Bahrain and United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced plans to restore diplomatic ties with Qatar, concluding process to end almost six-year intra-Gulf rift.

Bahrain and UAE announced plans to re-establish formal relations with Qatar. Bahrain and Qatar 13 April revealed intention to restore diplomatic ties after pair held second round of dialogue at Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretariat in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh. Shortly after, UAE and Qatari officials 18 April told reporters both countries were working to reopen embassies and restore ties; Bahrain and UAE, along with Saudi Arabia and Egypt, severed ties with Qatar and imposed blockade in June 2017, marking beginning of tense intra-Gulf confrontation lasting until 2021. While announcements mark full resumption of ties between Qatar and all former blockading states, signalling entire GCC’s intent to turn page after 2017-2021 rift, tensions and friction points continue to plague intra-GCC relations, including economic competition between Saudi Arabia and UAE as well as disputes between UAE and Qatar over latter’s alleged ties to Islamists in region.

Country signed reconciliation deal to end three-and-a-half-year intra-Gulf dispute. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emiratesand Bahrain agreed to reopen their land, air and sea borders with Qatar after all four states and Egypt 5 Jan signed al-Ula Declaration at Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh; agreement ends three-and-a-half-year blockade of Doha by three neighbouring states and Egypt who cut ties with Qatar in July 2017.

UN top court backed Qatar in dispute with United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt over air blockade. Following three-year anniversary of intra-Gulf dispute in June, International Court of Justice 14 July upheld International Civil Aviation Organisation’s decision to hear Qatar’s case regarding closure of airspace to Qatari civil aviation; Qatar Airways next day announced it will seek compensation for financial losses due to “illegal airspace blockade” and 22 July launched international arbitration against blockading Gulf states, seeking $5bn compensation for financial losses due to airspace blockade. Following meeting with FM Mohammed al-Thani, U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook 26 July said blockade has “continued for too long” and was harming shared regional interests in stability and security. U.S. along with Qatar and five other Gulf states 15 July imposed sanctions on six targets accused of providing financial support to Islamic State (ISIS) leadership in Iraq and Syria. Qatari defence minister and Turkish counterpart 20 July met in Turkey’s capital Ankara to discuss bilateral security cooperation.

Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Qatar continued amid new legal development coinciding with three-year anniversary of Gulf crisis. Regional dispute that led Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Egypt to break off diplomatic relations with Qatar entered its fourth year on 5 June. World Trade Organization (WTO) 16 June issued verdict in dispute between Qatar and Saudi Arabia; WTO said Saudi Arabia had breached obligations to protect intellectual property of Qatari-owned broadcaster by actively supporting Saudi pirate broadcaster.

Suspected Saudi disinformation campaign further dimmed prospects for resolution of ongoing Saudi-Qatari spat. Saudi Gazette newspaper 3 May alleged that member of Qatari ruling family, Sheikh Mubarak bin Khalifa Al-Thani, had called on Emir Al-Thani to step down, prompting next day wide circulation of Twitter hashtag “coup in Qatar” alongside video appearing to show gunshots in Qatari city Wakrah; Doha-based professor said video was fake, tracing pattern of amplification to Saudi-based Twitter users.

After sudden rise in COVID-19 cases with 238 new cases detected in one day 11 March, govt 15 March said it would suspend incoming flights for two weeks starting 18 March and approved $23.3bn economic stimulus. Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani 15 March ordered delivery of six tonnes of medical aid to Iran.

Govt 15 Feb confirmed that efforts to resolve intra-Gulf dispute between Qatar and Saudi-led bloc stalled early Jan, after preliminary discussions that began in Oct failed to reach diplomatic breakthrough. U.S. and Afghan Taliban 29 Feb signed peace deal in capital Doha (see Afghanistan).

Amid rising regional tensions Emir Al-Thani visited Iran and govt enhanced energy ties with Kuwait. Following U.S.’s 3 Jan killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, Emir Al-Thani 12 Jan met Iranian President Rouhani in Tehran; after meeting, Emir said “only solution to these crises is de-escalation from everyone and dialogue”. State-run Qatar Petroleum 5 Jan signed 15-year deal to provide 3mn tonnes of liquefied natural gas to Kuwait each year from 2022.

Emir Al-Thani did not attend Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Saudi capital, Riyadh 10 Dec but sent PM, highest ranking Qatari to attend GCC summit since beginning of dispute in June 2017; meeting achieved no breakthrough on tensions between Saudi-led bloc and Qatar. FM 15 Dec said recent talks with Saudi Arabia had broken stalemate and introduced line of communication; FM announced govt would analyse demands of blockading countries but would refuse to alter relations with ally Turkey to end dispute.

Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain sent players to Gulf Cup football tournament in Qatar to run 24 Nov-8 Dec, which they had previously planned to boycott. In further sign of possible thawing relations, Emir Al-Thani 15 Nov offered condolences to UAE after death of Sheikh Sultan, second son of country’s founder Sheikh Zayed. During visit to Qatar, Turkish President Erdoğan 25 Nov announced completion of Turkish military base there.