GCC Summit to forge stronger bonds and guide Gulf response to global turmoil

• Emirati journalist Hazza Abu Al-Rish said the GCC Summit in Kuwait will open new opportunities for Gulf cooperation and strengthen historical ties between the countries.

• Journalist Khalfan Al-Zaidi from Oman expressed optimism that the summit’s decisions, especially concerning economic issues, would be impactful and drive forward large investment projects, a common customs area, and a shared market allowing Gulf citizens to work freely.

• Journalist Dr. Ahmed Batmira stressed that leveraging the economic and investment potential of the Gulf nations is now a critical necessity for ensuring national and food security.

• Adel Al-Mash’an highlighted that the ministry, under Minister Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi and Undersecretary Nasser Muhaisen, is dedicated to presenting a positive image of Kuwait and supporting media professionals in their work.

Gulf, Arab, and international media delegations have started arriving in Kuwait to cover the upcoming Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, set to take place next Sunday, according to Al Rai newspaper.

Kuwait embraced the spirit of Gulf unity, raising its flags high and opening its arms to the people of the Gulf countries. The atmosphere reflected a message of hope for the future of the Gulf, as government agencies worked in harmony to complete preparations for the summit.

Al-Rai newspaper gathered the opinions of several Gulf media professionals from within the summit’s media center, and here are the details:

Gulf Cooperation Council’s resilience through challenging times

Journalist Khalfan Al-Zaidi from the Sultanate of Oman expressed his unwavering optimism about the Gulf summits since their inception in 1981. He noted that the formation of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) came during exceptional circumstances and regional tensions, not unlike those faced today. Despite these challenges, the leaders succeeded in establishing the council, navigating fluctuations and political crises thanks to their cooperation, engagement with their peoples, and steadfast pursuit of progress and development.

Al-Zaidi emphasized to the newspaper that the people of the Gulf hold great hopes and aspirations for the Kuwait summit. They eagerly anticipate continued coordination and cooperation among GCC countries, with the goal of achieving Gulf integration to confront surrounding challenges. He stressed the importance of responding to events with strength and unity, particularly in economic matters.

Al-Zaidi expressed optimism that the summit’s decisions, especially concerning economic issues, would be impactful and drive forward large investment projects, a common customs area, and a shared market allowing Gulf citizens to work freely. He also expressed hope for alignment between the development plans of GCC countries and coordinated oil strategies.

GCC Summit to open new and expansive horizons for cooperation between the Gulf nations

For his part, Emirati journalist Hazza Abu Al-Rish, from the Al-Ittihad newspaper, stated that the summit to be hosted by Kuwait will open new and expansive horizons for cooperation between the Gulf nations. He described it as an important opportunity to strengthen historical ties within the region, highlighting the many avenues for cooperation that unite the Gulf countries.

Abu Al-Rish emphasized that solidarity and Gulf unity are not unfamiliar to Kuwait, which has long been at the forefront of supporting Gulf cooperation. He noted that Kuwait serves as a guiding force for the strong relations between the GCC countries, expressing hope that the summit will yield outcomes that benefit the peoples of the region, particularly in economic matters.

Addressing global crisis and challenges

Meanwhile, journalist Dr. Ahmed Batmira expressed his optimism that the Kuwait Summit would fulfill the council’s aspirations by uniting Gulf countries to address global crises and challenges as one cohesive team, thereby strengthening historical bonds.

He noted that the political conditions the world is currently facing—such as ongoing wars and clear economic crises—require the summit to produce joint decisions that enhance Gulf unity and reinforce the region’s collective position.

Batmira pointed out that the GCC has achieved significant milestones in the economic, educational, security, and environmental sectors. However, he stressed that leveraging the economic and investment potential of the Gulf nations is now a critical necessity for ensuring national and food security.

He cited projects like the Duqm Refinery project between Oman and Kuwait as prime examples of initiatives with financial and food security benefits. Ultimately, Batmira’svision is to transform the Gulf system into a powerful and influential economic force both internally and globally.

Necessary resources for media professionals

Additionally, Adel Al-Mash’an, the Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information for the Media Planning and Knowledge Development Sector, Undersecretary of External Media, and Head of the Media Center for the Gulf Summit, stated that “the Ministry of Information has provided all the necessary resources for the media professionals invited to the summit, to facilitate coverage, communication, and the exchange of information.

The ministry has also ensured that the necessary statistics are available to help media professionals cover the events live, in addition to following up on the activities and events surrounding the Gulf Summit.”

Al-Mash’an emphasized that the ministry’s teams, across various sectors, are working under the direct guidance of minister Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi and the oversight of Undersecretary Nasser Muhaisen. Their goal is to present a positive image of Kuwait and to support the media professionals, both from within Kuwait and abroad, in their work and tasks.

He pointed out that “the ministry has provided a comprehensive program, including activities, events, and an integrated media center at the St. Regis Hotel, consisting of seven suites—six for member states and a pavilion for the Council Secretariat.”

Fostering a unified Gulf environment

Although “Gulf Weeks” was launched at the Doha Summit in 2014, they did not receive the same media attention or deliberate implementation as the Kuwait Summit. This shift is attributed to the tireless efforts of Jassim Al-Badiwi, the Secretary-General of the Cooperation States, who, with high professionalism, translated the directives and aspirations of Gulf leaders into action. Al-Badiwi organized annual weeks in each GCC country to highlight the council’s achievements across various fields.

Al-Badiwi succeeded in fostering a unified Gulf environment, characterized by love, unity, and integration at all levels, through initiatives driven by youthful ideas, dedication, and hard work.