DUBAI (Reuters) – The United Arab Emirates will reopen all land, sea and air access points with Qatar starting Saturday, state news agency WAM said on Friday.
Saudi Arabia expressed disappointment at ending a dispute between Gulf Arab states and Qatar at a summit on Tuesday, with its foreign minister saying Riyadh and its allies would restore all ties with Doha separated in mid-2017.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt put the embargo on Qatar over allegations that it supports terrorism and is coercing up to Iran’s enemy. Doha denies the allegations and says the boycott was aimed at reducing its sovereignty.
A UAE official told a keynote news conference on Thursday that Arab states could boycott Qatar resume travel and trade ties with Doha within a week of the US-backed agreement, but that diplomatic ties must be renewed more time while parties work to rebuild trust.
UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said measures would include “practical measures of airlines, shipping and trade”.
Qatar Airways said Thursday it would begin re-routing some of its flights through Saudi airports.
Redeveloped air links to the UAE regional air hub will be important for Qatar’s hosting for the 2022 World Cup.
Reciting with Raya Jalabi; edited by John Stonestreet and Giles Elgood