The modern State of Qatar gained its independence from the UK on September 3, 1971.The country's constitution was ratified by public referendum on April 29, 2003; it was endorsed by the Emir on June 8, 2004; and it became effective on June 9, 2005.
Little is known of Qatar's early history although Qatar was respectively inhabited by stone age people, the Kingdom of Dilmun, probably visited by the Greeks and Romans and periodically by travelling nomads.