The ban on the TV network, which holds the Middle East and North African (MENA) rights to air the English Premier League among other premium sports events, had been in place since the start of the Gulf crisis on 5 June 2017.

UAE telecommunications operator Etisalat has now told its customers that beIN Sports is available once again and normal charges would apply. It added that provision of the Al Jazeera Media-owned “beIN package would be subject to an ongoing review”.

The UAE’s other telco, du, has also resumed distribution of the sports network, which had fallen foul of the emirates’ sanctions against Qatar, following the severing of diplomatic and economic ties with its neighbouring state.

However, authorities in Saudi Arabia said the ban on beIN Sports remains in place there, although the broadcaster’s websites had been accessible in the kingdom due to a technical fault on Monday (24 July).

Saud al-Qahtani, a key advisor to the Saudi Royal Court, said in a tweet: “The lifting of the ban on Qatari sites was due to a technical error that will be repaired in the coming hours,” reported Al Arabiya.

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt have severed all air, land and sea links with Qatar accusing it of supporting “terrorism”. Doha denies the allegations.