Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman welcomed on Tuesday the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani to Al-Ula ahead of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, as the Qatari leader stepped off the plane.
The two men embraced and then spoke briefly before walking down the red carpet to a waiting car.
WATCH: A warm embrace shared by rival Gulf leaders as the Qatar blockade ends after more than three years.
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) January 5, 2021
Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman welcomes Qatari Emir Tamim al-Thani as he arrives in Al-Ula for the GCC Summit. pic.twitter.com/zpUbYsvafm
Saudi Arabia reopened its airspace and land and sea borders with Qatar on Monday, in a breakthrough agreement aimed at ending the three-year diplomatic dispute with Doha. The full deal is expected to be signed at the annual summit in AlUla.
Watch the moment Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani arrives in Saudi Arabia for a historic summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
He was greeted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ? pic.twitter.com/p6iD54YsWe— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 5, 2021
Other GCC leaders arrived at Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ula ahead of the 41st summit on Tuesday.
Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Monday the summit would create a united front, would bolster peace and prosperity and lead to a closing of ranks to promote solidarity in the face of regional challenges.
Discussions during the summit are excepted to cover the current on-going war in Yemen between the Iran-backed Houthi militia and forces undercPresident Abdorabbu Mansour Hadi, as well as relations with the USA and President elect Joe Biden.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry is expected to take part in GCC summit in Saudi Arabia, an official source told Reuters news agency.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
