Manama: As the Kingdom of Bahrain completes preparations to host the 46th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit of Their Majesties and Highnesses the leaders of the GCC states, observers are closely watching the issues to be discussed and the expected outcomes. The summit convenes amid fast-moving regional and international developments, particularly with regard to implementing the historic agreement to halt the war on Gaza. Its timing reiterates the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to supporting joint Gulf cooperation and the pivotal role of the GCC in addressing challenges through strengthened collective action across political, economic, security, sustainability and development domains.
According to Bahrain News Agency, over forty-four years of shared Gulf cooperation, the GCC has moved from its establishment, through stages of joint coordination, towards deeper strategic integration among member states, which are bound by long-standing historical and common ties.
The GCC was established on May 25, 1981, when the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar and the State of Kuwait met in Abu Dhabi and agreed to create a cooperative entity aimed at coordination and interconnection in all domains. Article 4 of the GCC Charter emphasised the objective of strengthening ties and cooperation among citizens of member states.
The founding charter highlighted the special relations, shared characteristics, and similar systems of governance rooted in Islamic values, Arab identity, cultural heritage and common economic resources. It also reflected the member states’ belief in a unified goal and destiny, and in the importance of establishing a joint institutional framework that would later become known as the ‘Gulf House’, dedicated to ensuring the welfare, security and stability of their peoples.
The decision to establish the GCC was shaped by regional events and emerging geopolitical and developmental challenges at the time. It came as a response to the aspirations of the region’s peoples for a form of regional Arab unity built on shared identity, common characteristics and a collective vision for a stronger future.
During its first two decades, the GCC made notable progress across vital sectors, with economic, security, military and development cooperation at the forefront. Milestones included the signing of the Unified Economic Agreement on November 11, 1981, to advance economic cooperation, and the approval of the Peninsula Shield Force in 1982 as a joint defence system to safeguard member states’ security, stability and achievements. Cooperation expanded in customs and trade policies, infrastructure projects such as electricity interconnection, communications and transport, and initiatives in digital, educational and economic cooperation. During these years, member states also consolidated coordination in policing, counterterrorism, combating narcotics and border security, which contributed to the development of related legislation and regulations.
Today, GCC states are pursuing deeper integration across all domains under a shared vision for security, stability and prosperity set by GCC leaders. This direction aligns with global economic, technological and digital transformations and supports national development plans for 2030 and 2050. Decisions of the Supreme Council and specialised committees underscore that Gulf integration is an irreversible strategic choice rooted in common interests and a shared destiny.
Over the past forty-four years, ordinary and extraordinary GCC summits have marked important phases in the Council’s development, shaped by regional events and circumstances. These summits produced decisions across political, economic, social and security domains that advanced joint Gulf action and strengthened cooperation, cohesion and integration among member states.
The long history of GCC cooperation and integration highlights the contributions of the founding leaders whose efforts laid the solid foundations of this enduring regional entity. Their work established a framework that continues to serve as a source of stability for its peoples and supports the ongoing development of joint Gulf action under the guidance of GCC leaders.