 1816 they destroyed his castle in Al-Damam,
but Rahama managed to move his family back to Khor Hassan
in Qatar. Then he departed to Boshahr then again to Al-
Damam in 1819.
Rahma Bin Jabir Al-Jalahma: The presence of the British in the Gulf region and their Relationship
with Qatar
In 1828 Rehma was killed in one of the marine battles and his problems with Al-Khalifa have
ended. What is the relation between Rehma bin Jabir and Britain's relationship with Qatar?
Despite the previous political development in the area, Britain did not have direct contacts with
Qatar until 1821. However, as a consequence of the troubles and worry caused by Rehama Bin
Jabir’s actions against Al-Khalifa’s ships. As well as his other troubles in the area, such as, his
alliance to the ruler of Faris in an intention to invade Bahrain, his refusal of the British Political
Resident’s request to become a part in peace General Treaties in 1820 and his Piracy actions on
Qatar’s coast. That led the Eastern Indian-British Company to send its destroyer named Vistal in
1821 to bombard the Coast of Al-Bada city. This was the first contact happened between Britain
and Qatar. Bombarding Al-Bada “the first destruction of Doha” resulted in destroying it and
forcing hundreds of its population to immigrate to the Islands, which stretch between Qatar and
the Omani Coast.
 Britain’s Presence in the Gulf and its relation with Qatar

Two years later the British Political resident Mr. Macleod visited Doha for the first
time in 1823 and noticed that Al-Buainin had a great authority in Doha. He also
thought that like Bahrain the area included in the peace treaty. Thus, he refereed to
the fact that he found commercial ships, in the port do not raise the flogs prescribed
in the treaty or hold the licenses related to that. This meant that Qatar citizens were
not under the authority of Al-Khalifa in Bahrain who signed the treaty with Britain.
Therefore, the British Resident ordered to provide the ships with the licenses, and
raise the treaty’s flag. However, since the British Resident’s visit to Qatar in 1823
until the withdrawal of Egyptian armies from Al-Ahsa and the Arabian Peninsula,
the British authority did not pay a noticeable attention to the development of the
events in Qatar.
The creation of the Second Saudi State (Faisal bin Turki’s reign 1824-1891) and its
effects on the relationship between Al Khalifa and the Qatari tribes
The major features of the relationship between Qatar and Al Khalifa in Bahrain
- Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmad Al Khalifa and his two sons, Mubarak and Nasser,
moved to live in Qatar's coast to monitor the movements of the Saudi state,
especially since they did not have a good relationship with the Saudis.

- Sheikh Abdullah Al Khalifa tried to extend his power over the people of Al- These
Huwaila in Qatar in 1835 but they revolted against him. developments
confirm that
the Qatari
- Disagreements rose between the Sheikh of Bahrain and Issa bin Turayf, sheikh of tribes refused
the Al bin Ali tribe, who withdrew with a large part of his tribe to Abu Dhabi, to submit to
where he attempted to create a base from which to launch strikes against the sheikh the authority
of Bahrain. The British prevented him from doing so. of Al Khalifa

- Large numbers of the Al-Buainain tribe withdrew to Abu Dhabi

As Faisal bin Turki extended his role over the Saudi state on the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf following the
withdrawal of Mohammad Ali Pasha's forces, he was able to take control of Al-Ahsa. As a result, Al Khalifa
were busy defending against the Saudi state’s threats to re-impose control over Bahrain.
 Qatar in the first half of the 19th century

In the 1820s and 30s, Qatar faced the following problems:

1. Bahrain‘s Utub attempted to fill the vacuum that resulted from the fall of the first Saudi
Developments in state and to extend their power over the region, especially Qatar (perhaps due to their
Qatar during the relationship with Qatar and their stay in Zubarah).
1820s and 30s
before the 2. Rahma bin Jabir entered into a conflict with the sheikhs of Bahrain, and used the coast
internal conflict of Qatar as a base for his operations.
in Bahrain
3. The sheikhs of Bahrain attempted to extend their control over the Qatari tribes, which
consequently led to insurgencies by the Qatari tribes.

