UAE-Qatari joint families get respite from expulsion

UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have announced measures that take into account humanitarian circumstances of citizens who have married Qatari nationals, reports Khaleej Times.

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has instructed to consider the UAE and Qatari joint families in view of the ongoing Qatar crisis.

The UAE Ministry of Interior  has dedicated a phone number, 971800262, to help such families.

Meanwhile, Riyadh and Manama too have issued directives to address the humanitarian cases of Saudi-Qatari joint families, in recognition of the Saudi and Bahraini relations with the Qatari people.

The interior ministries of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain too have assigned phone numbers to receive these cases and take appropriate action.

The official Saudi Press Agency said that these measures "were in line with the statement issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the severing of relations with the State of Qatar for the reasons contained in the wording of the resolution and its procedures.

The statement issued by the Bahraini News Agency said that "following the statement of severing diplomatic relations with the State of Qatar and the measures taken against it as a result of its continued hostile behavior against the Kingdom of Bahrain, a Royal Order was issued by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, taking into account the humanitarian situation of Bahraini-Qatari joint families. "