Skip to main content

Saudi Arabia agrees to open airspace, border to Qatar

The agreement, announced by Kuwait, could spell an end to the diplomatic crisis between the two Gulf states that began in 2017.

A general view of the Qatari side of the Abu Samrah border crossing with Saudi Arabia on June 23, 2017. 
On June 5, Saudi Arabia and its allies cut all diplomatic ties with Qatar, pulling their ambassadors from the gas-rich emirate and giving its citizens a two-week deadline to leave their territory. The measures also included closing Qatar's only land border, banning its planes from using their airspace and barring Qatari nationals from transiting through their airports. / AFP PHOTO / KARIM JAAFAR        (
A general view of the Qatari side of the Abu Samrah border crossing with Saudi Arabia on June 23, 2017. — KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia has agreed to open its borders with Qatar, Kuwait’s top diplomat said today, in a major development in the rift between the two Gulf states.

Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Ahmad Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah announced on Monday the agreement to open the airspace and land and sea borders between Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Subscribe for unlimited access

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more

$14 monthly or $100 annually ($8.33/month)
OR

Continue reading this article for free

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more.

By signing up, you agree to Al-Monitor’s Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Already have an account? Log in