Severed ties will “not affect” Egyptian laborers in Qatar

CAIRO – 7 June 2017: Recent developments in Qatari-Egyptian relations “have no effect” on Egyptian laborers in Qatar, Prime Minister Sherif Ismail said following a Tuesday Cabinet meeting.

“Egypt’s government is following up the consequences of severing diplomatic relations with Qatar, and we formed an emergency committee to assist Egyptians in Qatar,” Ismail told reporters following a meeting of the economic ministerial group, adding that the government will never harm Qatari students at Egyptian universities.

Answering a question about Qatari investments in Egypt, the prime minister said, “It’s too early to predict their future.” He added, however, that Egyptian exports of gas will not be affected.

Egypt, along with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Yemen, Libya’s eastern-based government and the Maldives severed diplomatic ties with Doha on Monday over accusations that Qatar is backing terrorist groups.