DOHA, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani opened the new Hamad Port in Umm al-Houl on Tuesday, Qatar's state news agency (QNA) reported.
The opening of the port will provide direct marine shipping routes with key regional and world seaports in a short time, thus contributing to securing the goods, supplies and all that is needed for the country's vital projects, the Minister of Transport and Communications H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti said in a speech.
The minister noted that this port will also contribute to increasing world trade volumes between Qatar and world markets, creating job opportunities for youth, raising living standards and improving Qatar's competitiveness by transforming it into a regional business center.
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates(UAE) and Egypt had cut off diplomatic ties and imposed sanctions on Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism.
Qatar strongly denied the charges against it, while rejecting a list of 13 demands put forward by the bloc for resuming diplomatic ties.
Large container ships will now go directly to Qatar rather than docking in the UAE, where cargo used to be transferred to smaller vessels.
