On 4 July 2018, Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE jointly instituted two proceedings against Qatar before the ICJ in relation to decisions taken by the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO Council) on 29 June 2018. In one proceeding, they have been joined as claimant States by Saudi Arabia.
In the first joint application, Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE seek to appeal a decision rendered by the ICAO Council in proceedings initiated by Qatar against them pursuant to the International Air Services Transit Agreement.
In the second joint application, those same three States and Saudi Arabia seek to appeal a decision rendered by the ICAO Council in proceedings initiated by Qatar against them pursuant to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
The applications form part of a wider ongoing dispute between Qatar and its neighbouring States. As previously reported, Qatar recently instituted its own ICJ proceedings against the UAE over alleged violations of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
For the ICJ press releases, click here and here.
For the joint applications, click here and here.