Qatar’s Ministry of Transport has announced the immediate resumption of maritime navigation in specific coastal waters, lifting a temporary precautionary measure that was put in place earlier this month. This decision allows navigation within a marine range of approximately seven nautical miles, stretching from Lusail City—including its ports, anchorages, and marine facilities—to Hamad Port in the east, and from Umm Heesh to Doha Salwa in the west.
The ministry has emphasized the importance of compliance with all maritime regulations. Vessel operators are urged to ensure that all necessary safety and security equipment is on board prior to and during each voyage. Notably, vessels operating under international maritime conventions and adhering to existing regulations are exempt from this announcement.
The temporary navigation restrictions were initially implemented on July 12 as a precautionary measure in coordination with the country’s security authorities. These restrictions primarily impacted leisure boats, fishing vessels, and other local maritime crafts, while internationally regulated commercial shipping continued unaffected.
This announcement comes amid rising maritime security concerns in the Gulf, particularly following recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the Houthis’ declaration of a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia. However, Qatari officials have not directly linked the resumption of navigation to these incidents.
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