Qatar, UAE to reopen embassies as two countries set to restore ties

Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are working to reopen their long-closed embassies more than two years since the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt lifted a blockade on Doha and ended a rift in diplomatic relations that began in 2017.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majid al-Ansari said during a press briefing in Doha on Tuesday that the two sides aim to quickly reach the "highest levels of cooperation."

"Regarding the opening of embassies between the two countries, I think it will be in the coming weeks," the spokesman said. "The technical committees are now doing their work in this context, and it is expected that there will be exchange visits to consider the procedures we need to reopen embassies."

Qatar’s International Media Office also said, “Work is underway between the Qatari and Emirati teams to reopen the respective embassies as soon as possible, exact date to be announced upon the finalization of the process.”

The UAE expressed similar aims in a statement from a government official. "At present, the activation of diplomatic ties, which will include the reopening of embassies, is under process between both countries."

The deal to end the three-and-a-half-year political and economic blockade of Qatar by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain took place in January 2021.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt became the first of the formerly blockading countries to reappoint ambassadors to Qatar in the same year, while the UAE had yet to make the move.

This comes as a wave of rapprochement sweeps the strategically important Middle East region.

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

The two countries’ foreign ministries announced the decision in separate statements on Wednesday, following a meeting between their delegations at the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) headquarters in the Saudi capital Riyadh.

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.

All of the countries that had imposed the blockade had restored trade and travel links with Qatar by early 2021 but, at the time, the UAE had suggested that resuming diplomatic ties would take longer.

Relations between Qatar and the UAE have improved since February last year, when Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, met with 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 regional countries are engaging in dialogue and improving relations.

Diplomatic drive in the West Asian region has gained momentum since Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to restore ties.

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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 and issued a joint statement.

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

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