Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt cut ties with Qatar over ‘terrorism’

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Bahrain have cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing the Gulf nation of supporting terrorism, according to official statements issued by the four countries.

Saudi Arabia will suspend sea and air travel to and from Qatar, and also shut land crossings with the country, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said on Monday. 

It also invited "fraternal and friendly countries and international companies to implement the same procedure." 

The cutting of ties comes over what Saudi Arabia referred to as “serious violations” by Doha, namely its support for several terrorist and sectarian groups that aim to create instability in the region, the Kingdom said in its statement.

Qatar has also been expelled from the Saudi-led coalition currently fighting in Yemen, SPA said in a separate statement.

Relations between Qatar and its GCC neighbors have been tense ever since state-run Qatar News Agency ran comments attributed to Qatari ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, which were said to be critical of Gulf allies and called for easing tensions with Iran.

Qatar later claimed the statements were fake and a result of the government website being hacked.

Meanwhile, Qatari nationals and residents in Saudi Arabia have a period of 14 days to exit Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain have previously withdrawn their ambassadors from Doha during an eight-month rift in 2014. 

Oil prices rose on Monday morning following the news. Brent crude was last up 1.3 percent at $50.59, while WTI was trading 1.3 percent higher at $48.29.

Write to Jerusha Sequeira at jerusha.s@argaamnews.com