Arab Spring Timeline

Political scientist Marc Lynch described Arab Spring as 'a term I may have unintentionally coined in a 6 January 2011 article' for Foreign Policy magazine. The terminology follows the Western example of the Revolutions of 1848, known as the 'Spring of Nations', and the Prague Spring of 1968.

In December 2011 Time magazine named 'The Protester' its 'Person of the Year'. Some protesters were also nominated for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize.

A new wave of protests began in 2018 which led to the resignation of prime ministers Haider al-Abadi of Iraq in 2018 and Saad Hariri of Lebanon in 2020, and the overthrow of presidents Omar al-Bashir of Sudan and Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria in 2019.

Early 2019 witnessed two uprisings: one in Algeria and another in Sudan, leading to the overthrow of presidents Omar al-Bashir of Sudan and Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria.

As of 2025, multiple conflicts are still continuing which some have considered as originating from the Arab Spring, more than a decade after the initial wave of revolutions faded by mid- to late 2012.

Protests in Egypt began on 25 January 2011 and ran for 18 days, drawing massive crowds demanding the end of Hosni Mubarak's 30-year presidency.

Image source: 2011 Egyptian revolution

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigned on 11 February 2011 after 18 days of massive protests, ending his 30-year presidency.

Image source: Hosni Mubarak

Mubarak's successor, the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Islamist Mohamed Morsi, won a presidential election in 2012 regarded as free and fair by election observers, and was sworn in before judges at the Supreme Constitutional Court.

Image source: Mohamed Morsi

Fresh protests against Morsi erupted in Egypt on 22 November 2012. Violent protests had continued through the end of 2011 over the military council's perceived sluggishness in instituting reforms.

More protests against Morsi's rule occurred one year into his presidency in June 2013, and on 3 July 2013 the military overthrew Morsi's government, removing him from office. Repression of the Muslim Brotherhood followed in Egypt and several Gulf countries.

Image source: 2013 Egyptian coup d'état

Protests in Syria started on 26 January 2011, when a police officer assaulted a man in public at Al-Hareeka Street in old Damascus. Daraa was to be the first city to protest against the Ba'athist government, which has ruled Syria since 1963.

Image source: Syrian civil war

On 18 April 2011, approximately 100,000 protesters sat in the central Square of Homs calling for the resignation of president Bashar al-Assad.

Image source: Siege of Homs

On 5 August 2011, an anti-government demonstration called 'God is with us' took place in Syria, during which security forces shot protesters from inside ambulances, killing 11 people. Protests continued through July 2011 amid harsh security clampdowns.

A major shift in the Syrian civil war occurred in December 2024, when a rebel offensive led to the fall of the Assad regime after over a decade of warfare; the regime collapsed on 8 December 2024.

Image source: Fall of the Assad regime

A major demonstration of over 16,000 protesters took place in Sanaa on 27 January 2011. Protests had spread through many towns in both northern and southern Yemen starting in mid-January, soon demanding President Saleh's resignation.

Image source: Yemeni revolution

Human rights activist and politician Tawakkol Karman called for a 'Day of Rage' on 3 February. In response, Ali Abdullah Saleh stated he would not seek another presidential term in 2013.

Image source: Tawakkol Karman

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh signed the GCC power-transfer deal, in which a presidential election was held, resulting in his successor Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi formally replacing him as president on 27 February 2012 in exchange for immunity from prosecution.

Image source: Ali Abdullah Saleh

A presidential election was held on 21 February 2012, in which Hadi (the only candidate) won 99.8% of the vote, formally replacing Saleh on 27 February 2012.

Image source: 2012 Yemeni presidential election

The replacement government was overthrown by Houthi rebels on 22 January 2015, starting the Yemeni Civil War and the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen.

Image source: Yemeni civil war (2014–present)

Anti-government protests began in Libya on 15 February 2011, escalating into a civil war against Muammar Gaddafi's regime.

Image source: Libyan civil war (2011)

On 17 March, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 was adopted, authorising a no-fly zone over Libya and 'all necessary measures' to protect civilians.

Image source: United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973

The Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown on 23 August 2011, after the National Transitional Council (NTC) took control of Bab al-Azizia.

Image source: Muammar Gaddafi

Gaddafi was killed on 20 October 2011 in his hometown of Sirte after the NTC took control of the city.

Image source: Killing of Muammar Gaddafi

On 23 November 2011, the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry released its report finding that the government had systematically tortured prisoners and committed other human rights violations. Even a decade later, the situation in Bahrain remained unchanged.

Image source: Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

The 'unfair' UAE-94 trial ended on 2 July 2013, with 69 men convicted on evidence acquired through forced confessions, receiving prison sentences of up to 15 years. In 2012 authorities had arrested 94 of the 133 activists who signed a 2011 petition calling for democratic reforms.

Image source: UAE Pro League