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| 1928–30 |
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| Removal of the British garrison from Aden. The move was made possible by the success of the RAF in policing the tribes of the interior. | 1 |
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| 1928 |
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| Expulsion of Yemeni troops from the protectorate of Aden. | 2 |
| Founding of the first periodical in Kuwait, the monthly magazine al-Kuwait. | 3 |
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| 1929 |
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| Collapse of the pearling industry in the Persian Gulf. The competition of Japanese cultured pearls and the onset of the Great Depression together spelled the end for pearl diving in the region, which had been the chief support of the economy. Only Bahrain, which began to exploit its oil reserves, was saved from complete economic devastation during the Great Depression. | 4 |
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| 1929–30 |
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| Suppression of the Ikhwan. Ibn Sa‘ud organized a campaign to defeat rebellious tribesmen who, originally with his encouragement, had settled on cultivable land and organized themselves into religious communities based on a strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islam. Their frequent raids into neighboring states—to fight “infidels”—had become a serious diplomatic problem for the Saudi dynasty. Ibn Sa‘ud was able to rally broad support and mount an offensive against them only after they had begun to attack towns and tribes within Arabia itself. The Ikhwan communities were not entirely disbanded, but they never again presented a threat to the Saudi state. | 5 |
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| 1930, Feb. 24 |
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| Treaty of friendship between the Iraqi and Saudi governments. | 6 |
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| 1931 |
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| Beginning of oil exploration in Arabia. | 7 |
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| 1932 |
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| OFFICIAL ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA. Ibn Sa’ud's oldest son, Sa’ud, was selected to be crown prince and heir to the throne. | 8 |
| Discovery of oil in Bahrain. Export began in 1934. The country opened its own oil refinery in 1937. | 9 |
| Death of Omani sultan Taymur ibn Faysal (r. 1913–32). His son, Sultan Sa‘id (r. 1932–70), succeeded him on the throne. | 10 |
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| May 23–24 |
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| Anti-Jewish riots in Aden, resulting in numerous injuries and extensive property damage. | 11 |
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