4. The maritime attacks by immigrants from the Omani coast to the coast of Qatar
increased. The British countered these attacks.
 British relations with Qatar (measures taken by the British to end the attacks
jeopardizing maritime peace)

The British noticed increasing attacks on ships in the Gulf between 1835 and
1836 by people moving from the Omani coast to the Qatari coast. Some of
them settled in Khor al‐Udaid to avoid paying British‐imposed fines.
Despite the three
British measures, the
The British accused the 
attacks did not stop at people of Qatar of 
sea. The British held sympathizing with 
immigrants from the 
the Sheikh of Doha Omani coast.  British 
partially responsible actions:

for the hostilities and 2. The British decide to include Qatar

1. The British sent a marine force in the maritime truce agreements,
shelled Doha with to Qatar
signed in 1835
artillery fire in 1841
(The Second 3. The British forced the Sheikhs of
Doha, Al Wakra and Khor Al-Udaid to
Destruction of Doha) make pledges
The internal conflict (civil war) in Bahrain
(1840-1843)
Effects in Qatar
The internal conflict in Bahrain and its effects on regional
powers

Qatar

The internal conflict in

The Saudi Bahrain 1840-1843 and its
State effects on regional powers

The British
 The internal conflict (civil war) in Bahrain (1840-1843)
Effects in Qatar

The most significant developments in Qatar during the 1840s and 1850s:

- Qatar become a site of conflict among members of the Al Khalifa over the
right to rule
Qatar in
- The Saudi state resumed its attempts to extend its authority over Bahrain and
1840s and
Qatar, and clashed with Al Khalifa in Bahrain. Abu Dhabi became involved
50s
in the internal conflict in Bahrain.
- The force of local Qatari tribes grew.
- The Al Thani family emerged, providing the local leadership needed to rid
Qatar and its tribes of all forms of control imposed in the past
- The British intervened to maintain maritime peace in the region.
 Parties to the conflict in Bahrain between 1840‐1843 and the role of 
the Qatari tribes
Beginning and Development of the
Conflict
- The conflict between Shaykh The First Phase: 1840
Mohammad bin Khalifa and his After the withdrawal of
grandfather Shaykh Abdullah bin Mehmed Ali Pasha’s forces from
Ahmad began Al-Ahsa and the political Phases of
- Shaykh Mohammad bin Khalifa bin vacuum left in the region the
Salman took over rule in 1842, leading
to the split of the Al Khalifa into Al
Conflict
Abdullah and Al Salman factions
- Parties to the conflict moved to Qatar
because three of Shaykh Abdullah bin The Second Phase: 1842
Ahmad’s sons rebelled and demanded Spillover of the conflict
they rule the emirate, and they based
themselves in the village of Huwayla in
over rule among the Al
northern Qatar Khalifa into Qatar
 Parties to the conflict in Bahrain between 1840‐1843 and the role of the Qatari tribes

Parties to the internal conflict in Bahrain and their

relationship with Qatari tribes

Sheikh Abdullah bin Sheikh Mohammad bin

Three of his sons Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa challenged his rule
rebelled against him Khalifa ruled over Bahrain and attempted to seize
from 1821-1849 power during 1840-1843

As the conflict escalated, This led to political

Sheikh Abdullah moved to stay turmoil in Bahrain Immigrated to Qatar, courted its
in Khor Hassan in Qatar to people and began to build an
monitor the situation opposition naval force to invade
Bahrain
 Parties to the conflict in Bahrain in the period 1840‐1843 and the role of the 
Qatari tribes

The second phase of the internal conflict in Bahrain

One of the most prominent characteristics of this phase was the
transition of the conflict to Qatar, which led to:

Local forces emerged in Qatar and influenced the events there. Such
forces included Sheikh Mohammad bin Thani, who was residing in
Al-Fuwairit

Did the Qatari tribes have a role in the

internal conflict in Bahrain?
What was the nature of this role?
Did the Qatari tribes have a role The role of Qatari tribes in the
in the internal conflict in internal conflict in Bahrain
Bahrain?

