Arab countries to jointly take on Qatar media

jeddah — The four Arab countries boycotting Qatar have decided to together take on Qatar’s media campaign that is spreading hate and falsehood. The information ministers of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt said they would frame a joint strategy to counter Doha’s tactics. At a meeting in the Saudi port city of Jeddah, they also rejected Qatar’s attempt to politicise the Haj and using the sacred religious ritual for its political agendas.

“The meeting focused on the importance of continuing joint coordination across different media outlets in face of terrorism and extremism in all their forms,” the quartet said in a statement.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been across history assuming a great role in serving pilgrims and ensuring their care and comfort, exerting all possible efforts to streamline rituals of Haj and Umrah for all Muslims.”

Meanwhile, Qatar said it would allow some expatriates to obtain permanent residency, a move

Saudi Arabia has been assuming a great role in serving pilgrims and ensuring their care and comfort Arab ministers’ joint statement

that has been viewed as a sop to prevent the exit of its labour force who have been affected by the current boycott.

A draft law approved at a cabinet meeting will allow permanent residence to the children of Qatari women married to non-Qataris, as well as expatriates who provide outstanding services to Qatar, the report said.

“According to the provisions of the bill, the minister of interior may grant a permanent residency ID to a non-Qatari if they meet the conditions specified in the law,” the cabinet statement carried by Qatar News Agency said. —Reuters

dubai — Qatar plans to allow some expatriates to obtain permanent residency, state news agency QNA reported, in the first move of its kind among Gulf Arab states that rely heavily on foreign labour.

A draft law approved at a cabinet meeting will allow permanent residence to the children of Qatari women married to non-Qataris, as well as expatriates who provide outstanding services to Qatar, the Wednesday evening report said.

“According to the provisions of the bill, the minister of interior may grant a permanent residency ID to a non-Qatari if they meet the conditions specified in the law,” the cabinet statement carried by QNA said.

Gulf Arab countries have a high number of expatriate workers but do not allow naturalisation of foreigners except in rare cases and under strict conditions.

Qatar has a population of 2.7 million including some 300,000

the minister of interior may grant a permanent residency id to a nonQatari if they meet the conditions specified in the law

QNA, state news agency

citizens and has been reluctant to extend residency rights out of concern for the demographic balance.

Holders of the new permanent residency can for the first time access free state education and healthcare and have the right to own property and run some businesses without needing a Qatari partner, QNA said.

The world’s wealthiest country per capita, Qatar is under international pressure to improve conditions for hundreds of thousands of foreign workers building facilities for the 2022 World Cup. —