Morocco became the only second Arab country to be granted visa free entry to Qatar this week, joining Lebanon, according to Middle East Eye.
Although other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries still, in theory, have visa free access to the emirate, Gulf nations – led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE – have boycotted Qatar since June. The Gulf countries, joined by Egypt, have blockaded Doha economically as well as diplomatically, accusing the small nation of supporting terrorism.
In response, Qatar has been opening its borders, allowing visa free access to a growing list of more than 80 countries. When the decision was announced in August, many Arabs were quick to point out that Qatar had not included any Arab nations to the list.
Lebanese were granted visa-free entry to Qatar earlier in the year, back in June.
Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser al-Than made the announcement upon meeting a Moroccan delegation in Doha on Tuesday.
When Qatar opened up its borders dramatically this summer, officials said the decision would make the emirate the "most open country in the region" to foreign visitors.
"Easing entry to Qatar is a key enabler for the growth of Qatar’s tourism industry. With this announcement we are already turning the pages of the Next Chapter of Qatar’s journey towards 2030," Hassan al-Ibrahim, Chief Tourism Development officer at Qatar Tourism Authority said, according to Reuters.
"There is no doubt that facilitating and streamlining access at all ports of entry are key factors in creating a positive first and lasting impression of Qatar."
