Sharjah’s Ruler, Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi (L), with UAE President Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan at the 1981 GCC Summit. Gulf News Archives
Sharjah’s Ruler, Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi (L), with UAE President Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan at the 1981 GCC Summit. Gulf News Archives

1981 - The founding of the GCC

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Updated 19 April 2025
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1981 - The founding of the GCC

1981 - The founding of the GCC
  • The union of six Gulf states has accomplished much of what it set out to do 44 years ago

RIYADH: When, in January 1968, Britain announced its intention to leave the Gulf by 1971, it sent shock waves throughout the region. The search intensified for a new and more reliable security architecture. It took several steps, ending with the formation of the Gulf Cooperation Council on May 25, 1981. 

During the period between Britain’s announcement of 1968 and its actual withdrawal from the Gulf on Dec. 16, 1971, there was first an attempt to form a nine-member union between Bahrain and Qatar and the seven Trucial States, all of which were under various protection treaties with Britain. When that attempt failed, efforts were directed at forming a union among the Trucial States. The UAE was announced on Dec. 2, 1971, initially of six emirates, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Fujairah, Sharjah and Umm Al-Quwain. Ras Al-Khaimah, the seventh emirate, joined the following February.  

After that first step, the search continued for a larger framework to include the rest of the Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait. Sheikh Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait championed the renewed efforts. In May 1976, he formally called for the establishment of a Gulf union during a visit to the UAE, whose president, Sheikh Zayed, strongly supported the idea. 

In November 1976, in Muscat, a security framework that would also have included Iraq and Iran was discussed but abandoned because of fundamental differences over the concept, especially between Iran and Iraq. 

Efforts to establish the GCC continued without Iran or Iraq. Saddam Hussein of Iraq tried to hinder those efforts unless Iraq was included, which was difficult to do given its war with Iran at the time. The Soviet Union and China were also opposed, for fear that the new organization would be Western-oriented. 

How we wrote it




Arab News announced the second GCC summit in Riyadh yielded “excellent results,” evidenced by a unified economic agreement.

The security vacuum was part of the rationale for advancing the founding of the GCC to close ranks among Gulf states. Besides Britain’s withdrawal, the revolution in Iran in February 1979 produced a clerical regime explicitly seeking to export its brand of radical politics to its neighbors and undermine their security. It helped in establishing, funding and training militant groups for that purpose in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, in addition to spreading its influence in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. 

In October 1979, in a meeting held in Taif, Saudi Arabia, the general framework of the GCC was agreed, but differences remained on some issues. Some favored focusing on security and military integration — even a formal military alliance — while others wanted the new organization to emphasize soft power and economic integration. 

In 1980, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal was given the task of bringing the different views together and leading the exercise of drafting the charter, supported by Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah (who later became the Emir of Kuwait from 2006 until his death in 2020), Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak, and others. 

A flurry of meetings of ministers and experts took place in the early months of 1981, in Kuwait, Riyadh and Muscat, to finalize the draft, which was finally adopted by the heads of state on May 25, 1981, in Abu Dhabi, in the first formal meeting of the new organization. 

The GCC Charter was a compromise between the different formulations discussed for the new group. It did not privilege a particular emphasis, but called for “coordination and integration between member states in all fields, leading to their unity.” The reference to unity as a goal was important to guide the work of the organization. The reference to “all fields” gave the impetus for the formation of institutional structures dedicated to different branches of integration, including political, economic and security. 

Key Dates

  • 1

    The charter of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf is signed by the heads of state of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait at a conference in Abu Dhabi.

    Timeline Image May 25, 1981

  • 2

    GCC leaders sign a unified economic agreement during their second summit, in Riyadh.

  • 3

    Peninsula Shield, a joint GCC defense force, is established, with its headquarters at Hafr Al-Baatin in northeastern Saudi Arabia.

    Timeline Image Oct. 15, 1985

  • 4

    A GCC customs union is created.

  • 5

    Introduction of the GCC common market.

  • 6

    Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain withdraw their ambassadors from Doha, accusing Qatar of failing to abide by an agreement not to support “anyone threatening the security and stability of the GCC, whether as groups or individuals.”

    Timeline Image March 5, 2014

  • 7

    The GCC announces during its annual meeting the formation of a regional police force, based in Abu Dhabi.

    Timeline Image Dec. 8, 2014

  • 8

    King Salman’s vision for strengthening joint action by GCC members is announced in Riyadh during the organization’s 36th summit.

  • 9

    GCC announces activation of Unified Military Command HQ in Riyadh as a concrete step toward enhanced military coordination.

