Qatar Joins GCC Meeting for the First Time Since 2017

Published January 5th, 2021 - 08:36 GMT

For the first time since 2017, Qatar’s ruler Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani will attend the 41st Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Saudi Arabia today, January 5th.

This decision has come after Saudi Arabia announced to open air, space, sea boarder with its neighbouring country and lift the blockade.

The 41st GCC summit is held in the Saudi Arabia's Al-Ula area. Saudi crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman revealed the meeting would create a united front, would bolster peace and prosperity and lead to a closing of ranks to promote solidarity in the face of regional challenges.

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A Saudi journalist is pictured in front of the logo of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at the media centre ahead of the 41st summit in the city of Al-Ula in northwestern Saudi Arabia on January 5, 2021. FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP

Saudi Arabia will reopen its borders and airspace to Qatar; US and Kuwaiti officials said, a major step towards ending a diplomatic rift that has seen Riyadh lead an alliance isolating Doha. The bombshell announcement came on the eve of GCC annual summit in the northwestern Saudi Arabian city of Al-Ula, where the dispute was already set to top the agenda. FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP

Journalists are pictured at the media centre ahead of the 41st Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in the city of Al-Ula in northwestern Saudi Arabia on January 5, 2021.FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP

The bombshell announcement came on the eve of GCC annual summit in the northwestern Saudi Arabian city of Al-Ula, where the dispute was already set to top the agenda. FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP

A general view taken on January 5, 2021 shows the airport in the Saudi city of Al-Ula upon the arrival of journalists and delegates to cover the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, as the diplomatic row that has split the Gulf since 2017, pitting regional power Saudi Arabia and its allies against gas-rich Qatar, is set to thaw as leaders of the six Gulf nations meet. Fayez Nureldine / AFP

GCC people hail Saudi Arabia's lift of Qatar blockade. (Twitter)

GCC people hail Saudi Arabia's lift of Qatar blockade. (Twitter)

Saudi Arabia will reopen its borders and airspace to Qatar; Kuwaiti foreign minister said on January 4, 2021, more than three years after Riyadh sealed both and led an alliance to isolate Doha. The bombshell announcement came on the eve of a six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) annual summit in the northwestern Saudi Arabian city of Al-Ula, at which the dispute was already set to top the agenda. Fayez Nureldine / AFP

A Saudi journalist is pictured in front of the logo of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at the media centre ahead of the 41st summit in the city of Al-Ula in northwestern Saudi Arabia on January 5, 2021. FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP
Saudi Arabia will reopen its borders and airspace to Qatar; US and Kuwaiti officials said, a major step towards ending a diplomatic rift that has seen Riyadh lead an alliance isolating Doha. The bombshell announcement came on the eve of GCC annual summit in the northwestern Saudi Arabian city of Al-Ula, where the dispute was already set to top the agenda. FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP
Journalists are pictured at the media centre ahead of the 41st Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in the city of Al-Ula in northwestern Saudi Arabia on January 5, 2021.FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP
The bombshell announcement came on the eve of GCC annual summit in the northwestern Saudi Arabian city of Al-Ula, where the dispute was already set to top the agenda. FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP
A general view taken on January 5, 2021 shows the airport in the Saudi city of Al-Ula upon the arrival of journalists and delegates to cover the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, as the diplomatic row that has split the Gulf since 2017, pitting regional power Saudi Arabia and its allies against gas-rich Qatar, is set to thaw as leaders of the six Gulf nations meet. Fayez Nureldine / AFP
GCC people hail Saudi Arabia's lift of Qatar blockade. (Twitter)
GCC people hail Saudi Arabia's lift of Qatar blockade. (Twitter)
Saudi Arabia will reopen its borders and airspace to Qatar; Kuwaiti foreign minister said on January 4, 2021, more than three years after Riyadh sealed both and led an alliance to isolate Doha. The bombshell announcement came on the eve of a six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) annual summit in the northwestern Saudi Arabian city of Al-Ula, at which the dispute was already set to top the agenda. Fayez Nureldine / AFP
A Saudi journalist is pictured in front of the logo of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at the media centre ahead of the 41st summit in the city of Al-Ula in northwestern Saudi Arabia on January 5, 2021. FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP
A Saudi journalist is pictured in front of the logo of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at the media centre ahead of the 41st summit in the city of Al-Ula in northwestern Saudi Arabia on January 5, 2021. FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP
Saudi Arabia will reopen its borders and airspace to Qatar; US and Kuwaiti officials said, a major step towards ending a diplomatic rift that has seen Riyadh lead an alliance isolating Doha. The bombshell announcement came on the eve of GCC annual summit in the northwestern Saudi Arabian city of Al-Ula, where the dispute was already set to top the agenda. FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP
Saudi Arabia will reopen its borders and airspace to Qatar; US and Kuwaiti officials said, a major step towards ending a diplomatic rift that has seen Riyadh lead an alliance isolating Doha. The bombshell announcement came on the eve of GCC annual summit in the northwestern Saudi Arabian city of Al-Ula, where the dispute was already set to top the agenda. FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP
Journalists are pictured at the media centre ahead of the 41st Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in the city of Al-Ula in northwestern Saudi Arabia on January 5, 2021.FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP
Journalists are pictured at the media centre ahead of the 41st Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in the city of Al-Ula in northwestern Saudi Arabia on January 5, 2021.FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP
The bombshell announcement came on the eve of GCC annual summit in the northwestern Saudi Arabian city of Al-Ula, where the dispute was already set to top the agenda. FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP
The bombshell announcement came on the eve of GCC annual summit in the northwestern Saudi Arabian city of Al-Ula, where the dispute was already set to top the agenda. FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP
A general view taken on January 5, 2021 shows the airport in the Saudi city of Al-Ula upon the arrival of journalists and delegates to cover the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, as the diplomatic row that has split the Gulf since 2017, pitting regional power Saudi Arabia and its allies against gas-rich Qatar, is set to thaw as leaders of the six Gulf nations meet. Fayez Nureldine / AFP
A general view taken on January 5, 2021 shows the airport in the Saudi city of Al-Ula upon the arrival of journalists and delegates to cover the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, as the diplomatic row that has split the Gulf since 2017, pitting regional power Saudi Arabia and its allies against gas-rich Qatar, is set to thaw as leaders of the six Gulf nations meet. Fayez Nureldine / AFP
GCC people hail Saudi Arabia's lift of Qatar blockade. (Twitter)
GCC people hail Saudi Arabia's lift of Qatar blockade. (Twitter)
GCC people hail Saudi Arabia's lift of Qatar blockade. (Twitter)
GCC people hail Saudi Arabia's lift of Qatar blockade. (Twitter)
Saudi Arabia will reopen its borders and airspace to Qatar; Kuwaiti foreign minister said on January 4, 2021, more than three years after Riyadh sealed both and led an alliance to isolate Doha. The bombshell announcement came on the eve of a six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) annual summit in the northwestern Saudi Arabian city of Al-Ula, at which the dispute was already set to top the agenda. Fayez Nureldine / AFP
Saudi Arabia will reopen its borders and airspace to Qatar; Kuwaiti foreign minister said on January 4, 2021, more than three years after Riyadh sealed both and led an alliance to isolate Doha. The bombshell announcement came on the eve of a six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) annual summit in the northwestern Saudi Arabian city of Al-Ula, at which the dispute was already set to top the agenda. Fayez Nureldine / AFP

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