This chapter of the book delves into the historical relations between the ruling Al Thani family of what would later become the nation state of Qatar, and the Al Saud family who would in 1932 found the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The purpose of this lengthy chapter which covers material over two centuries is firstly; to evaluate historical relations to reveal instances of Qatar’s (or Al Thani) foreign policy actions which are analogous to more contemporary post-independence events, and secondly, to introduce the earlier machinations Al Thani relations with external factors such as the British, the Ottomans, and importantly, ruling members of the Al Saud family. In doing this, this background chapter will reveal that Qatar’s historical relations with Saudi Arabia, and the policies Qatar employed later employed in pursuit of autonomy, bear many of the hallmarks of more recent foreign policy actions.