Qataris and foreigners converge on Doha’s waterfront to greet emir after first trip abroad since start of Gulf crisis.

Thousands of people have gathered in central Doha to welcome back the emir of Qatar following his trips in Europe and the UN General Assembly, in a show of unity in the wake of a nearly four-month diplomatic crisis in the Gulf.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani returned to the Qatari capital on Sunday after concluding his first foreign trip since the major crisis erupted on June 5 when a Saudi-led group of Arab countries cut ties with Qatar and imposed a land, sea and air blockade on it.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt accuse Qatar of supporting “terrorism”, an allegation Doha strongly denies.

Patriotic fervour

Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra said that thousands of Qataris and members of the expatriate community had amassed in Doha’s waterfront, known as Corniche, to greet the emir as his motorcade passed by.

“This is a very important moment for the people of Qatar,” Ahelbarra, reporting from Corniche, said.

“For them this is a show of unity and also a message to the international community that despite the fact that a blockade was imposed on the country, they continue to fight for what they consider to be a legitimate right to defend the sovereignty of Qatar.”

The show of unity was also aimed at refuting rumours from other Gulf media outlets that Qataris are looking for a change of leadership.

“This display of passion and patriotic fervour among the Qataris is really quite unprecedented,” Ahelbarra said.

Al Jazeera