Saudi Arabia announced on Thursday that it is reopening its border with Qatar to allow Qataris to attend the haj, despite a months-long rift between Doha and four Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia.
The decision came after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a surprise meeting with Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani, a Qatari royal family member whose branch of the family was ousted in a palace coup in 1972.
Saudi state media broke the news overnight on Thursday. Qatar did not officially comment on the deal until its Foreign Minister was pressed by reporters during a briefing in Sweden some 12 hours later.
Call to lift blockade
Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said he welcomed the Saudi decision, but that the measures must also include a full lifting of the blockade.
The official Saudi Press Agency reported that Qatari pilgrims will be allowed to enter the kingdom by land and would then be flown onward from two Saudi airports in Dammam and al-Ahsa at the king’s expense. Saudi state TV also said that 100 Qataris had arrived at the border crossing on Thursday.