Today, the GCC Secretariat employs about 1,500 civilian staff, from the six member states, and hosts the main policymaking divisions of the organization. Its work is aided by about 30 specialized entities that deal with specific issues. There are economic organizations such as standards, patents, intellectual property and investment, as well as internal security organizations. Military organs employ additional uniformed staff. 

Since its inception in May 1981, the GCC has undoubtedly accomplished a lot of what it set out to do more than four decades ago. Economic tools, such as the free trade area, which was set up in 1983, the customs union (2003) and the common market (2008), have created great synergies between member states that have led to improved efficiencies and wide and dynamic markets. 

However, attempts at reaching a full economic union and a unified currency have yet to succeed. 

By economic and social indicators, the GCC states have been a brilliant success, in part because their membership in the GCC provided economies of scale, a deeper market and wider reach. 

In 1981, the combined gross domestic product of the six member states was just shy of $200 billion, and most GCC states were performing poorly in economic and social indicators. At that time, most GCC states had just shaken off British rule, which had lasted about 200 years, impoverished their economies, and ossified their political and social development. As a result, these states were underperforming economically and needed the solidarity and support of other GCC members. 

Today, the combined GCC GDP is about $2.4 trillion — a 12-fold increase over 1981. At the same time, per capita income has skyrocketed in some member states. And while in 1981 several GCC member states were low-ranking in most human-development indices, such as the level of education, health conditions, life expectancy and the gender gap, today GCC countries lead on those indices. Illiteracy has been fully eradicated, free health services are top notch and GCC universities sit high on international rankings. 




GCC leaders gather at the Abu Dhabi InterContinental Hotel for the inaugural summit. Gulf News Archives

Other significant achievements were also made, including the establishment of the unified military command in November 2018, building on decades of close cooperation between land, air and naval forces, including through the Peninsula Shield based in northern Saudi Arabia since 1982, and the GCC Naval Operations Coordination Center in Bahrain. 

The GCC Police was established in 2012 and has been based in the UAE since. It coordinates the work of internal security forces at the operational level, in addition to the Riyadh-based Security Affairs division. 

However, a lot remains to be done to reach the goal of “unity” cited in the charter. The emerging, and almost existential, challenges that the region faces require new ways of doing things. Business as usual is no longer adequate. 

Member states have, over the years, proposed closer cooperation to meet those challenges. In 2012, the late King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia proposed transition from the “cooperation” phase to a full-fledged union. 

In 2015, King Salman proposed a comprehensive vision aimed at upgrading cooperation mechanisms in economic, social, political, internal security and defense areas. His vision was adopted by other leaders and has become the GCC’s road map since then. While work is in progress to implement the remaining elements in this vision, Saudi Arabia has announced that it intends to submit a phase two of this vision. 

One area that has been referred to in summit communiques repeatedly is the reform of GCC’s institutions, including the GCC Secretariat and the 30-odd other entities in its orbit. It has been recognized that governance needs to be overhauled to provide more transparency, accountability and efficiency. 

King Salman’s vision for the GCC, which was adopted by all leaders in December 2015, started that process but the pace of change has not been fast enough. 

  • Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg is the GCC assistant secretary-general for political affairs and negotiation, and a columnist for Arab News. The views expressed in this piece are personal and do not necessarily represent GCC views.


FBI launches probes into former FBI director, ex-CIA director, Fox News reports

The scope of the criminal investigations into Brennan and Comey was unclear, the report added. (AFP file photo)
The scope of the criminal investigations into Brennan and Comey was unclear, the report added. (AFP file photo)
Updated 7 min 12 sec ago
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FBI launches probes into former FBI director, ex-CIA director, Fox News reports

The scope of the criminal investigations into Brennan and Comey was unclear, the report added. (AFP file photo)
  • A CIA review released last week found flaws in the production of a US intelligence assessment that Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to sway the 2016 US presidential vote to Trump, but it did not contest that conclusion

WASHINGTON: The FBI launched criminal probes into former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI director James Comey, Fox News Digital reported on Tuesday, citing sources.
These probes are over alleged wrongdoing related to past government investigations about claims of Russian interference in the 2016 US elections in which President Donald Trump defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the news report said.
The FBI, the CIA and the Justice Department had no immediate comment. Reuters has not independently verified the probes.
The scope of the criminal investigations into Brennan and Comey was unclear, the report added.
A criminal investigation does not necessarily result in charges.
Fox said its sources were from the Justice Department but did not specify the number of sources.
A CIA review released last week found flaws in the production of a US intelligence assessment that Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to sway the 2016 US presidential vote to Trump, but it did not contest that conclusion.

