Qatar, Saudi Arabia Resume Trade Through Abusamra Border Crossing

Commercial traffic resumed at Qatar’s Abusamra crossing with Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Commercial traffic resumed at Qatar’s Abusamra crossing with Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Qatar, Saudi Arabia Resume Trade Through Abusamra Border Crossing

Commercial traffic resumed at Qatar’s Abusamra crossing with Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Commercial traffic resumed at Qatar’s Abusamra crossing with Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Qatari General Authority of Customs announced Wednesday the resumption of commercial traffic through the Abusamra border crossing with Saudi Arabia

The cargo movement at the port will be carried out in accordance with a number of terms and procedures.

The scheduled maintenance work at Abusamra will start during the second quarter of 2021 for 14 months.

The Authority issued a statement announcing several regulatory and precautionary controls for transiting goods from the Salwa border port in Saudi Arabia to the Abu Samra border port.

The Authority announced that truck drivers coming from Salwa border port in Saudi Arabia must obtain a certificate authenticated by the Saudi Ministry of Health, proving that they have been tested for coronavirus, 72 hours prior to the date of entry into Abusamra port.

Otherwise, drivers and trucks transporting goods through Abusamra will not be permitted to enter the country, and the goods will be unloaded and re-loaded onto local trucks by the importer or his representative in the port.

The authority stipulated the return of tucks and drivers to Salwa port in Saudi Arabia immediately after the completion of the unloading process in Abusamra port.

Specialized laboratories to test goods were transferred to other locations, announced by the Authority, indicating that samples will be taken for examination and analysis by the competent authorities.

Goods of a dangerous nature will be kept at the port until the results of the examination and laboratory analysis are released.

All exporters of goods through Abusamara port to Salwa port shall comply with the instructions issued by Saudi Customs before proceeding to export or re-export the goods, to avoid any delay or rejection of the goods upon arrival at Salwa port.

Goods exported or re-exported from Qatar are transported by local trucks through Abusamara port to Salwa port, as determined by the Saudi authorities.

Saudi Arabia resumed relations with Qatar, ending a years-long boycott, during the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) AlUla Summit last January.



EU Announces Aid for Syria and Countries Hosting Syrian Refugees

This handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency SANA, shows Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) meeting with EU crisis management chief Hadja Lahbib in Damascus, on January 17, 2025. (SANA / AFP)
This handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency SANA, shows Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) meeting with EU crisis management chief Hadja Lahbib in Damascus, on January 17, 2025. (SANA / AFP)
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EU Announces Aid for Syria and Countries Hosting Syrian Refugees

This handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency SANA, shows Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) meeting with EU crisis management chief Hadja Lahbib in Damascus, on January 17, 2025. (SANA / AFP)
This handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency SANA, shows Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) meeting with EU crisis management chief Hadja Lahbib in Damascus, on January 17, 2025. (SANA / AFP)

A top European Union official announced an aid package of 235 million euros ($244 million) for humanitarian needs within Syria and for countries in the region hosting displaced Syrians, especially Türkiye.

Speaking alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday during a visit to Ankara after her trip to Syria, Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality, said that the situation in Syria was dire,

“The needs are dramatically immense. The humanitarian crisis is affecting millions of Syrians, and the EU will continue to work and to alleviate the suffering in response to the basic needs of the people," Lahbib said.

Türkiye hosts the world’s largest number of refugees, including up to 3 million Syrians.

“Türkiye’s hospitality for the Syrian refugees has been crucial over the years,” Lahbib said. “Türkiye’s role is crucial in providing humanitarian corridors for the EU to deliver emergency assistance to Syria.

“The region is in geopolitical turmoil, and it would be important for the European Union to work together with Türkiye and provide the adequate response by the international community.”