عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Gulf

Qatari Vehicles Start Crossing Border into Saudi Arabia

A file photo taken on June 23, 2017, shows a general view of the Qatari side of the Abu Samrah border crossing with Saudi Arabia. (File/AFP)
A file photo taken on June 23, 2017, shows a general view of the Qatari side of the Abu Samrah border crossing with Saudi Arabia. (File/AFP)
TT
TT

Qatari Vehicles Start Crossing Border into Saudi Arabia

A file photo taken on June 23, 2017, shows a general view of the Qatari side of the Abu Samrah border crossing with Saudi Arabia. (File/AFP)
A file photo taken on June 23, 2017, shows a general view of the Qatari side of the Abu Samrah border crossing with Saudi Arabia. (File/AFP)

Qatari vehicles crossed into Saudi Arabia through a land border on Saturday for the first time since Arab states severed diplomatic and transport ties with Doha in mid-2017, Saudi state TV said, following a deal this week to restore relations.

"It's good the crisis has been resolved, and the warm welcome we had, and the happiness we see in our brothers," the driver of the second car to pass through the Abu Samra-Salwa crossing told Ekhbariya TV.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday announced an end to the dispute with Qatar.

Also, a UAE official this week said travel and trade links could resume within a week of the deal.

Qatar Airways on Thursday began re-routing some of its flights through Saudi airspace, Reuters reported.

Etihad airways, Abu Dhabi's carrier, also intends to recommence services between Abu Dhabi and Doha, a spokesperson said on Saturday.

Measures to contain the spread of the new coronavirus are in place on both sides of the Saudi-Qatar land border.

All arrivals into Qatar crossing at Abu Samra must present a negative COVID-19 test, take a new test at the border and quarantine for one week in one of a number of selected hotels.

Most Viewed

 
 
Gulf

Saudi FM Meets with Singaporean Counterpart, Signs MoU to Establish Strategic Partnership Council

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Wednesday with his Singaporean counterpart. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Wednesday with his Singaporean counterpart. SPA
TT
TT

Saudi FM Meets with Singaporean Counterpart, Signs MoU to Establish Strategic Partnership Council

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Wednesday with his Singaporean counterpart. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Wednesday with his Singaporean counterpart. SPA

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met on Wednesday with Singapore’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan.

The two officials reviewed bilateral relations and discussed ways to enhance them in various fields to achieve the aspirations of the two leaderships and their peoples.

Following the meeting, the two ministers signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a Strategic Partnership Council between the two countries. This reflects the commitment of both the Kingdom and Singapore to advance their relations across multiple domains, and aims to increase the volume of trade exchange, which reached $1 billion in 2024, thereby opening new horizons for cooperation between the two nations.

The meeting concluded with a press briefing delivered by Prince Faisal, during which he highlighted that the establishment of the Strategic Partnership Council represents a valuable opportunity to enhance cooperation and partnership across various sectors, particularly within the framework of initiatives linked to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

Prince Faisal also emphasized that Singapore is one of the world’s most important financial hubs and that the Kingdom looks forward to continuing its collaboration with Singapore to achieve broader economic benefits.