 

 


Macron says France and Britain will ‘save Europe’ as he starts a state visit to the UK

Macron says France and Britain will ‘save Europe’ as he starts a state visit to the UK
Updated 48 min 50 sec ago
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Macron says France and Britain will ‘save Europe’ as he starts a state visit to the UK

Macron says France and Britain will ‘save Europe’ as he starts a state visit to the UK
  • Macron’s three-day trip, at the invitation of King Charles III, is the first state visit to the UK by a European Union head of state since Brexit

LONDON: French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday urged Britain to stick close to its neighbors despite its exit from the European Union, saying France and the UK will “save Europe” by standing for democracy, law and international order in a dangerous world.
On a state visit that mixed royal pageantry with tough political talks on Ukraine and migration, Macron said Europe must strengthen its economy and defenses and reduce its dependence “on both the US and China.”
Macron’s three-day trip, at the invitation of King Charles III, is the first state visit to the UK by a European Union head of state since Brexit, and a symbol of the UK government’s desire to reset relations with the bloc after Britain acrimoniously left the EU in 2020.
Macron addressed members of both houses of Britain’s Parliament packed into the building’s ornate Royal Gallery. He said the two countries represent “a world order based on law, justice and respect for territorial integrity, an order that is today being attacked on a daily basis.”
“The United Kingdom and France must once again show the world that our alliance can make all the difference,” Macron said, adding that “we will save Europe by our example and our solidarity.”
He said that even though Britain has left the EU, “the United Kingdom cannot stay on the sidelines. Because defense and security, competitiveness, democracy — the very core of our identity — are connected across Europe as a continent.”
Pomp and politics
The French president and his wife, Brigitte Macron, were treated to the full force of British ceremonial charm, a far cry from the chilly relations of 2022, when then-Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said that the “jury is out” on whether Macron was a friend or a foe.
The Macrons were greeted at London’s RAF Northolt air base by Prince William and his wife Catherine — wearing a dress by French design house Christian Dior — before being met by King Charles and Queen Camilla in Windsor, west of London. They were driven to the almost 1,000-year-old royal residence of Windsor Castle in horse-drawn carriages, through streets bedecked in Union Jacks and French tricolor flags.
The king and queen hosted a banquet for the Macrons at Windsor Castle on Tuesday evening, with 160 guests including politicians, diplomats and celebrities such as Mick Jagger and Elton John. They were served summer vegetables, chicken with asparagus and iced blackcurrant parfait, along with Champagne and a gin-infused cocktail called L’entente, after the “entente cordiale” struck between Britain and France in 1904.
As monarch, Charles is expected to be above politics, but he spoke about the support Britain and France give Ukraine “in defense of our shared values,” noted the challenge of “irregular migration across the English Channel” and said the two countries face “complex threats, emanating from multiple directions.
“As friends and as allies, we face them together,” Charles said.
New tactics to stop boats
Politics will take center stage on Wednesday, when Macron sits down for talks with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on migration, defense and investment — including a 12.5 percent stake by French energy firm EDF in a new nuclear power plant planned for eastern England.
Macron also came bearing a tantalizing cultural gift: an agreement to send the Bayeux Tapestry to Britain for the first time in more than 900 years. The 70-meter (230-foot) tapestry showing the Norman conquest of England in 1066 will go on display at the British Museum from September 2026 to July 2027.
At talks Wednesday and a UK-France summit on Thursday, Macron and Starmer will discuss ways to stop migrants from crossing the English Channel in small boats and try to advance plans for a post-ceasefire security force for Ukraine, despite apparent US indifference to the idea and Russia’s refusal to halt the onslaught on its neighbor.
Britain receives fewer asylum-seekers than Mediterranean European countries, but thousands of migrants each year use northern France as a launching point to reach the UK, either by stowing away in trucks or — after a clampdown on that route — in small boats across one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
The UK has struck a series of deals with France over the years to increase patrols of beaches and share intelligence in an attempt to disrupt the smuggling gangs.
It has all had only a limited impact. About 37,000 people were detected crossing the English Channel in small boats in 2024, and more than 20,000 people made the crossing in the first six months of 2025, up by about 50 percent from the same period last year. Dozens of people have died trying to cross.
British officials have been pushing for French police to intervene more forcefully to stop the boats, and welcomed the sight of officers slashing rubber dinghies with knives in recent days.
France is also considering a UK proposal for a “one-in, one-out” deal that would see France take back some migrants who reached Britain, in return for the UK accepting some of those in France.
Macron said the leaders would try “to fix today what is a burden for our two countries.”
“France and the UK have a shared responsibility to address irregular migration with humanity, solidarity and fairness,” he said.
Keeping Ukraine in focus
Starmer and Macron have worked closely together to rally support for Ukraine, though they have taken contrasting approaches to US President Donald Trump, with Macron more willing to challenge the American president than the emollient Starmer.
Britain and France have led efforts to form an international peacekeeping force for Ukraine to reinforce a future ceasefire with European troops and equipment and US security guarantees.
Trump has shown little enthusiasm for the idea, however, and a ceasefire remains elusive. British officials say the “coalition of the willing” idea is alive and well, with Macron and Starmer due to join an international videoconference on Thursday to discuss planning for the force.
Macron said the coalition was a sign that “Europeans will never abandon Ukraine – never.”


