UAE prime minister calls Qatar for returning to the Gulf house

Emirati Prime Minister Mohamed Bin Rashed called the Qatari government for returning to the Gulf House and respecting the demands raised by its neighboring states. He stressed that the Qatari official should prove their good will by responding to these demands as soon as possible to pave the way for lifting the current boycott against the Gulf’s tiny state.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, published a poem on his official Instagram account urging Qatar to return to the Arab fold. Titled Al Dharb Wadeh (The Route Is Wide And Clear), the poem starts with Sheikh Mohammed referencing the Qatar crisis. He said the noble stance the UAE has towards its neighbours means it is, and always will be, the champion of rights of neighbours.

"We will keep advising Qatar openly in line with the instructions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), when he said in a prophetic Hadith (saying): A wolf eats only an out-of-the-way sheep," it read.

Alongside the poem, Sheikh Mohammed posted a photo of him and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. In the poem, he called Shaikh Mohamed bin Zayed the best brother and supporter. He said they were each other's heart and soul and stood together to preserve the country, protect the Emirati people and ward off aggression.

As the poem progressed, Shaikh Mohammed said Qatar should return to the passionate umbrella of its home, the GCC, which will safeguard it from the fangs of wolves. "Now, it is time to get united and be one heart and protect each other without any grudge or hatred." Shaikh Mohammed said. He also reaffirmed that the doors of dialogue are still open, saying "whatever the differences, our neighbour shall always be safe".

Qatar escalated its moves on Thursday as an ultimatum issued by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain is expected to expire on July 3. The four Arab states imposed sanctions on Doha, which has been given 10 days to comply with the demands or face unspecified consequences.

However, Qatar on Thursday decided to escalate by insisting to transfer its crisis with the four states to the meeting of the World Trade Organization on Friday, according to agencies. “Qatar said it wanted to discuss trade restrictive measures by certain members,” in a sign to the dispute with the four states, who have accused Doha of supporting terrorism.

Meanwhile, the director of Qatar’s World Trade Organization office, Ali Alwaleed al-Thani told Reuters that Qatar was considering a complaint at the WTO against a “blockade” by the Arab states. “We are exploring all possible legal avenues, including, but not limited to, the (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body,” Ali Alwaleed said.

Other sources said that Doha wants to hire a Swiss law firm to request compensations for citizens affected by the Gulf decision to cut ties with Qatar.

After Qatar’s Al Jazeera channel announced the arrival of additional Turkish troops to Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar’s defense minister Khalid bin Mohammad Al Atiyyah will make an official visit to Turkey on Friday for talks on the latest developments related to the Gulf crisis. Diplomatic sources said that the Qatari minister would also tackle specific aspects of the Turkish military base in Qatar.

In Washington, Qatar’s Foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said on Thursday that his country was working with the United States and Kuwait to respond to a list of demands presented by the four Arab states. “We have to set the conditions first in order to pursue these negotiations,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

On Wednesday, demonstrators gathered outside the embassy of Qatar in Washington and asked US President Donald Trump to take clear positions in exerting pressures on Qatar, who is accused of supporting terrorism.