The Qatari tribes' role in the internal conflict in Bahrain: Mohammad bin
Khalifa formed a coalition of Qatari tribes as follows:

Qatari tribes Sheikh Sheikh of

Sheikh Mohammad bin Mohammad Thani Al bin Ali
Sheikh Bashir 
Khalifa asked Sheikh
in eastern bin Rahma bin 
Qatar (in and the Al- (Issa ibn
Mohammad bin Thani in Maadheed agreed
Jaber, along 
1842 to help him invade Doha and Al- Turayf) with some 
to assist Sheikh also
Bahrain to overthrow Khor) agreed Mohammad bin
Jalahima
Sheikh Abdullah bin to assist Khalifa after the
agreed to tribes, sided 
Ahmad Sheikh tribes of eastern assist with Sheikh 
Sheikh Mohammad bin Mohammed Qatar sided with Sheikh Mohammad 
Thani refused him Mohamm
bin Khalifa
bin Khalifa

The coalition of Qatari tribes and Mohammad bin Khalifa used Al-Fuwairit as its base
from which to march to Bahrain. The coalition succeeded in entering Bahrain and took
over power as Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmad left for Dammam.
 The role of Qatari tribes in the internal conflict
in Bahrain

1. Issa bin Turayf accepted a

Confrontation between Issa bin
request by the sons of Sheikh
Turayf and his allies and
Two Abdullah who were residing
Mohammad bin Khalifa, leading
important outside Bahrain to negotiate
to the Umm Suwaya battle in
reasons for the their return to Bahrain with
1847 near Al-Fuwairit. The major
dispute Sheikh Mohammad bin
outcomes of the battle:
Battle of between Khalifa. This angered
1. Issa bin Turayf was killed.
Umm Mohammad Mohammad bin Khalifa
2. The tribes allied with Issa bin
bin Khalifa
Suwaya and Issa bin
2. Issa bin Turayf allied with Turayf were defeated.
Sheikh Mohammad bin 3. The Al bin Ali tribe left Qatar.
Turayf, the
Khalifa's adversaries: a 4. The hopes of Sheikh Abdullah Al
Sheikh of Al
group of Al-Manaseer and Khalifa to return to rule Bahrain
Ben Ali
Al-Hawajir as well as the were dashed.
sons of Sheikh Abdullah bin
Ahmad Al Khalifa
 The relationship between Sheikh Mohammad bin Khalifa and
Qatari tribes after the Battle of Mesaimeer

Sheikh Mohammad bin Khalifa considered Sheikh Mohammad bin Thani and his son, Sheikh
Jassim, collaborators with Prince Faisal bin Turki in leading the rebellion against the government
in Bahrain, and took the following actions against the Qatari tribes:

Asked the ruler of Abu

Besieged Doha and prevented
Dhabi, Sheikh Saeed Formed a force to ships from docking in Doha,
bin Tahnoun, to discipline Qatari whose people relied on
support him against tribes whatever supplies they
Qatari tribes received from Al-Ahsa

Because a Saudi force was based in Doha, neither
the ruler of Bahrain nor the ruler of Abu Dhabi
dared invade Doha. The siege ended with a
conciliation agreement that included two
important provisions:
The ruler of Bahrain shall pay an
annual tax of four thousand riyals
Qatar shall fall under Al Khalifa's
power
 The British and Sheikh Mohammad bin
Khalifa

Tensions continued between the second Saudi state and the rulers of Bahrain. In 1859, the Saudi governor
of Al-Ahsa aided Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Khalifa (son of the former ruler of Bahrain) in
invading Bahrain in order to restore his rule over Bahrain. The reason for this turn of events was the
accusation of Sheikh Mohammad bin Khalifa of instigating some Qatari tribes to attack Saudi nationals.

