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.