Gulf Sanctions Against Qatar
Qatar to hold referendum for abandoning elections to Shura Council
Qatar's ruling emir said Tuesday his small, energy-rich nation will hold a referendum on ending a short-lived experiment in electing members of the country's advisory Shura Council. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani offered no immediate timeline for the referendum in an annual address to the Shura Council, which drafts laws, approves state budgets, debates major issues and provides advice to the ruler. The body does not have sway over matters of defence, security and the economy. However, it marks yet another rollback in the hereditarily ruled Gulf Arab states in its halting steps to embrace representational rule, however tentative, following efforts by the United States to push harder for democratic reforms in the Middle East after the Sept 11, 2001, attacks and hopes for democracy in the region rose in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring. From its perspective, Qatar saw the one-time 2021 vote likely as increasing tensions between tribes and families in the country just months after a .
 "Qatar to hold referendum for abandoning elections to Shura Council")
Gulf region dispute: Emir of Qatar warns against any military act
Al Thani says: "I'm fearful that if anything happens, if any military act happens, this region will be in chaos."
 "Gulf region dispute: Emir of Qatar warns against any military act")
Sluggish July imports in Qatar show sanctions still hurting economy
Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain cut diplomatic, transport ties with Qatar on June 5
 "Sluggish July imports in Qatar show sanctions still hurting economy")
Arab states' sanctions boost food prices, hurt real estate in Qatar in July
But the impact is not to the point of damaging the Qatar economy severely
 "Arab states' sanctions boost food prices, hurt real estate in Qatar in July")
