Qatar tourism official calls Egyptians enemies

An event that was meant to promote a summer tourism campaign in Qatar took an interesting turn when the country’s secretary-general of the National Tourism Council, Akbar Al-Baker, described the Egyptian people as “enemies”, announcing that they will not be given entry visas anymore, while simultaneously calling on residents to invite their friends and family on visa-free summer visits.

“We are open, as you already see I have made an announcement that we will even attract families and friends of people that live in Qatar and make for them visa-free arrival program at Mohammed International Airport,” al-Baker said.

Al-Baker later



went on to say: “The visa will not be open for our enemies - it will be open for our friends,” al-Baker said of Egyptians looking to come. “Are visas open for us to go there? No. So why should we open it for them? Everything is reciprocal.”

In 2017, Egypt announced the end of visas upon arrival for Qatari nationals, not a complete ban. They also announced an exemption from this for Qatari nationals with Egyptian mothers, those married to Egyptians, and Qataris studying in Egypt.

Qatar has not said it would deport Egyptian residents already in the country and the comments did not suggest a policy shift that could endanger their status.