Trump considers taking over D.C. government, chides New York

Trump considers taking over D.C. government, chides New York
Updated 58 min 21 sec ago
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Trump considers taking over D.C. government, chides New York

Trump considers taking over D.C. government, chides New York
  • Trump said his administration had a good relationship with Bowser, he had less complimentary words for Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist who won the race to be the Democratic Party’s nominee in New York’s November mayoral election

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday his administration was considering taking over governance of Washington, D.C., and suggested he could take similar action in New York because of his distaste for the leading candidate for mayor there.
Trump has made a similar threat regarding Washington before, but has not followed through even as he criticized crime rates and bashed other institutions there.
The president, speaking during a cabinet meeting at the White House, said his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, was in close touch with Mayor Muriel Bowser, who favors making the city a US state.
“We have tremendous power at the White House to run places when we have to. We could run D.C. I mean, we’re ... looking at D.C.,” Trump said. “Susie Wiles is working very closely with the mayor.”
Bowser’s office declined to comment.
The District of Columbia was established in 1790 with land from neighboring Virginia and Maryland. Congress has control of its budget, but voters elect a mayor and city council, thanks to a law known as the Home Rule Act. For Trump to take over the city, Congress likely would have to pass a law revoking that act, which Trump would have to sign.
Becoming the 51st state would give Washington’s roughly 700,000 residents voting representation in Congress. Democrats support that plan, while Republicans, who are reluctant to hand Democrats any politically safe seats in the House of Representatives and Senate, oppose it.
Trump suggested his administration would run the city better with an appointed leader than the democratically elected government.
“We would run it so good, it would be run so proper. We’d get the best person to run it,” he said. “The crime would be down to a minimum, would be much less. And you know we’re thinking about doing it, to be honest with you.”
While Trump said his administration had a good relationship with Bowser, he had less complimentary words for Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist who won the race to be the Democratic Party’s nominee in New York’s November mayoral election.
Trump described Mamdani as a “disaster.” A representative for Mamdani did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
“We’re going to straighten out New York... Maybe we’re going to have to straighten it out from Washington,” Trump said. “We’re going to do something for New York. I can’t tell you what yet, but we’re going to make New York great again also.” 

 


Joao Pedro brace sends Chelsea into Club World Cup final

Joao Pedro brace sends Chelsea into Club World Cup final
Updated 09 July 2025
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Joao Pedro brace sends Chelsea into Club World Cup final

Joao Pedro brace sends Chelsea into Club World Cup final
  • Joao Pedro refused to celebrate after either goal against the club with whom he started his career and made 36 top-team appearances before moving to England with Watford in 2020

