Bahrain History (1913-1999)

-1913 - Britain and the Ottoman government sign a treaty recognising the independence of Bahrain but the country remains under British administration.

-1931 - The Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), a subsidiary of the Standard Oil Company of California (Socal), discovers oil at Jabal al-Dukhan and production begins the following year.

-1971 - Bahrain declares independence and signs a new treaty of friendship with Britain. Sheikh Isa becomes the first Emir and the Council of State becomes a cabinet. In the same year, Bahrain gains formal independence from Britain.

-1981 May - Bahrain joins the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, more usually known as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which also includes Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

-1991 October - Bahrain signs a defence cooperation agreement with the United States providing for port facilities and joint military exercises.

-1999 December - The emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin-Khalifah Al Thani, visits. Both countries establish committee to settle territorial disputes.