Commentary
Editorial director
The Al-Ula Accord, signed on 5 January 2021 at the conclusion of the 41st GCC Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia, represents a significant shift in regional relations after three-and-a-half years of political deadlock.
But it does not signal the end of tensions within the GCC.
While the accord outlines some 117 areas of agreement and cooperation between Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, it does not specify the exact status of trade and diplomatic relations between each country. Nor does it describe the sentiment behind the scenes.
The disagreements over policies and behaviours that sparked the dramatic fallout between Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Manama, Cairo and Doha remain.