First Qatari vehicles cross into Saudi Arabia after borders reopen

  • Date: 09-Jan-2021
  • Source: The Independent
  • Sector:Transport
  • Country:Qatar
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First Qatari vehicles cross into Saudi Arabia after borders reopen

Vehicles from Qatar have crossed a land border into Saudi Arabia for the first time since Arab states severed diplomatic and transport ties with Doha more than three years ago, Saudi state TV has reported.The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced on Friday it would reopen its borders and airspace to Qatar, signalling an easing of the UAE's boycott of the energy-rich country.The decision to restart commerce and travel took effect on Saturday, after the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announced a US-backed deal to end the dispute on Tuesday. The dispute saw Riyadh, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt impose an embargo on Doha in 2017 over allegations that it supported terrorism and was close to Iran.Qatar denied the charges, and has maintained the boycott was aimed at curtailing its sovereignty.The driver of the second car to pass through the Abu Samra-Salwa crossing told Ekhbariya TV: “It's good the crisis has been resolved, and the warm welcome we had, and the happiness we see in our brothers.”While the travel and trade links have resumed, a UAE official said earlier this week that restoring diplomatic ties between the countries would require more time as both parties worked to rebuild trust.Qatar's national carrier, Qatar Airways,