Reconciliation in Gulf: Qatar and UAE to restore diplomatic ties

Dubai News

After more than two years of a boycott that shattered the Western-allied Gulf Arab bloc, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are in the process of restoring diplomatic ties and reopening embassies. This comes amid a broader regional push for reconciliation with Iran and Saudi Arabia, who agreed last month to re-establish relations after years of hostility. The restoration of ties between Qatar and the UAE is expected to involve the reopening of embassies with new ambassadors in their posts by mid-June.

In mid-2017, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt severed all ties with Qatar over accusations of supporting terrorism and cosying up to Iran, which Doha denied. Riyadh and Cairo were the first to reappoint ambassadors to Doha in 2021 after a Saudi-led deal to end the dispute, while Bahrain announced last week that it would restore diplomatic ties.

The restoration of diplomatic ties between Qatar and the UAE is a significant step forward, given that the UAE had suggested in early 2021 that resuming diplomatic ties would take time. The warming of relations between the two countries began last year, and leaders of both countries met face-to-face. The restoration of diplomatic ties comes at a time when the UAE’s foreign policy is primarily focused on building bridges, economic cooperation, and regional de-escalation, according to a UAE official who declined to be identified.

Late last month, Qatari and Emirati officials agreed to restore diplomatic ties, according to a Gulf official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Abu Dhabi has informed Doha who its envoy would be, but Qatar has yet to do the same, the official added. Workers in the Qatari capital of Doha have been laying new sidewalks outside the consular section of the UAE embassy, and palm trees appeared to have been recently planted in the garden. Across the street, another UAE embassy building seemed abandoned, its garden overgrown, and upstairs windows propped open.

The restoration of diplomatic ties between Qatar and the UAE is being seen as a positive development that could contribute to regional stability and reconciliation. It remains to be seen how this development will affect the broader geopolitical landscape of the Gulf, but it is clear that the two countries are taking steps to restore their relationship after years of tension.