Relationship dossier
Qatar
United Arab Emirates
Relationship assessment
Relations recovered after the 2017 Gulf crisis, with diplomatic ties restored and embassies reopened.
Qatar toward United Arab Emirates
-15Qatar severed diplomatic relations with the UAE on 5 June 2017 amid the Gulf crisis. The two governments later restored diplomatic relations under the 2021 Al-Ula reconciliation and reopened embassies in 2023.
United Arab Emirates toward Qatar
-25The UAE joined measures against Qatar during the 2017 Gulf crisis, including severing diplomatic relations and restricting travel and transport links. The UAE later participated in the 2021 Al-Ula reconciliation, and the two countries reopened embassies in 2023.
Overall relationship
-15The relationship has included a major episode of government-led confrontation, followed by formal reconciliation and the restoration of diplomatic channels. The 2021 Al-Ula reconciliation and 2023 embassy reopenings mark a substantial recovery, while the depth of subsequent cooperation and resolution of crisis-era disputes remain uncertain.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Qatar and the United Arab Emirates moved from a severe rupture in 2017 to restored diplomatic relations in 2021 and reopened embassies in 2023. The UAE participated in the measures against Qatar during the 2017 Gulf crisis; Qatar severed diplomatic relations in response. Subsequent normalization has resumed official contact, though the depth and durability of cooperation remain unclear.
Areas of tension
- The UAE's participation in the 2017 measures against Qatar, including diplomatic and transport restrictions.
- Qatar's severance of diplomatic relations with the UAE during the 2017 Gulf crisis.
Key developments
Qatar severed diplomatic relations with the UAE amid the Gulf crisis; the UAE also severed ties and imposed restrictions as part of the measures against Qatar.
The Al-Ula reconciliation marked the restoration of relations between Qatar and the UAE.
Qatar and the UAE reopened their embassies, resuming diplomatic missions in Doha and Abu Dhabi.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of post-2021 bilateral cooperation are unclear.
- The extent to which disagreements from the 2017 crisis remain unresolved is uncertain.