UAE denies easing Qatar ban, signs $5.5 billion arms deal

The UAE has rejected reports that an almost two-year Saudi-led embargo on Qatar has been eased, stressing the ban on the shipping of goods between Abu Dhabi and Doha is still in place. 

A port circular that suggested the easing of trade embargo against Qatar had been “misinterpreted” and that a clarification will be sent to all ports soon, the UAE’s Federal Transport Authority (FTA) said in a statement.

It came after media outlets reported that an Abu Dhabi ports circular dated February 12 had called off previous directives that banned cargoes of Qatar origin from UAE waters and ports and those of UAE origin from Qatar.

The UAE has cut its relations with Qatar since June 2017 in response to a call by Saudi Arabia which accuses Qatar of supporting terrorism and financing extremism.

Last year, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, along with Bahrain and Egypt, formed a so-called Quartet which urged the Qatari government to comply with a list of demands that included severing ties with Iran and closing a Turkish military base in Qatar or face sanctions.

Doha, however, has rejected the demands and said it was being targeted because of the independent policies which it pursued.  

In 2018, Qatar’s emir turned down an invitation by Riyadh to attend the 39th Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, during which the issue of Qatar crisis was not brought up.

PressTV-Qatari emir shuns GCC summit, sends foreign minister

Qatar's emir has refused to attend the annual [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) summit in Saudi Arabia, and sent the state minister for foreign affairs instead.

However, reports suggest that a number of officers from Qatar’s armed forces, led by Brigadier General Khamis Mohamed Deblan, have arrived in Saudi Arabia to participate in a military drill.

The Emirati forces are also attending the military exercise which will come to an end on March 14.

Back in December, Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani called the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council a “toothless” organization incapable of holding its members to account.

"They have mechanisms in place and never trigger them because some countries believe they are non-binding,” he said.

PressTV-Qatari FM: Saudi-led GCC group 'has no tooth'

Qatar’s foreign minister has called the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) regional body a “toothless” organization incapable of holding its members to account.

There is also disagreement between Qatar and the UAE over the Saudi-led war on Yemen.

As the genocide of Yemeni people goes on, the UAE this week signed weapons deals worth $5.5 billion with local and international companies at the opening day of an arms fair in Abu Dhabi. The deals were awarded to firms from Russia, Turkey, Pakistan and South Africa at the exhibition.

PressTV-UAE buys $1.8 billion US arms amid Yemen war

The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia’s main partner in a Riyadh-led coalition invading Yemen, buys around $1.8 billion worth of American arms at an Abu Dhabi military exhibition.

The UAE is Saudi Arabia’s main partner in its invasion of Yemen. Saudi Arabia launched the war in March 2015 to restore Yemen’s former Riyadh-backed officials.

The World Health Organization says some 10,000 people have been killed since the coalition launched the war, but rights groups put the death toll at five times higher.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk