Cairo expelled the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hamad Saeed Al-Shamsi, for his involvement in smuggling Egyptian antiquities, Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported on Friday.

According to Al-Quds Al-ArabiEgypt’s Ambassador to Qatar Amr El-Sherbini posted on his official Facebook page on Friday that the decision to deport the Emirati ambassador came following the revelation that he was involved in smuggling of Egyptian antiquities.

El-Sherbini added that the investigations into the businessman Hassan Ratib and his partner, the former member of the Egyptian Parliament, Alaa Hassanein: “revealed his involvement in the smuggling of Egyptian antiquities with Emirati diplomatic bags” .

The Egyptian Ambassador to Qatar said: “A correct ruling confirms the vigilance of the Egyptian security and surveillance services, and the Foreign Ministry to deal with the matter professionally, without disturbing relations with the United Arab Emirates.”

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He added: “This procedure must be complemented by a similar UAE procedure which includes swiftly punishing the ambassador who committed crimes against his country and the country that hosted him.”

Meanwhile, he urged the UAE to return smuggled antiques and respond to requests for investigation.

Antiquities include a variety of statues, some of which were found inside tombs as part of funeral offerings.