RIYADH – A Saudi official hinted Friday the kingdom was moving forward witha plan to dig a canal that would turn the neighbouring Qatari peninsulainto an island, amid a diplomatic feud between the Gulf nations.
“I am impatiently waiting for details on the implementation of the Salwaisland project, a great, historic project that will change the geography ofthe region,” Saud al-Qahtani, a senior adviser to Crown Prince Mohammed binSalman said.
The plan, which would physically separate the Qatari peninsula from theSaudi mainland, is the latest stress point in a highly fractious 14 monthlong dispute between the two states.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomaticand trade ties with Qatar in June 2017, accusing it of supporting terrorismand being too close to Riyadh’s archival, Iran charges that Doha denied.
In April, the pro-government Sabq news website reported government plans tobuild a channel, 38 miles long and 200 meters wide stretching across thekingdom’s border with Qatar.
Part of the canal, which would cost up to $750 million, would be reservedfor a planned nuclear waste facility, it said.
Five unnamed companies that specialise in digging canals had been invitedto bid for the project and the winner will be announced in September,Makkah newspaper reported in June.
Saudi authorities did not respond to requests for comment and there was noimmediate reaction on the plan from Qatar. – APP/AFP