Next week’s 10 December GCC summit in Riyadh is being keenly awaited amid speculation of a move towards easing the Qatar economic embargo. The key cause of the speculation was the recent decision to move the summit from the UAE to Saudi Arabia. No reason has been given, but antipathy towards Qatar is greater in Abu Dhabi than Saudi Arabia.

Qatar Emir Tamim Al Thani has received a written invitation from Saudi Arabia's King Salman Al Saud to attend the summit. Whether he opts to attend in person or not is another matter. King Salman invited the Emir last year, but instead the Qatari delegation was led by the minister of state for foreign affairs. Emir Tamim attending would therefore be a notable development. (CONTINUED - 225 WORDS)