Saudis permanently close only land border with Qatar

 Saudi Arabia has permanently closed its only land border with Qatar, which continues to be blockaded by the kingdom and some of its Gulf neighbours. According to a document issued by Saudi Arabia’s customs directorate, the Salwa border gate had been shut permanently since Monday night. The letter said Saudi officials ordered the closure. The […]

 Saudi Arabia has permanently closed its only land border with Qatar, which continues to be blockaded by the kingdom and some of its Gulf neighbours.

According to a document issued by Saudi Arabia’s customs directorate, the Salwa border gate had been shut permanently since Monday night.

The letter said Saudi officials ordered the closure.

The move comes as an ongoing diplomatic crisis nears eight months.

The gate was first closed two weeks after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing it of financing “terrorism” and maintaining too close a relationship with their regional rival, Iran. Doha denies the allegations.

The border was then reopened for two weeks in August for pilgrims who wished to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage to pass through.

At the time, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani welcomed the move, but said it was a “politically motivated decision”.