The result of this action

The British fleet intervened to halt this action by the Saudi
governor. The British authorities signed an agreement with Sheikh
Mohammad Bin Khalifa in May 1861. The agreement said:
1. Sheikh Mohammad bin Khalifa shall recognize and uphold the treaties and conventions that his
predecessors signed with the British government.
2. Sheikh Mohammad bin Khalifa shall refrain from launching wars, piracy and slave trade in
exchange for British protection of Bahrain against any attacks.
Qatar in light of the internal conflict in Bahrain, according to
1866 British reports

A British report prepared by the British Political Resident in

1866 described the situation in Qatar as follows:

1. Sheikh of Bahrain declared loyalty to the Saudis in order to maintain his property in
Qatar, and considered himself independent in the Bahrain islands
2. The tax paid by Mohammad Al Khalifa on his property in Qatar was in exchange for
protection from any tribal attack
3. An agent of the Saudi government resided in Doha between 1852 and 1866, but no
reference is made to his name
 Qatar during the Bahraini internal conflict around the end of the first
half of the 19th century

The impact of the internal conflict Features of Qatar during the internal conflict in
in Bahrain on Qatari tribes Bahrain in the first half of the 19th century

Did the internal conflict in Bahrain

impact the political situation in Qatar?
The Qatari tribes' participation in Al
Khalifa's entrance into Bahrain had
important effects on them, including:
The Qatari tribes began to feel that they
were powerful if allied with each other,
and to consider the possibility of
establishing an independent entity
capable of combatting any outside
influence attempting to control it.
1. The Qatari tribes refused to submit to the authority
of the rulers of Bahrain.
2. The discord and disintegration that characterized
Qatari tribes before the 1840s helped Al Khalifa to
extend power over the Qatari tribes.
3. After the 1840s, Sheikh Mohammad bin Thani, and
then his son Sheikh Jassim, began to emerge as the
leaders needed to encourage the tribes to seek
independence and govern themselves in the Qatar
Peninsula.
 Reasons for the negative relationship between Al Khalifa and the Qatari tribes
before the establishment of the emirate

With the emergence of the Al Thani family especially in light of the internal conflicts in Bahrain and their
spillover in Qatar, hostility between Al Khalifa and the Qatari tribes became clear for the following reasons:
1. Al Khalifa extended their power over Qatar following the agreement that the Saudis signed with Mohammad bin
Khalifa.
2. The Qataris' relationship with the Saudis became closer under Al Thani leadership.
3. Al Khalifa appointed Ahmad bin Mohammad Al Khalifa as their representative in Qatar. Ahmad Al Khalifa sought a
closer relation with the Qataris through intermarriage with Sheikh Mohammad bin Thani’s family.
4. The Qatari tribes hated the Qatar-based representative of Al Khalifa (Ahmad al Khalifa) because of his harshness
which contributed to escalating the hostility between the two sides.
5. Ahmad bin Mohammad Al Khalifa's men attacked a caravan of the Al Naeem tribe in Al Wakra market in 1866.
They seized the caravan and imprisoned the shaykh of the Al Naeem tribe, Ali bin Thamer. The Al Naeem tribe
sought the help of Sheikh Mohammad bin Thani, who attacked the headquarters of the Al Khalifa representative in
the Castle of Al Wakra and succeeded, along with the Qatari tribes, in freeing the Sheikh of the Al Naeem tribe and
forcing Al Khalifa representative to flee to Bahrain.
6. The Qatari tribes began to work on freeing Qatar of Al Khalifa's authority.
 Characteristics of Al Khalifa's power in Qatar and the reasons behind
the strained relationship between Al Khalifa and the Qatari tribes:

