Emirates open border with Qatar

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The still closed border between Qatar and Saudi Arabia at the Abu Samrah crossing

Photo: KARIM JAAFAR / AFP

For the past three years, Qatar has been largely isolated from its neighboring Arab countries in the Arabian Gulf.

In the summer of 2017, Saudi Arabia embargoed the small Gulf state, closed the borders and suspended air and shipping traffic.

The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt followed suit.

The accusation of the countries: Qatar supported radical Islamic groups.

Now, after three years, the first country is pulling out of the embargo.

The Emirates want to reopen their borders with Qatar.

The regulation will come into force on Saturday, reported the state news agency WAM, citing a statement from the Foreign Ministry.

Resumption of diplomatic relations

The Emirates are the first of the four Gulf states that have boycotted Qatar in recent years.

On Tuesday, the countries settled the conflict at a summit meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia, and announced the resumption of diplomatic relations.

The countries accused Qatar of providing financial support to terrorist groups

and to give shelter to their leaders - as well as deliberately »to stir up unrest in Saudi society«.

That was the official statement from the Saudi press agency SPA at the time.

Behind the allegation at the time lies a deeper conflict in the region.

In truth, Saudi Arabia is bothered by Qatar's close proximity to archenemy Iran.

The government in Doha had always denied the allegations.

However, Qatar is home to supporters of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood and the radical Hamas. 

15,000 camels expelled from the country

The Emirates' announcement that they will resume relations with Qatar now needs support from Riyadh.

The emirates have no direct land border with the emirates, the traffic between the two countries has to run through Saudi Arabia.

According to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia has also agreed to the opening of the border, but has not yet implemented it.

If the opening comes, the Qatari shepherds should also be happy.

During the boycott at the time, Saudi Arabia also expelled all camels and sheep belonging to Qatari owners from the country - around 15,000 camels and 10,000 sheep in total.

The shepherds had used Saudi Arabian land because Qatar itself is too small.

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