Jordan hints at restoring Qatar relations as Doha pledges to hire unemployed youth

Jordan's minister of labour has described the relationship between Amman and Qatar as being "good", signalling a likely return of normal diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Samir Murad made the comments on Tuesday in Doha, after meeting his Qatari counterpart to discuss the gas-rich emirate providing 10,000 job opportunities for Jordanians, The New Arab's Arabic-language service reported.

Murad said that the first batch of 1,000 Jordanian youths will be hired at Qatar-based public and private sector business within the next two months.

"We are talking about scientific, specialised, technical and engineering job opportunities,"

He added that the Qatari initiative will have a positive effect on reducing unemployment in Jordan, which stands now at 18.5 percent.

Jordan downgraded its diplomatic representation in Qatar in June 2017 at the beginning of the ongoing Gulf crisis, but economic ties have seen momentum.

Jordanian authorities also shuttered the offices of Doha-based broadcaster Al Jazeera.

Last month, Qatar pledged a $500 million aid package to cash-strapped Jordan, which has been reeling from a wave of protests over austerity measures, including price hikes and subsidy cuts, which led to the prime minister's resignation.

The aid package came days after Qatar's Gulf neighbours Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates pledged $2.5 billion of aid to Jordan.

Sources at the time said full diplomatic relations between Doha and Amman could soon be restored by an "imminent sovereign decision".

In June last year Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt abruptly severed ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism and Iran. Doha categorically denies the claims.

The four countries expelled Qataris, and the country's only land border with Saudi Arabia has been closed for the past year.

Jordan similarly expelled Qatar's ambassador to the kingdom, reportedly under pressure from Saudi Arabia.