Hard times for Bahrainis working in Qatar

Manama : Bahrainis residing in Qatar are facing hard times due to the diplomatic dispute between Bahrain, several Arab countries and the neighbouring state, as they have to leave their jobs and travel back to the Kingdom.

This was unfolded following the announcement made here yesterday by Foreign Affairs Ministry, cutting all ties with Qatar and closing the Kingdom’s airspace, ports and territorial waters to air traffic and shipping to and from Qatar within 24 hours of the announcement of the statement (begins today).

Bahrainis residents in Qatar were informed by Hamad International Airport in Doha that the final flight to Bahrain departures at midnightyesterday.

Reliable sources informed that Qatar-based news agencies such as Al Jazeera and beIn suspended its Bahraini employees “until further notice”.

DT News spoke to Bahraini citizen Hassan Shareef (name changed) who has been working in the field of real estate marketing in Doha for the past two years. Shareef told that the decision came as a surprise, as he has little time to make many arrangements.

Despite the Bahraini authorities specifying a period of 14 for Qatari citizens to leave Bahrain, Shareef informed that they weren't informed about the time limit they have before leaving Qatar.

Shareef also told that he works in a private sector establishment and that he’s the only Bahraini employee in it.

“I was not informed about any urgent procedures by the company’s management, similarly to other companies. I had travelled to Bahrain last weekend and brought my child back with me here so she could spend her summer holiday in Doha. My wife had to travel today to take her and go back to the Kingdom, while I finalise arrangements with the management of my company. I’m puzzled on what I should do. I’m stuck. The way things are turning, I think it’s a matter of time before I’m unemployed,” Shareef told, adding that he trusts the Kingdom’s political wisdom and that he hopes situations would be solved soon.

DT News attempted to reach to more Bahraini citizens working in Qatar, but they refused to comment on the matter terming it as “a sensitive political issue”.