Gulf leaders are meeting in Bahrain on Wednesday for an “extremely important” summit at a time when the fast-changing region gets torn between the drive to build booming economies and the drag of ongoing conflicts.
The 46th ordinary summit of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) will address a string of urgent issues, from finalising a joint defence system to navigating conflict-related regional diplomacy and advancing economic partnerships.
The agenda highlights how the GCC has grown in recent decades, shaping Middle East policy and taking on a larger role in international diplomacy.
The six member states have been keen to project alignment on major issues, even as they maintain different approaches on several key areas. “We are one voice and one position” and “our foreign policy is unified,” said GCC Secretary General Jasem Al Budaiwi. “This is an extremely important summit.”
Sultan Haitham of Oman was the first leader to arrive. His attendance carries symbolic diplomatic weight: it's the first time an Omani Sultan has taken part in a GCC summit in person since Sultan Qaboos in 2011.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, is leading a high-level Emirati delegation at the meeting, which is being held in Bahrain for the eighth time.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived by car from eastern Saudi Arabia, crossing the causeway linking the two countries, to lead the kingdom’s delegation.
“Challenges facing the Arab world, along with key international issues, require constant co-ordination, and that lies at the heart of this summit,” said Khalil Ibrahim Al Thawadi, former Assistant Secretary General at the Arab League.
He referred to Gaza, where Gulf states led mediation efforts and ultimately secured a ceasefire despite repeated Israeli breaches; and to Lebanon, where they played a central role in stabilising the country after the Hezbollah war.
He also mentioned Syria, now seeking stability one year after the regime’s fall. Gulf states have been among the first to embrace the new authorities through investment and diplomacy. He also referenced Sudan, where Gulf nations have jointly pushed for a ceasefire and a return to civilian rule.
'Collective security'
The last ordinary GCC summit was held in Kuwait in December 2024. Since then, the Middle East has shifted into an entirely new phase of heightened tension with continuous shocks, including the direct Iran–Israel war in June.
Among them were the Iranian and Israeli attacks on Qatar, which pushed the GCC to accelerate discussions on a new joint defence strategy, including the long-delayed regional missile-defence shield.
On Tuesday, Mr Budaiwi said Gulf states are focused on finalising the joint system. “What matters most, and what we hope to complete, is the joint defence shield that we are working on with our partners,” he told reporters. “There are technical matters involved but, God willing, we will reach this goal in the near future.”
The first Qatar attack involved an Iranian missile strike on the Al Udeid US base. Weeks later, Israel carried out a strike on a Hamas meeting in Doha. The two attacks underscored the need for a unified Gulf defensive posture.
In the aftermath, Qatar moved to strengthen its external security umbrella, announcing an expanded defence agreement with the US covering bases, co-ordination and training.
“We want to preserve the geography of the GCC by strengthening our collective security and confronting threats together,” said Omani expert Salem Al Jehouri.
Away from diplomacy and conflict resolution, the GCC is increasingly focused on a deep economic transformation driven by innovation and artificial intelligence. This shift includes major investment in data centres, advanced technology infrastructure and a new wave of digital initiatives.
For Mr Al Budaiwi, this is one of the central items for leaders attending the summit, alongside discussions about fresh economic agreements with countries such as South Korea.
“Cybersecurity and AI projects are at the heart of the summit,” said Bahraini political expert Buthaina Khalifa. “Gulf states want to push ahead with joint protection and innovation.”
