Cars crossing the Qatari side of the Abu Samra border into Saudi Arabia following a deal to end a political standoff that began in 2017. AFP
Cars crossing the Qatari side of the Abu Samra border into Saudi Arabia following a deal to end a political standoff that began in 2017. AFP
Cars crossing the Qatari side of the Abu Samra border into Saudi Arabia following a deal to end a political standoff that began in 2017. AFP
Cars crossing the Qatari side of the Abu Samra border into Saudi Arabia following a deal to end a political standoff that began in 2017. AFP

First Qatari vehicles cross border into Saudi Arabia after Gulf detente


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Qatari vehicles crossed into Saudi Arabia through a land border on Saturday for the first time since Arab states severed diplomatic and transport ties with Doha in mid-2017, Saudi state TV said, following a deal this week to restore relations.

"It's good the crisis has been resolved, and the warm welcome we had, and the happiness we see in our brothers," the driver of the second car to pass through the Abu Samra-Salwa crossing told Ekhbariya TV.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday announced a US-backed deal to end the dispute with Qatar during which Riyadh, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt imposed an embargo on Doha over allegations that it supports terrorism and is cosying up to Iran.

So far no flights have resumed between Qatar and the four Arab states. Qatar Airways on Thursday began rerouting some of its flights through Saudi airspace.

Measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus are in place on both sides of the Saudi-Qatar land border.

All arrivals into Qatar crossing at Abu Samra must present a negative Covid-19 test, take a new test at the border and quarantine for a week in one of a number of selected hotels, the Qatar News Agency said.

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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

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