GCC Crisis
The dispute began on 5 June 2017, with the suspension of diplomatic ties and introduction of a blockade by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Bahrain on Qatar.
Throughout the dispute, mediation efforts were undertaken by the sisterly State of Kuwait and the United States of America. Qatar worked through established channels and mechanisms to raise relevant issues and resolve concerns in order to reach a consensus. The Government of Qatar continues to believe that any issues can and should be solved through dialogue and discussion.
The end of the dispute affirmed the cohesion of the Gulf states, and advanced collective cooperation, while respecting the sovereignty and independence of the member states.
Blockade timeline
Below is a timeline of key moments since the start of the GCC diplomatic crisis:
24 May 2017
GCO releases statement on QNA hacking and investigation is launched.
5 June 2017
Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt announce the cutting of ties with Qatar.
19 June 2017
The citizens of blockading countries are forcibly recalled from Qatar.
21 June 2017
US State Department comments that the US is “mystified” over why the blockading countries have not released details about their grievances towards Qatar.
23 June 2017
The blockading countries issue 13 demands, which Qatar rejects on 1 July.
11 July 2017
Qatar and the US sign an MoU on combatting terrorism and its financing.
9 September 2017
His Highness the Amir calls Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss the dispute; President Trump arranges the call. Shortly after, Saudi Arabia suspends dialogue with Qatar accusing it of “distorting facts”.
30 October 2017
Qatar submits complaint to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) against the blockading states that they had breached international law.
19 December 2017
Qatar Central Bank launches an investigation into attempts to harm the Qatari economy through the manipulation of its currencies, securities and derivatives markets.
10 January 2018
Qatar seeks international arbitration to end the blockade following a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) report which documents violations by the blockading countries.
30 January 2018
The inaugural US-Qatar Strategic Dialogue is held in Washington, DC.
16 February 2018
HH the Amir speaks at the Munich Security Conference to discuss Qatar’s role in regional security and the unjust actions of the blockading nations.
11 June 2018
The State of Qatar initiates proceedings against the UAE before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for human rights violations against Qataris and residents of Qatar.
29 June 2018
ICAO rejects objections submitted by the blockading nations to Qatar’s complaint, prompting the blockading nations to appeal to the ICJ.
23 July 2018
The ICJ issues an order granting the State of Qatar’s request for provisional measures against the United Arab Emirates in a case relating to the UAE’s unlawful discriminatory treatment of Qatari citizens.
18 December 2018
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) announces it will establish a panel to investigate Qatar’s allegations of intellectual property theft against Saudi Arabia over the pirate broadcaster beoutQ.
13 January 2019
The second annual US-Qatar Strategic Dialogue is held in Doha during which Qatar and the US affirmed their continued support for a strong and united GCC.
8 April 2019
Qatar sues banks in Luxembourg, the UAE and Saudi Arabia for engaging in currency manipulation of the Qatari Riyal.
30 May 2019
His Excellency the former Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, attends an emergency summit on regional security in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
14 June 2019
The ICJ rejects a request by the UAE for measures against Qatar in a case relating to the UAE’s unlawful discriminatory treatment of Qatar and the Qatari people.
13 November 2019
Football federations in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain announce participation in the Arabian Gulf Cup in Qatar.
10 December 2019
HE the former Prime Minister and Minister of Interior attends the 40th GCC Summit in Riyadh.
22 February 2020
Saudi Arabia refuses to issue a visa for Her Excellency the Minister for Public Health to attend a GCC meeting to address Coronavirus.
16 June 2020
The WTO rules that Saudi Arabia has promoted and supported pirate broadcaster beoutQ, which had breached intellectual property rights by pirating content from beIN SPORTS and other broadcasters.
14 July 2020
The ICJ rejects the blockading nations’ appeals and rules that ICAO has jurisdiction over Qatar’s complaints.
14 September 2020
At the third Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue, former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo states that the US is “eager to see this dispute resolved, and to reopen Qatar’s air and land borders currently blocked by other Gulf states. I look forward to progress on this issue”.
18 September 2020
President Trump awards His Highness the Amir of Kuwait the US Legion of Merit for his efforts in mediating the GCC crisis.
12 November 2020
The UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights visits Qatar from 1 to 12 November and publishes a subsequent report urging the blockading countries to “immediately withdraw” all sanctions and measures aimed at restricting Qatar’s rights.
5 January 2021
Qatar welcomes the Al-Ula Declaration on the sidelines of the 41st session of the Supreme Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), bringing an end to the Gulf crisis.
22 February 2021
Qatar and the UAE hold their first meeting since the Al-Ula Declaration to discuss the necessary means and measures to enhance the joint work process of the GCC countries.
23 February 2021
Qatar and Egypt hold their first meeting since the Al-Ula Declaration to develop mechanisms and procedures for the future.
31 March 2021
The first meeting of the Qatari-Saudi Follow-up Committee takes place in order to see to the implementation of the will of the two countries’ leaderships and what was included in Al-Ula Declaration.