More than five months have passed since four Arab nations imposed an illegal siege on Qatar by cutting off land, air and sea routes.

Despite the immense pressure, Qatar has stood its ground and not given in to the unjust demands placed in front of it.

HH The Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in his address during the opening session of the Advisory Council, said that his country was ‘a thousand times better off’ without the blockading nations, reported The Peninsula.

“We don’t fear the blockade of these countries against us, we’re a thousand times better off without them. But vigilance is required,” HH The Emir said.

“Their (blockading nations) claims that they will only limit themselves to a boycott aren’t true, as they continue to interfere in the internal affairs of our country and take collective punitive measures against Qatari people, and practise incitement everywhere against Qatar, thus wasting energies and resources of their people although these efforts hurt them the most,” he was quoted as saying by Qatar Tribune.

Sheikh Tamim also said that his government had put in place contingency plans as he expected the bitter political dispute to drag on. The government is focusing on completing strategic projects, including ports, water and food security, to offset the impact of the blockade.

Iran, Turkey and most recently Spain have stepped in to help Qatar secure food imports amid a blockade by four Arab states.