New directive issued for Emiratis married to Qataris

UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has issued a directive to provide special consideration for families where Emiratis have married Qataris, official news agency WAM reported.

The move comes after the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and other Arab states cut all ties with Qatar on Monday, accusing the Gulf state of supporting terrorist groups.

The three GCC states also ordered all Qataris to leave their countries within 14 days, while also ordering their citizens to leave Doha.

Saudi, UAE and Bahrain also shut their embassies in Doha and cut all air and land links with the country. They have also shut down the offices of Qatar Airways in their countries and stopped the airline from operating to the countries.

Along with the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain also announced measures to consider the humanitarian circumstances of their citizens who have married Qatari nationals, reported WAM.

Those seeking further information have been urged to call the following hotline numbers – UAE: +9718002626, Saudi Arabia: +966112409111, Bahrain: +97317399821.

No other details were given.

On Saturday, Qatar state news agency QNA reported that Doha had no plans to expel the nationals of countries that had cut diplomatic ties with it.

QNA carried a statement, attributed to the Ministry of Interior, which said there was no change in policy toward the nationals of “brotherly and friendly countries which cut or reduced diplomatic relations”.

Read more: Qatar says nationals of countries that cut ties will not be expelled