Arab News

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman welcomed on Tuesday the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to AlUla 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.

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.

Other GCC leaders arrived at Saudi Arabia’s AlUla 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.

#LIVE: Leaders of the six Nations that form the GCC start to arrive at Saudi Arabia’s #Alula for #GCCSummit41https://t.co/0sMeAX6iv9

— Arab News (@arabnews) January 5, 2021

Discussions during the summit are expected to cover the current on-going war in Yemen between the Iran-backed Houthi militia and forces under President 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 the GCC summit in Saudi Arabia, an official source told Reuters news agency.