Three-and-a-half-year Gulf crisis ends; Four countries have lifted sanctions against Qatar

Riyadh: Four countries, including Saudi Arabia, have lifted sanctions against Qatar over an end to a three-and-a-half-year Gulf crisis.

An agreement to this effect was also signed at the GCC summit. This marked the end of the greatest crisis since the formation of the modern Gulf.

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman, Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jabil Al Sabah, UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister Fahad bin Mahmoud Al Sayed and GCC Secretary General Naif Fahad Mubarak Al Hajraf have signed an agreement to lift the embargo.

The signing comes after Saudi Arabia lifted its border embargo on Qatar and opened land, air and sea routes to Qatar. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain have lifted sanctions on Qatar.

Despite the lifting of the embargo, the decision was made to continue discussions on controversial issues.

Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Saudi Arabia to attend the GCC Summit. The Emir of Qatar received a warm welcome in Saudi Arabia.

On June 5, 2017, the Saudi-led UAE, Egypt and Bahrain imposed diplomatic, transport and trade sanctions on Qatar over its alleged links to terrorism.