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 West Asia 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.

ME