News / Persian Gulf

Qatar, UAE resume diplomatic relations, reopen embassies

Monday, 19 June 2023 4:10 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 19 June 2023 5:16 PM ]

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, right, receives Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Abu Dhabi. (File via Reuters)

Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have resumed relations after a six-year break, reopening their respective embassies.

The two countries said in statements on Monday the Qatari Embassy in Abu Dhabi and a consulate in Dubai, as well as the UAE Embassy in Doha had resumed operations.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry said the restoration of ties “represents the will of both countries’ leaders to strengthen joint Arab collaboration and achieve the aspirations of both peoples.”

The UAE’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani spoke on the phone to congratulate one another on the reopening of the diplomatic missions.

The diplomats hailed the resumption of relations as heralding a “new stage of cooperation and partnership,” according to a statement on Emirates News Agency (WAM).

In 2017, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain cut all ties with Qatar and enforced a boycott following disagreements over foreign policy and regional influence.

The boycott was officially lifted in January 2021. Saudi Arabia and Egypt were the first to reappoint ambassadors to Doha in 2021 after a Saudi-led deal to end the feud.

Relations between Qatar and the UAE have improved since February 2022, when Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met with the UAE ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of an event in Beijing for the first time since the blockade ended.

The restoration of ties comes amid a flurry of diplomatic activity across the Persian Gulf region as countries engage in dialogue to enhance relations.

Qatar, Bahrain agree to restore diplomatic relations

Qatar and Bahrain have reached an agreement to restore their diplomatic ties, following a long-running feud between the two Persian Gulf nations.

The diplomatic drive in West Asian has gained momentum since the rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced on April 6 the official restoration of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia after top diplomats from the two countries held a landmark meeting in the Chinese capital city of Beijing.

Observers believe the rapprochement can be influential in enhancing the security and stability in the region.

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