In a highly important development, Qatar’s aviation authority has reportedly announced that it will begin allowing flights from foreign airlines to land at its main airport for the first time since the start of the Middle East war.
Qatar had shut its airspace amid Iran’s retaliatory drone and missile campaign against Gulf countries, and partially reopened it to limited traffic on March 7, but only for flights operated by national carrier Qatar Airways.
In my view, this development clearly reflects the optimism of the Qatari leadership about the peace prospects in a war-ravaged region. It is important to note that while historically maintaining dialogue with Iran, Qatar’s security strongly relies on its partnership with the US.
Since the US-Israel attack on Iran on February 28, 2026, the Islamic republic launched a significant campaign against Qatar, with estimates suggesting over 700 missile and drone attacks targeting US military facilities and infrastructure. Here, it is important to note that unlike Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Qatar generally refrains from criticising Iran’s domestic and foreign activities.
Allowing the foreign airlines to land on its airports perhaps indicates the opening up of some secret channels of dialogue by Qatar and Iran with a view to fostering a better bilateral relationship even amid the Middle East conflict.
Samina Qizlibash (Islamabad)
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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