Emirates and Qatar re-establish diplomatic relations
A new phase in relations between the United Arab Emirates and Qatar has begun. After announcing the resumption of their diplomatic ties, the two Gulf countries have gone a step further and opened their respective embassies in Abu Dhabi and Doha, which had been closed since 2017.
In that year, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the Emirates severed all ties with Qatar, which they accused of supporting terrorism and Islamist organisations that gained popularity during the Arab Spring, such as the Muslim Brotherhood. Due to the boycott imposed against Qatar, Doha began to move closer to countries with Islamist governments such as Turkey - also accused of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood - and Iran, with whom it strengthened its partnership on various issues.
This blockade came to an end in January 2021 thanks to the mediation of countries such as Kuwait. Through the Al-Ula Declaration, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries at odds with Qatar lifted the boycott and began to announce the re-establishment of relations with Doha. In this sense, Saudi Arabia - along with Egypt - was the first country to reopen its diplomatic mission in the neighbouring kingdom.
The UAE thus becomes the third nation to officially resume diplomatic ties with Qatar, as Bahrain has not yet reopened its embassy, although it has agreed to restore relations.
"This step represents the willingness of the leaders of the two countries to consolidate joint Arab action in a manner that achieves the aspirations of the two friendly nations," the Emirati Foreign Ministry said in a statement carried by the Emirati news agency, WAM.
Emirati chief diplomat Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan spoke by telephone with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani to coincide with the embassy openings, a "vital" event that, according to the Emirati minister, "establishes a new stage of cooperation and partnership between the UAE and Qatar, and affirms the depth of fraternal relations between the two countries and their peoples".
In addition to congratulating each other on the resumption of diplomatic missions, the two leaders discussed ways to strengthen cooperation to achieve common goals, as well as regional and international developments.
Since the meeting in Al-Ula, Abu Dhabi and Doha have boosted their bilateral ties in areas such as security, economy and trade. This rapprochement was highlighted last December with a visit to Qatar by Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed. This trip, the first by the Emirati leader since the blockade, consolidated this new phase between the two Gulf nations, which has now been strengthened with the reopening of the embassies.