Qatar, the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and a part of Middle East which was largely free from war and political turmoil in the recent years, was hit by one of the major crises in recent times.

On 5 June 2017, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut down all political, economic and diplomatic links with Qatar. Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain gave Qatari citizens 14 days to leave their territory and banned their own citizens from travelling to or residing in Qatar. Later land, air and water links were closed.

However, Kuwait and Oman – the other two Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states – did not join them.