Egypt’s Sisi Arrives in Doha on Rare Visit, Is Welcomed by Sheikh Tamim

In this photo provided by Egypt's presidency media office, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, right, accompanies Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, on his arrival in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Sept.13, 2022. (Egyptian Presidency Media Office via AP)

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi arrived in Qatar on Tuesday on a rare two-day official visit.

He was welcomed at the airport by Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

It is the first visit in nine years by an Egyptian president to Qatar.

It is the first by Sisi after Cairo and Doha mended relations in wake of a diplomatic rift.

An informed Egyptian source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Cairo hopes the visit would achieve “tangible progress” over political understandings related to Gaza, Libya and other issues of common interest.

Sisi is accompanied by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri and chief of intelligence Abbas Kamel.

Sheikh Tamim had visited Egypt in June.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain had boycotted Qatar since 2017 over charges it supported terrorism.

An agreement signed in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla ended the row early last year, and Qatar and Egypt have moved to rebuild relations.