According to reports by the Kuwaiti state news agency Saudi Arabia is to reopen its land and sea border with Qatar.
The borders have been shut since 2017. The move is seen as the first step to ending the diplomatic crisis between the two countries. According to several reports, Qatar will, in return, drop its lawsuits against Saudi and its allies, as part of a broader agreement to defuse tensions, which is due to be signed on 5 January 2021. The border with Saudi is Qatar’s only land border.
Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain have also been part of the blockade. Kuwait has been mediating between Qatar and the four states. The change allows the Qatari leader to attend the GCC summit which is being held in Saudi.
According to reports in Arab News Saudi will also be reopening its airspace to Qatar. Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE have also agreed to fully restore ties with Qatar.
They signed the Al Ula Declaration with Qatar during the 41st summit of GCC leaders.
They have committed to fully restoring all diplomatic ties, but it is unclear what this means in practice and how long the process will take.