Dubai Gulf diplomats have sounded an ominous note for the future of the unprecedented diplomatic row between members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) days ahead of a crucial meeting.

“There are real difficulties as regards the row between Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on one side and Qatar on the other,” the diplomats said. “In fact, the situation is likely to escalate,” the sources who were not named said, quoted by Kuwaiti daily Al Rai on Wednesday.

Major differences persist between Saudi Arabia and Qatar over the implementation of the accords that had been reached, the sources added.

“The agreements seem to have remained a dead letter, and Riyadh has prepared a report that included its observations about what Doha did not implement,” a Saudi official told the Kuwaiti daily. “The Saudi observations are numerous.”

Both Bahrain and the UAE are also working on their reports, while Qatar said that it had addressed several of points of contention and that it was continuing to deal with the other issues within a framework of openness and transparency, the sources added.

According to the sources, the divergences are far wider than what was thought and the meeting of the foreign ministers of the GCC member states – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – is expected to be “crucial” and “could result in the escalation of the situation.”

The diplomatic row ruptured the GCC last year amid accusations that Doha harmed Gulf interests through pursuing a policy that differed from the stances of the other member countries.

In November, an accord was reached by all the members to have Qatar change its policies and bring them more in line with those of its fellow members, regarding domestic issues and regional developments that affected GCC interests.

However, on March 5, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE said that Qatar did not comply with the accord and, in protest, pulled their ambassadors from Doha, citing grievances that included interference in their domestic affairs and offering support, including from the media, to groups that were intent on undermining stability and security in the Gulf.

Qatar rejected the charges and said that it was fully committed to the principles and objectives of the GCC.

A new accord, achieved mainly thanks to the mediation of the Kuwaiti Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, was reached in Riyadh on April 17.

The GCC countries pledged to honour the Riyadh Agreement and a committee made up of representatives from the six member countries was set up to follow up on its implementation.

The work of the committee remained mostly secret and no information about it has been leaked. However, statements by Gulf officials and media reports offered contrasting assessments about the first reports.

While some talked about an imminent breakthrough in the diplomatic row, others said that the divergences were too wide to overcome easily.

Saudi Arabia insisted that the ambassadors would not be reinstated until Qatar fully complied with the Riyadh Agreement.

Bahrain on two occasions issued statements calling for an end to the naturalisation of some of its well-established Arab families by Qatar authorities.

Earlier this month, the GCC foreign ministers meeting in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah said that they looked forward to the full implementation of the agreement within one week.

It was the first time since April that a deadline was announced publicly for reaching an accord.

The diplomatically worded statement by the GCC Secretary-General Abdul Lateef Al Zayani at the end of the meeting attended by all GCC foreign ministers was interpreted as an ultimatum to Qatar.

By the end of the week, Qatar reportedly refused to sign the final report prepared by the technical committee, arguing that it had implemented all that had been required.

However, a senior Gulf official said that Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE insisted on robust evidence and clear actions that could support the Qatari claims.

The committee report has been presented to all member countries and the foreign ministers are expected to review it on August 30.