Saudi Arabia's central bank said on Saturday it had not banned trading of the Qatari riyal since Riyadh cut diplomatic ties with Doha, and said visiting Qatari citizens could exchange their currency.

Qatar expressed concern about the safety of its citizens in Saudi Arabia following the reopening of the countries' border enabling Qataris to attend the annual haj pilgrimage in Mecca.

Saad bin Mohammed Al-Rumaihi, the former Qatari prince Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani secretary, criticized Bahrain for broadcasting recording of telephone calls between Al-Wefaq’s Sheikh Hassan Sultan and the Qatari Emir’s special adviser, Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Attiyah.

The Bahraini cabinet added 9 terrorist entities to the terrorist list. It added 3 entities from Yemen: Al-Balagh Charitable Foundation, Al-AIhsan Charitable Society and Rahma Charitable Organization and 6 others from Libya; Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council, Al Saraya Media Center, Boshra News Agency, Rafallah Sahati Brigade, Nabaa TV and Tanasuh Foundation for Dawa, Culture and Media.

Qatari pilgrims began arriving in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, Saudi media reported, after Riyadh said it was opening up its border and airports for those attending the annual haj pilgrimage despite a diplomatic rift that cut travel ties.

Video clip of old interview with Bahraini FM Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa reveals him describing Qatar’s role as positive in the 2011 events.

Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday it would welcome Qatari pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to perform the haj this season, amidst a feud that has triggered tensions between the two nations since June.

Bahraini state media on Wednesday accused Qatar of attempting to overthrow the government in Manama, upping the stakes in a diplomatic crisis that has seen Doha isolated in the Gulf.

The Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society said in a statement after Bahraini official TV aired a recorded phone call between the society’s Secretary-General Sheikh Ali Salman and former Qatari Prime Minister that the regime is not courage enough to air the full conversation. It cut parts of it in order to mislead the local and Gulf public opinion, defame the image of the national opposition and extend the prison term of this senior national leader, stressing that holding calls with the international society and diplomatic parties is the core of the political work.

Public Prosecutor's Office said they began investigations on Wednesday (August 16, 2017) into phone calls between Bahraini opposition leader and former Qatari Prime Minister which were aired on Bahrain's official television channel.

Qatar Airways is evaluating whether it will use air routes which media reports said were opened this week by countries embroiled in a political dispute with Qatar, the airline's chief executive said on Wednesday.

Qatar announced on Wednesday a program to allow visa-free entry for citizens of 80 countries to encourage air transport and tourism amid a two-month boycott imposed on the Gulf state by its neighbors.

The Civil Aviation Affairs at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication denied what was circulated about the opening of Bahrain’s airspace to Qatar Airways, saying that “this is incorrect and contrary to reality”.

Turkish army announced on Tuesday that Ankara and Doha “successfully” concluded joint military trainings, amid an unprecedented diplomatic crisis between the small emirate and its Gulf neighbors.

Qatar has concluded a 5 billion euro ($5.91 billion) deal with Italy for seven navy vessels, the Qatari foreign minister said on Wednesday, part of a military cooperation agreement between the two countries.

Qatar plans to allow some expatriates to obtain permanent residency, state news agency QNA reported, in the first move of its kind among Gulf Arab states that rely heavily on foreign labor.

The Middle East Monitor reported that the managing director of Al Jazeera English, said: “It’s as absurd as it would be for Germany to demand Britain to close the BBC.”

The Qatari authorities have accused Saudi Arabia of jeopardising the annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca of Qatari pilgrims by refusing to guarantee their safety.

Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa met his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, on the sidelines of the Ministerial-level meeting of the Arab League Council. The two ministers reviewed the meeting to be hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain next Sunday for the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the Arab Republic of Egypt to discuss the developments of crisis with Qatar.

Bahraini government’s decision to shutter al-Wasat indefinitely yet again underscores regime’s on-going assault on freedom of expression and independent media.