'Smear campaign'

Despite the impact of the crisis, many in Qatar view the past year's events as a victory for Doha.

Qatari papers were jubilant on Tuesday, with headlines such as "Triumphant Qatar stays united" and "Qatar shines as smear campaign against it fails".

Taxi companies offered customers free rides and some in Qatar have even called for June 5 to be made a national holiday.

Meanwhile, Qatar's National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) released a report claiming more than 4,000 human rights abuses had been committed against Qataris by the Saudi-led alliance in the past year.

Qataris have been exposed to arbitrary arrest and routinely denied freedom of movement, according to the report by the government-appointed body detailing alleged abuses including one case of forced disappearance.

"From the beginning, all the blockading countries have tried to use the people to achieve their political goals," NHRC chairman Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri said.

In August, Saudi Arabia will welcome millions of Muslim faithful for the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city in Islam.

The Saudi government on Tuesday confirmed Qataris wishing to undertake the pilgrimage to Mecca were welcome, but accused the Qatari authorities of a "negative attitude".

Since the start of the crisis, Qatar has accused Saudi Arabia of politicising religious pilgrimages to Mecca, including the hajj, one of Islam's five pillars, which every able-bodied Muslim who can afford the journey is obliged to undertake at least once.

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