Boycott of Hostile Turkey

Ties between Saudi Arabia and Turkey have deteriorated over the past few years, with the two countries on opposite sides of several regional conflicts. Political tensions are obstructing the movement of goods and putting a strain on trade relations between the two Sunni-Muslim regional powers.

Last week, the head of the Saudi Chamber of Commerce called for a boycott of Turkish products. “A boycott of everything Turkish, be it imports, investment or tourism, is the responsibility of every Saudi trader and consumer in response to the continued hostility of the Turkish government against our leadership, country and citizens,” businessman Ajlan al-Ajlan tweeted.

A Saudi journalist specializing in economic affairs, told The Media Line that Turkey’s “aggressive regional policies” were behind the rising antipathy. “This is a reaction to the hostile policies practiced by the Justice and Development Party led by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Iraq, Syria, Libya and now in Azerbaijan,” he said. 

"popular boycott comes as no surprise, this is a natural response from the Saudi people to what they perceive as constant attacks on their country and its leadership,” he stated. “This is the right of the consumers and the people.”

Several large Saudi supermarket chains have also joined in the boycott. Abdullah Al-Othaim Markets, ranked by Forbes Middle East as being among the 100 largest public companies in the region for the third year running, issued a statement on Twitter assuring patrons it had told its business partners not to import Turkish products, adding it will stop selling such products as soon stocks run out.

Several Turkish entrepreneurs have expressed concern to The Media Line over the rising tensions and the impact on business.

Saudi Arabia has put in place a blockade of its neighbor and fellow Gulf Cooperation Council member Qatar, closing the country’s only land border and blocking flights since June 2018 over Doha's links, like Ankara, to the Muslim Brotherhood and other extremist groups.