UAE to be part of gas forum: Qatar

The UAE has agreed to join a newly created forum comprising the world's largest gas exporters in a group that will not be involved in pricing, Qatar's Minister of Energy and Industry said yesterday.

Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah said the UAE attended Tuesday's meeting of gas exporters in Doha as a "guest" while the Netherlands would join as an observer. "Regarding joining the forum by the UAE, the process is now under way. The UAE has participated in the meeting as a guest and they are planning to join as full members of the forum," Attiyah told local Qatari newspapers.

At their first meeting in Doha, the foreign ministers of the gas forum elected Attiyah as its chairman but they deferred the appointment of a secretary-general to their next meeting in Doha in December.