DUBAI: In a significant breakthrough, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar have announced the reopening of their respective embassies, ending a six-year period of strained relations between the Gulf nations.
The move comes after the end of a nearly four-year blockade imposed on Qatar by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt, which accused Qatar of supporting extremist organizations and having close ties with Iran.
UAE and Qatar Embassies to Resume Work
The official announcement of the restoration of diplomatic representation between the UAE and Qatar was made on Monday through statements from both countries’ official channels. According to the UAE’s WAM news agency, the two nations will resume work at the UAE’s embassy in Doha, as well as Qatar’s embassy in Abu Dhabi and its consulate in Dubai.
Qatar, UAE Announce Restoration of Diplomatic Representation#MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/LkokHj5sRr
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) June 19, 2023
The reconciliation between the UAE and Qatar began in January 2021 when the blockade on Qatar was lifted. Since then, efforts have been made to rebuild diplomatic ties and foster a sense of cooperation and understanding. This latest development is seen as a significant step toward normalizing relations and enhancing regional stability.
The reopening of the embassies between the UAE and Qatar follows a broader trend of Gulf reconciliation. In March of this year, Saudi Arabia and Iran announced the end of a seven-year break in ties, signifying a major milestone in their strained relationship. The subsequent round of reconciliation efforts has yielded positive results, with Qatar and Bahrain also mending their ties in April.
#UAE, #Qatar announce restoration of diplomatic representation by resuming the work at UAE Embassy in #Doha, and Qatar Embassy in #AbuDhabi and its consulate in #Dubai as of Monday, 19th June 2023. #WamNews https://t.co/TdhkMCrjk3 pic.twitter.com/qhVKnNHxOM
— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) June 19, 2023
Another noteworthy development in Gulf relations is the recent visit of Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan to Iran, where he met with President Ebrahim Raisi. This meeting further solidified the ongoing rapprochement between the two heavyweight rivals. As a part of the thawing relations, Iran reopened its embassy in Riyadh earlier this month.
