[1] Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani's assumption of power saw Qatar reclaim its sovereignty in foreign affairs, often diverging from Saudi Arabia on many geopolitical issues.

One of the most watched news stations in the Arab world, Al Jazeera proved to be a wedge in the two's bilateral relations as it routinely criticized Saudi Arabia's ruler.

[4] As part of this campaign, the Saudi-led quartet closed off their airspaces, territorial waters and land borders to Qatar.

[12] At this time the Saudis were embroiled in a drawn-out war with the Ottoman Empire in the west, so they did not dedicate many troops towards Qatar's defense nor did they contest the Al Khalifa immediately afterward.

Nonetheless, over the proceeding years, certain Qatari tribes would pledge allegiance to the Saudis, preferring their rule over the Al Khalifa.

[13] Until the late 20th century when Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani assumed the throne, Qatar toed the Saudi line in its foreign policy.

[19] Saudi Arabia had served as a safe haven for dissidents of Qatar from the mid-20th century onward, ranging from high-ranking members of the Al Thani family to businessmen and common people.

When Hamad bin Khalifa assumed power, Qatar was in a better position to chart its own path than any time prior because of the massive wealth it had gained from hydrocarbon extraction.

Qatari intelligence indicated that the masterminds behind the attempt were government officials from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

[20] After Saudi Arabia refused to host US troops preparing for the Iraq War, in early 2002 the US signed a military agreement with Qatar culminating in the opening of Al Udeid Air Base.

[24] During a March 2014 meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), after which the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain announced the recall of their ambassadors to Qatar.

[25][26][27] Some economists have interpreted the 2014 Saudi–Qatari rift as the tangible political sign of a growing economic rivalry between oil and natural gas producers, which could "have deep and long-lasting consequences" beyond the Middle East-North Africa area.

[29] Saudi Arabia said it took the decision to cut diplomatic ties due to Qatar's "embrace of various terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at destabilising the region", including the Muslim Brotherhood, al-Qaida, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and groups supported by Iran in the kingdom's Eastern Province city of Qatif.

[4] Islam Hassan argues that: "Starting the 2000 and ahead, Qatar has been pursuing an independent foreign policy that at times clash with the Saudi strategic interests in the region.

[32] Saudi Arabia threatened its Gulf neighbor with military action over Doha's discussions on purchasing the Russian-made air defense system.

[43] Qatari media organisation Al Jazeera was launched in 1996 and within a short time it became one of the most influential news sources for the Arab world.

Saudi Arabia regards Al Jazeera as a propaganda tool of the Qatari government used to undermine the region's stability.

[3] Amidst the 2014 Qatar–GCC rift, Saudi Arabia halted Al Jazeera's operations in the country over the network's broadcasting of incendiary statements made in interviews and directed at the Persian Gulf monarchies, and its readiness to provide Islamist groups with a podium.