Deadline for Qataris to leave UAE has passed
And Bahrain orders country’s military to depart from base
ABU DHABI // The deadline for Qatari nationals to leave the UAE passed yesterday, as the Gulf political crisis showed no signs of resolution.
Bahrain ordered all Qatari military personnel serving in the US-led coalition fighting ISIL as part of the US Naval Forces Central Command, which is based in Bahrain, to leave.
“The Bahrainis told the US general in command of the base that Qatari soldiers must leave,” a source said. “They are still in the base but likely to leave within the next two days.”
Qatar is not thought to have a significant number of troops at the base, and probably a small number of officers.
Bahrain accuses Qatar of direct interference in its internal affairs going back to the Arab Spring.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt moved to isolate Qatar on June 5 over Doha’s use of its media to attack them and its support for extremism. The measures included an unprecedented order for all Qataris in the three GCC countries to leave within 14 days.
An exception for Qataris married to Saudi or Emirati citizens was declared by the two countries last week as a humanitarian gesture.
Qatari citizens are not allowed to transit through the UAE, and all direct travel and commerce links have been severed.
As a result, Qataris returning home by air will have to travel through Oman or Kuwait, the two GCC states that have not joined the isolation of Qatar.
The land route, a six- hour drive from Abu Dhabi to Doha, is blocked as Riyadh has closed the Saudi-Qatar border.
“The easiest and most viable option is to go via Muscat,” a UAE flight analyst said. “The aviation authority has blocked all flights. They have specifically blocked Qatari airlines from going over UAE airspace.”
“The problem becomes how to get their personal belongings home in short notice,” the analyst said. “That would require shipping containers, so that also has to be addressed.”
But travel is less of a concern than managing school, jobs and businesses as the crisis continues. Qatari businesspeople have reportedly been selling their assets in the UAE before the deadline, and there have been few signs of a quick resolution.
US secretary of state Rex Tillerson is leading Washington’s efforts to mediate between its GCC allies.
Qatar has also sought diplomatic support from its economic and strategic partners.
The emirate is the main supplier of natural gas to the UAE, through the Dolphin pipeline that supplies 2 billion cubic feet of gas daily to the UAE and to Oman. Doha has no plans to suspend the gas supply, Qatar Petroleum said yesterday.