Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Wednesday named an ambassador to Saudi Arabia, just weeks after the Kingdom named Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Farhan to serve as the Saudi ambassador to Qatar.
The appointment of Bandar Mohammed Al Attiyah as Qatari ambassador to Riyadh further cements the end of the rift between Saudi Arabia and other GCC nations and Qatar. In January, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain lifted the boycott imposed in mid-2017 against the tiny Gulf state and restored political, trade and travel ties with Doha.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the UAE severed ties with Qatar in 2017 and Saudi Arabia has closed its airspace and land border with the country. Saudi Arabia and Egypt have both re-established diplomatic ties with Qatar, but the UAE and Bahrain have yet to do so. The Kingdom lead the way in bringing an end to the dispute in January.
According to Reuters, Al Attiyah previously served as Qatar’s ambassador to Kuwait, which had mediated in the Gulf conflict.
Qatar is set to play host to the World Cup in 2022, the next major global sporting event to take place after Japan hosted the Olympic Games this summer.
