Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are restoring diplomatic ties and reopening embassies, according to two officials. More than two years after Arab states terminated a boycott of Doha that had fractured the Western-aligned Gulf Arab bloc.
“The activation of diplomatic ties, which will include the reopening of embassies, is currently underway between both countries,” an official from the United Arab Emirates said in response to a query from Reuters.
Mid-June, according to a Gulf official, embassies are anticipated to reopen with new ambassadors in place. According to a third source, diplomatic ties will be entirely restored within weeks.
Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed last month to re-establish relations after years of hostility that threatened stability in the Gulf and fueled the war in Yemen, as part of a broader regional drive for reconciliation.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt severed all ties with Qatar in the middle of 2017 over allegations that it supported terrorism, a reference to Islamist organizations, and was cozying up to Iran, which Doha denied.
In 2021, Riyadh and Cairo were the first to nominate ambassadors to Doha following a Saudi-led settlement. While Bahrain announced last week that it would restore diplomatic ties.
Except for Bahrain, all nations had restored trade and travel connections with Qatar by the beginning of 2021. When the UAE had indicated that resuming diplomatic ties would take time.
Last year, relations between the UAE and Qatar improved, and the leaders of both nations met face-to-face.
“The UAE’s foreign policy is primarily focused on building bridges, economic cooperation, and regional de-escalation,” stated an unnamed UAE official.
The second Gulf official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that Qatari and Emirati officials agreed to restore diplomatic relations at the end of last month and that Abu Dhabi has informed Doha of the identity of its envoy. Qatar has not yet followed suit, the official noted.
When contacted by Reuters, the Qatari foreign ministry declined to comment.
Workmen laid new pavement outside the UAE consular office in Doha last week. And it appeared that palm trees had been recently planted in the garden. Another UAE embassy building across the street appeared abandoned, with its garden overgrown and upper-story windows splayed open.
