Latest News

  • Home
  • Global
  • Saudi Arabia hints at plan to turn Qatar into an island
Saudi Arabia hints at plan to turn Qatar into an island
Monday, September 3, 2018 IST
Saudi Arabia hints at plan to turn Qatar into an island

RIYADH: A Saudi official hinted on Friday the kingdom was moving forward with a plan to dig a canal that would turn the neighbouring Qatari peninsula into an island, amid a diplomatic feud between the Gulf nations.
 

 
 

"I am impatiently waiting for details on the implementation of the Salwa island project, a great, historic project that will change the geography of the region," Saud al-Qahtani, a senior adviser to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, said on Twitter.
 
The plan, which would physically separate the Qatari peninsula from the Saudi mainland, is the latest stress point in a highly fractious 14-month long dispute between the two states.
 
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar in June 2017 , accusing it of supporting terrorism and being too close to Riyadh's archrival, Iran -- charges Doha denies.
 
In April, the pro-government Sabq news website reported government plans to build a channel — 60 kilometres (38 miles) long and 200 metres wide — stretching across the kingdom's border with Qatar.
Part of the canal, which would cost up to 2.8 billion riyals ($750 million), would be reserved for a planned nuclear waste facility, it said.
 
Five unnamed companies that specialise in digging canals had been invited to bid for the project and the winner will be announced in September, Makkah newspaper reported in June.
 
Saudi authorities did not respond to requests for comment and there was no immediate reaction on the plan from Qatar.
 
After the dispute erupted last year, Qatar — a small peninsula nation — found its only land border closed, its state-owned airline barred from using its neighbours' airspace, and Qatari residents expelled from the boycotting countries.
 
Mediation efforts led by Kuwait and the US, which has its largest Middle East air base in Qatar, have so far failed to resolve the dispute.
 

 
 
 
 
 

Related Topics

 
 
 

Trending News & Articles

 Article
'Worse than prison': A rare look inside China's detention camps to 'brainwash' Muslims

ALMATY: Hour upon hour, day upon day, Omir Bekali and other detainees in far western China's new indoctrination camps had to disavow the...

Recently posted . 209K views . 1 min read
 

 Article
What The Shape Of Your Belly Button Says About Your Health

If you have payed attention to the belly buttons of people on the beach or the members of your family, you have probably noticed that they have different shapes and...

Recently posted . 10K views . 2 min read
 

 Article
New ‘Langya’ virus hits China as 35 people found infected: How deadly is it?

The Langya henipavirus has a place with a similar group of infections, including Nipah, which is known to kill up to 3/4 of people in extreme cases.

Recently posted . 5K views . 1 min read
 

 Article
Queen Elizabeth Dies At 96: The New Royal Line Of Succession

Queen's death: The eldest of her four children, Charles, Prince of Wales, who at 73 was the oldest heir apparent in British history, became king immediately...

Recently posted . 5K views . 1 min read
 

 
 

More in Global

 Article
Earth’s Magnetic Field is Messed up: Satellites, Spacecrafts & Your Phone May Stop Working

Scientists say one of the reasons for this weakening magnetic field in the region could indicate an imminent reversal, where the North Pole and the South Pole swi...

Recently posted. 738 views . 1 min read
 

 Article
Home Decor Tips | 6 ways on how to make your room look bigger

The struggle of making your small room look bigger is so real for almost all the people. That's why today we bring you six useful home decor ideas to make your ...

Recently posted. 876 views . 1 min read
 

 Article
Prince Harry, Meghan to quit royal jobs, give up 'highness' titles

LONDON: Goodbye, your royal highnesses. Hello, life as - almost - ordinary civilians.  

Recently posted. 708 views . 0 min read
 

 Video
Born Realist - Success knows no Boundaries



Recently posted . 1K views
 

 Reviews
The Best 5 Camping Tents in India 2018 – Reviews & Buying Guide



Recently posted . 3K views . 99 min read
 

 Article
Postcards from space: Why do photographs clicked in space have no stars behind?

Here is one of the most famous images in history, clicked by the first man on the Moon.  

Recently posted. 758 views . 0 min read
 

 Article
'System failure': Popular tourist spot goes underwater after drainage system fails

Venice in Italy was under water on Tuesday after a newly installed system of mobile artificial dams failed to activate.

Recently posted. 663 views . 0 min read
 

 
 
 

   Prashnavali

  Thought of the Day

“Be very careful about what you think. Your thoughts run your life.”
Anonymous

Be the first one to comment on this story

Close
Post Comment
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST


ads
Back To Top