Dubai: Shaikh Abdullah Bin Ali Al Thani, the Qatari whose mediation efforts led to the easing of restrictions on Qatari pilgrims and visitors to Saudi Arabia, has dismissed allegations that he was motivated by personal interests.
Reports surfaced that Shaikh Abdullah secured a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud on Wednesday and King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud on Thursday in Tangiers, Morocco, to discuss personal matters regarding his properties in Saudi Arabia. The claims were attributed to Shaikh Mohammad Bin Abdul Rahman, Qatar’s foreign minister.
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However, Shaikh Abdullah posted a denial on his newly-launched Twitter account.
“With all due respect to Shaikh Mohammad Bin Abdul Rahman, he was wrong. I did not present anything personal to the king or the crown prince. My aim was to ease matters for Qatari pilgrims. Visits by Qataris to their relatives and families in Saudi Arabia have been eased. Matters have also been eased for property owners who can now follow them up,” Shaikh Abdullah posted.
“The crown prince responded positively to my mediation for the sake of Qatari people, and the king honoured me not only by accepting my efforts, but also by ordering the prompt establishment of a special operations room to serve the people of Qatar 24/7 and placing it under my supervision.”
Shaikh Abdullah added that the “quick generous response had not come as a surprise from the brothers.”
“We share family ties, a common destiny and a deep history. We have been closely bound since the days of our forefathers,” Shaikh Abdullah posted to his 242,188 followers on the social microblog.
The number of his followers has been steadily increasing since it was launched late on Friday.
