Egypt to end visas on arrival for Qataris

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister, Sheikh Sabah al-Khaled al-Sabah (L) speaks with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry during a meeting in the capital Cairo, on July 17, 2017. AFP

Egypt said it would end visas on arrival for Qatari citizens as a dispute between four Arab states and the Gulf emirate continues over allegations that Doha supports terrorism.

The measure, which goes into effect on Thursday, will not include spouses of Egyptians or university students who will be granted tourist visas on arrival, foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said.

The decision was announced on Monday as Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah, who is trying to mediate an end to the dispute.

Shoukry insisted that Qatar has to meet the demands of the Arab bloc to end an embargo, a foreign ministry statement said.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have demanded that Qatar stop supporting the Muslim Brotherhood movement and close broadcaster Al-Jazeera which they accuse of inciting unrest in their countries.

The Gulf crisis is the worst to hit the region since the establishment of the Gulf Cooperation Council in 1981./rga