Actions Qataris took to rid Qatar of the authority of the rulers of Bahrain
The Qatari tribes began to rid Qatar of Al Khalifa's power through the
following steps:
1. After the men of Bahrain attacked the Al Naeem caravan and imprisoned
the tribe's leader, Jassim bin Mohammad Al Thani wrote to the ruler of
Bahrain, explaining his representative's misconduct in Qatar.
2. Jassim bin Mohammad Al Thani demanded independence for Qatar from
Bahrain, and threatened that if the rulers of Bahrain continue to impose
their authority over Bahrain, the Qataris would seek help from any power
in the region in order to dispose of Al Khalifa's authority.
 The position of Al Khalifa towards the growing strength of Al Thani
and their attempts to unite the Qatari tribes

The position of Al Khalifa towards Jassim bin

The relationship between Qatari tribes and Al Khalifa after Al Khalifa
Mohammad Al Thani and his leading role in uniting
imprisoned Jassim Al Thani in Bahrain
Qatari tribes
The conflict between the two parties after Jassim bin Mohammad Al Thani was
The actions taken by Al Khalifa to maintain their power in
imprisoned witnessed the following developments:
Qatar and counter the growing strength of Al Thani and
1. Mohammad bin Khalifa and the ruler of Abu Dhabi attacked Al Wakra, then
their role in uniting Qatari tribes can be summarized as
Doha, in 1867. Doha was destroyed and its population displaced. This
follows:
became known as the Second Destruction of Doha.
1. Appeasing the Al Naeem tribes and inviting their
2. After the diving season ended, Qatari tribes collectively advanced towards
leaders to visit Bahrain where they were honored in an
Bahrain to release Jassim Al Thani and clashed with A Khalifa at a site called
attempt to improve the image of Al Khalifa among
"Damsa" in 1868. The Qatari tribes withdrew in an attempt to lure Al Khalifa
Qatari tribes.
forces, and succeeded in defeating Al Khalifa and taking a number of their
2. Planning to dispose of Jassim bin Mohammad bin Thani
leaders as prisoners including Sheikh Ibrahim bin Issa Al Khalifa and Sheikh
by inviting him to visit Bahrain. Once there, he was
Hamoud bin Salman Al Khalifa. This gave the Qatari tribes a strong position
betrayed and thrown in prison.
to demand the release of Jassim Al Thani.
3. The imprisonment of Jassim Al Thani by Al Khalifa
3. The Britain held Mohammad bin Khalifa responsible for the disputes and
created tension in the relationship between Al Khalifa
conflicts with the Qatari tribes and imposed penalties and fines on him and
and Qatari tribes, bringing about a new chapter of
on the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi.
battles between the two sides
 Britain's position on the tribal conflicts between Al Khalifa and the
Qatari tribes
Mohammad bin Khalifa and the sheikh of Abu
Dhabi's attack on Al Wakra and Doha in 1867
aggravated tribal conflicts in violation of the
agreements signed between Britain and the
Sheikhs of the Gulf. The British took the
following actions:
1. The British Political Resident in the Gulf, Lewis
Pelly, considered the attack on Doha by Sheikh
Mohammad bin Khalifa a challenge to British
presence and a breach of the agreement Sheikh
Mohammad bin Khalifa had previously signed
with Britain in 1861, whereby he pledged to
refrain from undertaking hostilities at sea.
2. Britain obliged the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi to pay
compensation to Qatar and apologize for his
actions.
The British Political Resident took a
tough stance toward the Sheikh of
Bahrain and as evidenced in the
following actions:
1. Bombed and destroyed Abu
Maher Castle in Muharraq.
2. Deposed Sheikh Mohammad
bin Khalifa and appointed his
brother Ali, who vowed to
arrest his brother upon his return
to Bahrain and hand him over to
the Political Resident.
3. Imposed a hefty fine and a
pledge to maintain maritime
peace as well as hand over Al
Khalifa's warships to British
authorities.
British position toward the Qatari
tribes following their attack on
Bahrain after Mohammad bin Khalifa
attacked Al Wakra and Doha:
1. Lewis Pelly met the senior Sheikhs of
the Qatari tribes, headed by Sheikh
Mohammad bin Thani, and expressed
his understanding for the campaign
that Qatari tribes launched against
Bahrain.
2. An agreement was signed on
September 12, 1868 with Sheikh
Mohammad bin Thani as an extension
of the Maritime Peace Treaty signed
between Britain and the Arab Gulf
emirates.
 The British position on the tribal conflicts (Qatar enters the
maritime peace treaties and emerges as the Emirate of Qatar)

