Saudi Arabia’s state news agency cited a source saying Riyadh decided to sever diplomatic and consular relations with Qatar including all air and sea contacts as part of “protection of national security from the dangers of terrorism and extremism”.
Riyadh is also urging “all brotherly countries and companies to do the same”.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Egypt and Yemen also cut ties with Qatar, accusing its Gulf neighbour of supporting extremism and undermining regional stability.
UAE gave its diplomats 48 hours to leave the country, citing their “support, funding and embrace of terrorist, extremist and sectarian organisations”, according to the Egyptian state media.
Cairo accused Qatar of supporting “terrorist” organisations including the Muslim Brotherhood, the political group which briefly took power following the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak.
Meanwhile, Bahrain a close ally of Saudi Arabia, said it was cutting air and sea contact with Doha and was giving its citizens 14 days to leave Qatar.