Here’s how the locked-down Saudi Arabia-Qatar border became one of the tensest places on earth, sparking outrageous plans to build a 37-mile-long canal and turn Qatar into an island

Reuters

Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been at each other’s throats since a June 2017 bust-up saw the Kingdom severe ties with its neighbor.
The Saudis, backed by six Gulf states, accused Qatar of supporting terrorism and backing Saudi Arabia’s mortal enemy — Iran.
The 41-mile land border which used to let in 40% of Qatar’s food was sealed off, and has remained so since.
Here’s what’s going on and why the dispute shows no sign of letting up.
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In June 2017, Saudi Arabia cut all diplomatic and trade ties with its neighbor Qatar in dramatic circumstances, shunning the peninsula.

The Saudis, backed by six Gulf states who consider Saudi to be the regional hegemon, accused Qatar of supporting terrorists, and siding with Iran, Saudi Arabia’s arch nemesis.

Qatar’s only border, shared with Saudi Arabia, used to let in 40% of all Qatar’s food imports. It was closed, and remains a ghost-town to this day.

The dispute hit new heights in late 2018, when Saudi Arabia said it planned to entirely sever Qatar from the mainland by digging a huge canal.

Here’s what has happened, and what’s likely to happen next.

The Qatari-Saudi land border has been closed for more than 2 years after a huge falling out between Qatar and the Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Here’s why.

Reuters

Qatar is a tiny peninsula, sharing its only land border with Saudi Arabia, the de-facto leader and hegemon of the seven Gulf states.

Google Maps

The Gulf states are Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Iraq did not join the boycott, and continues to strengthen its political and financial relationship with Qatar.

The border, with Saudi Arabia’s Rub al-Khali desert on one side, is just 41 miles long.

Google Maps

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