Provisions of the 1868 agreement between the British
Political Resident and Sheikh Mohammad bin Thani
In early September 1868, Lewis Pelly arrived in Al Wakra and
met with Mohammad Al Thani as well as other members of his
family and a group of Qataris. Pelly and Mohammad Al Thani
reached an agreement on September 12, 1868 whereby the latter
pledged to:
I. Reside in Doha in peace,
II. Refrain from undertaking hostilities at sea,
III. Seek adjudication by the British resident in any dispute
that arises between him and his neighbors,
IV. Maintain a good relationship with the new Sheikh of
Bahrain, Ali bin Khalifa,
V. Extradite the former ruler of Bahrain, Mohammad bin
Khalifa, to the British authorities if he falls into his hands.
Significance and implications of the 1868 agreement for
Qatar
The agreement falls under the Maritime Peace Treaties signed
between the sheikhs of the Gulf emirates and Britain, and which
Britain used to extend its power over the region for more than a
century and a half. This agreement resulted in the creation of Qatar as
an independent emirate ruled by the Al Thani family. The
significance of this agreement lies in the fact that it marked:
I. Recognition of the Al Thani family as rulers of Qatar, a formal
declaration of the inauguration of their rule,
II. The beginning of Qatar's modern history as an independent
emirate,equal to other Arab Gulf emirates, according to many
historians,
III. The beginning of Qatar's accession to treaties with an external
party, i.e. Britain.

After Sheikh Mohammad bin Thani signed the 1868 agreement, Qatar started to be ruled by a sheikh of its own with political
independence after it was periodically subject to the power of other forces throughout its past history.
 The emergence of the Al Thani
family

• The conflict within Al Khalifa in Bahrain had important effects,

including the emergence of the Al Thani family.
• - The Al Thani family (native land, lineage and reasons for migration).
• - Founder of the Al Thani family.
• - Sheikh Mohammad bin Thani.
• - Factors that enabled the Al Thani family to lead the tribes of Qatar.
• - Role of Sheikh Mohammad bin Thani in founding the Emirate of
Qatar.
 Al-Thani family (relocation from Najd to Qatar)

The Al Thani family belongs to Al Maadheed

whose Arab roots go back to the Bani Tamim. The Al Late 17th Century
Thani family migrated from Najd in the Arabian
Peninsula in the late 17th century from the town of Shaikh Mohammad
bin Thani arrived in
Ushaiger, in the Washm region in Najd, and arrived Doha in 1848
in Qatar in the early eighteenth century. Their route to
Qatar set off from Ushaiger through Jibreen, Alskak,
Ruwais, Zubara, Fuwairit then Doha, where
Mohammad Al Thani and his family arrived in 1848.
The key reasons that led the Al Thani to migrate from the central region of the
Arabian Peninsula:
1. Tribal conflicts rampant at the time in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula.
2. Severe drought that hit the heart of the Arabian Peninsula.
 Founder of the Al Thani family

