The UAE has eased a ban on the shipping of goods between it and Qatar, enforced under a political and economic boycott of Doha, according to port circular. An Abu Dhabi Ports circular cancelled previous directives that banned cargoes of Qatar origin from UAE waters and ports, and those of UAE origin from Qatar.
Specifically on June 2017, the Saudi Arabia Port Authority confirmed that no vessel will be allowed coming from or going to Qatar, regardless of the vessels’ flag or owners nationality. In addition, vessels which are already in port and destined for Qatar as their next destination will not receive Port clearance.
Nevertheless, Abu Dhabi Ports announced that Qatari-origin cargoes are now permitted to enter UAE’s ports and vice versa.
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Yet, Qatari-owned or Qatari-flagged vessels are still banned from the UAE, and UAE-flagged vessels are still not permitted to visit Qatar.
Moreover, the ban doesn’t seem to be reaching to an end, as UAE foreign minister Dr. Anwar Gargash commented that the crisis turned Qatar into an ‘orphaned stage’.
He also stated that the four participants that hold the embargo, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt, will not change their mind and will maintain their decision.
Based on the boycott, Saudi Arabia shut down the border with Qatar and the other participants imposed shipping sanctions.
After the ban, Qatar had to adjust its import and export logistics, including finding new routes to and from Oman.
Yet, despite the ban Qatar has continued its business without difficulty.
