On 10 December 2019, the GCC Supreme Council will hold its 40th session in Riyadh and the GCC’s Secretary General has announced that the summit would come up with constructive resolutions that will strengthen the Gulf cohesion and deepen ties and cooperation among member states. Following this announcement, renewed talks about the resolution of the GCC crisis have emerged, reflecting similar hopes that prevailed after the UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia confirmed their participation in the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup, currently held in Doha, Qatar.
The Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) at Qatar University has recently released the results of a quick national poll on the participation of the UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in the 24th Gulf Cup in Qatar. This study includes both Qatari nationals (n = 795) and white-collar expatriates (n = 721).
Overall, the majority of Qataris (82%) and white-collar expatriates (94%) said that they welcome the participation of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in the 2019 Arabian Gulf Cup.
The majority of white-collar expatriates and about half of Qatari nationals think that the participation of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup in Doha is likely to lead to the end of the blockade of Qatar
The results of the study show that Qatari nationals and white-collar expatriates hope that the games will lead to an end of the blockade of Qatar. About half (48%) of Qatari nationals and slightly more than three-quarters (76%) of white-collar expatriates think that the participation of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE is either very likely (12% of Qataris) or somewhat likely (36% of Qataris) to lead to the end of the blockade. These percentages are significantly higher among white-collar expatriates (at 34% and 42%, respectively). The remainder of both groups were neutral or reported that they do not know.
How likely do you think that the participation of these countries (Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE) in this competition will lead to the end of the blockade of Qatar?
In terms of public awareness of the games, the Internet, social media, and the television were most commonly cited by Qataris and expatriates as their initial source of news about the Gulf Cup.