The Al Thani family founder:
• Born in the city of Zubarah
• Well-known senior pearl
merchant, which helped him
contributed to
accumulate great wealth
• Had a prestigious status
because of:
1. His financial status
2. Power and status of Al
Maadheed tribe
Strengthening the
position of Al Thani and
bringing Qatari tribes
This around this family, which
enabled Al Thani to
successfully lead and unite
the Qatari tribes in one
independent entity
The Al Thani family was famous for
urbanization and development as well as its
ability to bring the Qatari tribes together
given its social and economic status
 Sheikh Mohammad bin Thani bin Mohammad, his birth, traits,
Sheikh Mohammad bin
Thani's birth, relocation to
Doha and leadership of Qatari
tribes
- Born in Al-Fuwairit
- Moved with his family to
settle in Doha in 1848
- Led the tribes in Qatar, and
became known among
foreign historians as
"Sheikh of Doha"
- United the Qatari tribes
against their opponents of
Al-Khalifa of Bahrain
authority
Traits of Sheikh Mohammad bin Thani
Sheikh Mohammad bin Thani was known for Sheikh Mohammad bin
many qualities that shaped his ability to unite Thani‘s authority: in 1863,
the Qatari tribes in one entity. Among his
Belgrave described Sheikh
traits are the following:
• Generosity, intelligence, discernment and
Mohammad bin Thani as:
vigilance • The ruler of al-Bidaa and a
• Traveler Belgrave, who visited Qatar in 1863, said figure of authority recognized
Sheikh Mohammad bin Thani was renowned for by everyone as head for the
his acumen, good nature, extreme vigilance, entire region. However,
quick-wits and sense of humor. Belgrave said he Belgrave adds that Sheikh
was also religious, leading the people in prayers at Mohammad bin Thani did not
have significant power over
the grand mosque, and easy-going but a smart
negotiator with time dedicated for reading, which the other villages, which were
managed by their local leaders.
helped him expand his knowledge of literature and
literary poetry.
 The factors that enabled the Al Thani family to lead the Qatari tribes

1. Social and economic status: The family founder succeeded in accumulating a fortune from the pearl
trade, giving him a prestigious social status that placed him in a pivotal position vis-à-vis the Qatari
tribes.
Why was 2. Al Maadheed, to whom Al Thani belongs, were urbanized.
3. Al Thani family founder and Al Maadheed were powerful and influential in the vicinity of al-Bidaa,
the Al making Sheikh Mohammad bin Thani the leader of the Al Thani family and Al Maadeed. His name
Thani started to resonate when he led a number of Qatari tribes to help Mohammad bin Khalifa take over the
family rule of Bahrain from Sheikh Abdullah Al Khalifa in 1842.
4. The rise of Shaikh Mohammad bin Thani’s power and prestige amongst the Qatari tribes after the
able to killing of Sheikh Isa bin Turayf, sheikh of the Al Bin Ali tribe.
lead the 5. The wisdom and political talent of Sheikh Mohammad bin Thani, obvious in his political intelligence
with the Saudis when he spared the Qatari tribes a confrontation with the Saudis in 1850. Another
Qatari manifestation of his political skillfulness was his alliance with Prince Faisal bin Turki, through which he
tribes? became the agent of the Saudi government collecting the zakat from Qatari tribes. He maintained this
policy until 1865.
6. The leadership of Sheikh Mohammad bin Thani of the Qatari tribes to thwart Mohammad Al Khalifa's
attempts to take revenge on the Qatari tribes for announcing their alliance with the second Saudi state.
 The role of Sheikh Mohammad Al Thani in creating a political entity in Qatar

Sheikh Mohammad bin Thani is considered Qatar's first ruler from the Al Thani
family and the first to base the family in Doha. His role in creating the emirate can In 1876, Sheikh
be summarized as follows: Mohammad bin
1. The political mastery that Sheikh Mohammad bin Thani exhibited when he Thani entrusted
prevented a confrontation between the Qatari tribes and the Saudis, and allied his son Sheikh
with Faisal bin Turki, the Imama of the second Saudi state, after the battle of Jassim with
Mesaimeer, and became the agent of the Saudi government collecting the administrative
zakat from the Qatari tribes. responsibility as
2. His leadership of the tribes that helped Mohammad bin Khalifa bin Salman Al he was advancing
Khalifa take over power in Bahrain. in age, and passed
3. Entering into conflict with Mohammad bin Khalifa, the ruler of Bahrain, that away in 1878.
ended with a treaty signed with the British resident in the Gulf on September
12, 1868, whereby Qatar was recognized as an emirate.