1749 – Persians driven out of Oman
- Al Bu Said dynasty takes power – the descendents of whom still rule the country today.
1913 – Political instability ensues
- Interior is ruled by Ibadite imams (the Ibadiyah Islamic sect ruled Oman in the 800’s via a succession of elected and hereditary Ibadite imams.)
- Coastal areas ruled by Sultan Said bin Taimur Al Bu Said.
1920 – Interior autonomy
- Britain helps broker a deal where the sultan recognizes relative autonomy of the interior.
1954 – Clashes resume
- Clashes resume between imamate forces and those of the sultan.
- The Ibadites seek an independent state in the interior – the sultan will not go so far.
1959 – Unification
- Sultan Said bin Taimur regains control of the interior.
- His rule is characterized by feudal isolationism.
1964 – Oil reserves discovered
- Extraction begins in 1967
1965 – Rebellion
- A rebellion erupts in the southern region of Dhofar where leftist forces struggle against government troops, lasting ten years.
- In the end the uprising is put down with the help of soldiers from Jordan and Iran.
1970 – The sultan is overthrown by his son in a bloodless coup.
- Sultan Qaboos bin Said begins a modernization program.
1981 – Oman is a founding member of the six-nation GCC.
1997 – Sultan Qaboos declares women can be involved in politics.
- Women are allowed to be voted into the majlis al-shur (Consultative Council).
- Women are also allowed to vote for the first time in the country’s history.
- Two women are elected to the governing body.
1999 – Border disputes settled
- Oman settles a border dispute with neighboring United Arab Emirates, defining most of their border disputes.
2001 – Britain launches military in Oman
- Coinciding with the launch of strikes against Afghanistan in 2001, Britain implements large-scale military exercises in the Omani desert.
2002 – Voting rights defined
- Sultan Qaboos extends the right to vote to all citizens above the age of 21.
- Previously, voters were chosen among tribal leaders, intellectuals, and businessmen.
2003 – First election since voter-reform
- Little change is noticed in the political landscape despite voter-reforms.
2004 – Sultan appoints first female minister
2005 – Crackdown on Islamists
- Almost 100 suspected Islamists arrested.
- 31 Omani citizens convicted of trying to overthrow the government.
- All of them pardoned after a few months.
2006 – Free trade agreement with US
- Oman and the US sign a free trade agreement in January, approved by the US Congress and Senate in June and July.
2009 – Somali pirates raid vessel
- A cargo vessel is hijacked by suspected Somali pirates off the Omani coast.
- The first reported pirate attack in the area.
2011 – Arab spring unrest
- February: Protesters demand jobs and political reform. One protester is shot by the police, dies shortly after.
- Sultan Qaboos responds by pledging more jobs and better benefits.
- October: Elections to the Majlis al-Shura (Consultative Countil) ensue.
- Following Arab spring unrest, Sultan Qaboos grants greater powers to the council.
2012 – Opposition trials begin
- Activists are accused of posting “abusive and provocative†government criticism online.
- Reports of a crackdown on protests over unemployment and lack of democracy.
- Six Omanis are given jail terms of 12-18 months and fines of around $2,500 each.
2013 – Sultan Qaboos pardons around 30 people, including online activists.
2014 – Former Minister of Commerce for Oman, Mohammed al-Khusaibi sentenced to three years in prison for corruption
2015 – New Majlis al-Shura elected
- Includes one woman.