UAE resumes travel, trade relations with Qatar, reopens all entry points

FOLLOWING United States-backed agreement, visitors seeking to enter the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for business or pleasure from Qatar, have reasons to be jubilant as the federation of seven emirates along the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula will reopen all its land, sea and air entry points with Qatar starting Saturday, January 16.

The development is coming after a deal that ended a bitter dispute between the Gulf States. However, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Gargash said some issues would take a longer time to fix, adding that measures would include “practical measures of airlines, shipping and trade.”

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt had in 2017, imposed an embargo on Qatar, over allegations that it supports terrorism, and cosying up to Iran. Qatar, however,  denied the allegations, saying the boycott is aimed at curtailing its sovereignty.

The neighbouring countries, however, at a summit on Tuesday, January 5, agreed to restore full diplomatic ties with the oil rich Qatar.

Saudi Arabia was the first to announce restoration of diplomatic relations with the sanctioned Qatar, with its Foreign Minister, Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, saying Riyadh and its allies would restore all ties with Doha that was severed in mid-2017.

A UAE official told a virtual news conference on Thursday, that Arab states boycotting Qatar could resume travel and trade links with Doha within a week, but restoring diplomatic ties would require more time as parties work to rebuild trust.

Restored air links to the UAE’s regional aviation hub will be important for Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup.

Qatar Airways said it would begin rerouting some of its flights through Saudi airspace.