UAE and Qatar to reopen embassies today

Announcement made on the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website based on Al Ula agreement

The UAE and Qatar have been working to reopen embassies as part of the move to re-establish ties. Bloomberg

The UAE government has confirmed the reopening of its embassy in Doha on Monday, while Qatar's embassy in Abu Dhabi and consulate in Dubai will also resume work.

The announcement on the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website said that, based on the AlUla agreement and the keenness of both countries to strengthen relations, the embassies would reopen.

"The two sides affirm that this step comes as an embodiment of the will of the leaderships of the two countries," the ministry said.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, spoke to Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman.

They congratulated each other on the resumption of work in the embassies, state news agency Wam reported.

The UAE and Qatar have been working to reopen embassies as part of the move to re-establish ties two years after the 2021 AlUla agreement ended the Gulf rift.

Washington welcomed the move.

"This is another important step forward among our Gulf Co-operation Council partners to promote regional stability and mutual co-operation," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said this “positive step” confirms the strength of relations between the GCC states and contributes to strengthening joint Gulf action to achieve the aspirations of the countries and peoples of the region.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar in 2017, accusing it of supporting terrorism and interfering in the affairs of regional states, which Doha denied.

The end of the dispute came in 2021 with Qatar joining other GCC states in Saudi Arabia to unveil the AlUla declaration aimed at forming a “unified and geostrategic bloc” to face common challenges.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt were the first to appoint ambassadors to Doha, and Bahrain said last in April that it would restore ties, including travel links.