JEDDAH: Saudis living in Qatar have 14 days to leave the country effective Monday, following the Kingdom’s decision to cut relations with Qatar.
Some students are sitting their finals until June 22, which marks the end of the academic year in most private schools and universities in Qatar.
Saudi academic Hatoon Al-Fassi, who teaches at Qatar University, told Arab News that the situation is still unclear.
“I woke up to this news… Do I need to pack up all my stuff?” she asked, adding that the only source of information is the government statement. She had not yet received a statement from the university.
The UAE and Bahrain have also banned their citizens from vising Qatar, and are demanding that residents there leave within 14 days.
The three Gulf countries have told Qataris to leave within the same period.
The Kingdom said the move is due to “security reasons and as a precautionary procedure,” the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Al-Fassi said she hoped things will become clearer in the next few days, or that there will be an extension of the 14-day period.
She pointed out that there are Saudis who are married to Qataris, and questioned what they and their children will do and whether they will be separated.
There is also ambiguity regarding people’s work and businesses. Al-Fassi wondered if people will be compensated for the expenses of moving country and getting new homes. “I see this as a nightmare at a people’s level, regardless of the dispute between countries,” she said.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry posted an infograph on its official Twitter account directed to the people of Qatar, describing it as “a letter of affection and love after severing relations with Qatar for our national security.”
The infograph states: “Saudi Arabia will remain supportive to the security and stability of the people of Qatar. Saudi Arabia is committed to providing services and Haj and Umrah facilitations to Qatari pilgrims.” It added that Qataris are “an extension to their siblings in Saudi Arabia.”
Saudis in Qatar try to readjust following severing of ties
Saudis in Qatar try to readjust following severing of ties
Saudi Arabia celebrates Flag Day with displays, special events
- Nation goes green in show of unity, belonging
- Current design of the flag, which represents unity and sovereignty, was adopted in 1937
RIYADH: A new art exhibition has opened at King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh, as the country celebrates Flag Day, which fell on Wednesday.
The event, titled “In Love with Green,” is being held in collaboration with the Saudi Art Association and features 20 fine art paintings inspired by the Saudi flag, as well as other cultural and contemporary images and landmarks.
The current design of the flag, which represents unity and sovereignty, was adopted in 1937. It features the Shahada and a sword symbolizing justice and safety, representing the unification of the Kingdom during the reign of King Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
The exhibition, at the library’s services branch and reading halls on Khurais Road, was opened by the library’s Director General Bandar Al-Mubarak and the association’s board chair Hanaa Al-Shibly.
Visitors can attend from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Elsewhere in the country, public spaces and buildings have become a sea of green for Flag Day.
In Al-Baha, government buildings, squares and main roads were decorated with green lighting and national flags were hoisted in public squares.
It was a similar picture in Makkah, where people celebrated the annual show of pride and belonging against a green backdrop.
In Tabuk, authorities installed more than 7,000 flags along roads, squares and bridges, while the region’s landmarks and tunnels were illuminated with green and white lights.
More than 10,000 Saudi flags were also hoisted in Jazan, where Souk Al-Awalin in Jazan City is set to host a range of events and performances to mark the special occasion.
