Bahrain Mirror- AFP: Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani sent condolences Sunday to the president of the United Arab Emirates, whose mother has died, despite the diplomatic rift between the two countries.

The emir sent a cable "to HH President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the death of his mother, praying to Allah the almighty to have mercy on the soul of the late and make her residence in paradise," read a statement from the Qatar News Agency.

The two countries have been at loggerheads since last June when Qatar was diplomatically and economically isolated by Gulf rivals.

The UAE was among a group of countries including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt which cut ties with Qatar accusing Doha of backing extremism and fostering ties with their Shiite rival Iran.

Qatar denies the allegations.

The ongoing crisis is about to enter its ninth month, during which time there has been virtually no contact between the governments in Qatar and others, including the UAE.

Sheikha Hessa, the mother of the UAE president, died earlier Sunday.

Arabic Version