EAST RUTHERFORD, United States: New signing Joao Pedro scored twice on his first start as Chelsea eased to a 2-0 win over Fluminense on Tuesday to seal a spot in the final of the Club World Cup.
The Brazilian striker opened the scoring in lethal fashion in the 18th minute of the last-four clash at the MetLife Stadium and struck again shortly before the hour mark as Chelsea set up a showdown with either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s final.
Signed from Brighton and Hove Albion last week for a reported £60 million ($79 million), the 23-year-old cut short a holiday and made his debut off the bench in the quarter-final win over Palmeiras.
He was then given his first Chelsea start up front here in place of the suspended Liam Delap.
Joao Pedro refused to celebrate after either goal against the club with whom he started his career and made 36 top-team appearances before moving to England with Watford in 2020.
The result ends Fluminense’s impressive run at the tournament after the 2023 Copa Libertadores winners held Borussia Dortmund in the group stage, beat Inter Milan in the last 16 and knocked out Manchester City’s conquerors Al-Hilal in the quarter-finals.
With their exit go the prospects of a South American winner of the first 32-team Club World Cup, with Chelsea claiming back-to-back victories against Brazilian opposition to reach the final.
As always seemed most likely, the trophy will be claimed by one of Europe’s superpowers, with the final now guaranteed to be between two of the last five winners of the UEFA Champions League.
“It is a great achievement. It has been a fantastic season — top four in the league, (winning) the Conference League and now in the final in this competition. We are so, so happy,” Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca told broadcaster DAZN.
“Now finally it is the last game of the season, we can say that, and hopefully we can win the tournament.”
Fluminense coach Renato Portaluppi had described his team as the “ugly duckling” of the tournament due to the enormous difference between their budget and those of the other three remaining sides.
This game ultimately proved to be a step too far for their team, captained by 40-year-old former Chelsea center-back Thiago Silva.
“This was a wonderful Club World Cup,” said Portaluppi.
“There is no crying over spilled milk now. We wanted to get to the final for our fans but we leave with our heads held high, and go back to our reality stronger now than we were before.”
Chelsea were without the suspended Levi Colwill and Delap but Moises Caicedo returned after a ban.
The Premier League side were simply too strong for their opponents in a game watched by 70,556 fans on a hot afternoon just outside New York City.
They went ahead thanks to a wonderful strike by their new forward, who controlled the ball on the edge of the box after Silva had cleared a Pedro Neto cross.
Joao Pedro took a touch and curled a shot beyond veteran goalkeeper Fabio into the far corner, before holding up his hands apologetically toward the Fluminense fans behind the goal.
The team from Rio de Janeiro were an intermittent threat, and Hercules — match-winner against Al-Hilal in the last eight — almost equalized in the 25th minute.
He played a one-two with German Cano and lifted the ball over goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, but Marc Cucurella cleared off the line.
Fluminense were then awarded a penalty 10 minutes before the interval when a set-piece delivery by Rene struck the arm of Trevoh Chalobah in the box.
However, French referee Francois Letexier overturned the decision following a VAR check.
“Had we been awarded the penalty we would have scored and it would have been a different story,” said Portaluppi.
Chelsea got their second on 56 minutes, just after Fluminense had sacrificed one of their three center-backs to send on an extra attacker.
Enzo Fernandez released Joao Pedro on the break, and the forward produced another clinical finish in off the bar.
There were chances for Chelsea to score further goals after that, but the new boy’s double strike sufficed with the only potential black mark on the day the knock which forced Caicedo to limp off before full-time.


Tunisia hands lengthy prison terms to top politicians and former security officials

Tunisia hands lengthy prison terms to top politicians and former security officials
Updated 09 July 2025
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Tunisia hands lengthy prison terms to top politicians and former security officials

Tunisia hands lengthy prison terms to top politicians and former security officials
  • A total of 21 were charged in the case, with 10 already in custody and 11 having fled the country

TUNIS: A Tunisian court on Tuesday handed jail terms of 12 to 35 years on high-profile politicians, including opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi and former security officials, a move that critics say underscores the president’s use of the judiciary to cement authoritarian rule.
Among those sentenced on charges of conspiring against the state in the major mass trial, were Nadia Akacha, the former chief of staff to President Kais Saied, local radio Mosaique FM said. Akacha who fled abroad received 35 years.
Ghannouchi, 84, veteran head of the Islamist-leaning Ennahda party, was handed a 14-year term.
Ghannouchi who was the speaker of the elected parliament dissolved by Saied, has been in prison since 2023, receiving three sentences of a total of 27 years in separate cases in recent months.
A total of 21 were charged in the case, with 10 already in custody and 11 having fled the country.
The court sentenced former intelligence chief Kamel Guizani to 35 years, former Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem to 35 years, and Mouadh Ghannouchi, son of Rached Ghannouchi, to 35 years. All three have fled the country.
Saied dissolved the parliament in 2021 and began ruling by decree, then dissolved the independent Supreme Judicial Council and sacked dozens of judges, a move that opposition called a coup which undermined the nascent democracy that sparked in 2011 the Arab Spring uprisings.
Saied rejects the accusations and says his steps are legal and aim to end years of chaos and corruption hidden within the political elite.
Most opposition leaders, some journalists, and critics of Saied have been imprisoned since he seized control of most powers in 2021.
This year, a court handed jail terms of 5 to 66 years to opposition leaders, businessmen and lawyers on charges of conspiring as well, a case the opposition says is fabricated in an attempt to stamp out opposition to the president.
Human rights groups and activists say Saied has turned Tunisia into an open-air prison and is using the judiciary and police to target his political opponents.
Saied rejects these accusations, saying he will not be a dictator.