The Road to Reconciliation - Qatar and Feuding Neighbours Resolve to Unite

On January 5th 2021, at the 41st GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Summit in Al Ula in Saudi Arabia, the three and a half year Gulf blockade that saw Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates boycott their Arab neighbour Qatar, came to an end. The countries involved in the crisis each signed an agreed pledge to resolve the dispute through dialogue and negotiations. The reconciliation between the five Middle Eastern countries will see diplomatic and trade ties restored, land, sea and air borders reopened, and the cessation of hostilities between the media on either side. Not only is the resolution a win for the Middle Eastern economy and regional stability, and Arab society, but it is also a triumph for the 2022 FIFA Football World Cup...

The Blockade

The Gulf crisis began on June 5th 2017 when Saudi Arabia, and its regional allies, imposed a blockade on Qatar over disputes around several political differences. Diplomatic and economic relations between the two sides were severed, borders were closed, airspace restricted and sea routes suspended, and Qatari citizens were expelled from the GCC countries involved in the blockade.

Though absorbed by the nation's government, the economic fall out of the blockade against Qatar was high. The crisis introduced numerous logistical problems for Qatar in terms of food supplies, the supply of goods and materials, and travel for citizens, visitors, and business people. Socially, the blockade saw families and loved ones forced and kept apart for almost four years. Additional issues included the banning of Qatari media outlets by the blockading nations, including news agency Al Jazeera and sports channel BeIN Sports, and the disruption of sporting events. The 23rd Arabian Gulf Cup football tournament, due to be hosted in Qatar in November 2017, was cancelled and had to be rescheduled and held in Kuwait. And, doubts were raised over the 2022 FIFA World Cup's hosting rights as calls to replace Qatar as hosts were mooted. Indeed, doubts over whether the World Cup tournament's infrastructure could be completed on time under blockade conditions were also endlessly reported.

During the crisis, Qatar worked tirelessly, and successfully, to mitigate the impact of the blockade. New supply lines for food, goods, materials, energy, etc., were established. New travel and transportation routes were realised and agreed. Channels for lawfully disputing the blockade were followed. In truth, after the initial few weeks of the embargo, Qatar continued to operate as close to normal as possible. And, the preparations for the World Cup tournament amazingly continued at such a pace that, even with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, almost 90% of the infrastructure preparations were completed over two years in advance of the 2022 kick-off date.

However, despite Qatar's successes throughout the crisis, the blockade's end is a massive win for all concerned. The deal, mediated by Kuwait and backed by the United States, lays the foundations for a more united region which will benefit all, at home and abroad, in terms of economy, trade, political initiatives, security, tourism and investment. After the global economic crisis brought about by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, regional cooperation and a united front will be crucial to recovery. For citizens from all of the blockade countries, divided families and friends can now reunite. And, equally as important, people can begin the process of social reconciliation - a catalyst to accelerate the process will be Qatar's 2022 World Cup, which itself will benefit from the new regional alliance.

The Crisis and the World Cup

In early January, as the first cars drove through the land border between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and as the first planes from Doha and Riyadh touched down on each other's soil, the 2022 World Cup organisers also had cause for celebration. 

A united Middle East will have copious benefits for the world's biggest football tournament. The end to the blockade ensures that the competition will be held in a more peaceful and relaxed environment, minus the PR battle which raged between the countries during the crisis and inevitably saw the tournament drawn into the crossfire. It also removes the travel complications that would have meant that fans from numerous Middle Eastern countries would either be unable to or struggle to attend the once in a lifetime event. Considering the large and ardent football fan base in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, for example, the opening of all borders will guarantee a greater attendance across the tournament and a united and celebratory atmosphere in the stands. 

Indeed, the 2022 tournament will be the first global event celebrated post-blockade and, hopefully, post-pandemic. The contest will not only be a glorious celebration of football but also of the social reconnections regionally and globally. Qatar promised a tournament that brought people together but, considering the impact on society of blockade and the pandemic, this collective celebration will be more uniting than could have been imagined. 

More practically, the easing of restrictions also provides the entire region with the opportunity to capitalise on the event. The tournament will add value to regional transport links, tourism, hospitality and sports industries, etc. Dubai is Qatar's nearest and the region's largest transport hub will inevitably be instrumental in transporting fans to and from the tournament. Bahrain and the UAE are Qatar's closest neighbours and major tourist hubs, which could both offer accommodation during the event. Saudi Arabia and Dubai both have well-defined sporting facilities, which could be used as training camps and fan zones throughout the competition. All of which eases the pressure on Qatar in terms of providing services and amenities, and offers more options for tournament delivery.

Not only does the end of the embargo spell positive steps for the stability and security of the region, but on the global stage, it allows the Middle East to collectively shine a positive light on the region during the World Cup.