HE the GCCSG: The GCC’s Journey is an Example to be Followed in Unity, Effective Integration, & Constructive Cooperation, Making it a Pioneering Model Regionally and Internationally 

 Under the patronage and presence of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of Riyadh Region, and with the presence of His Excellency Abdulrahman Badah Al Mutairi, Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs in the State of Kuwait, Their Excellencies the Ambassadors, representatives of the diplomatic corps, and numerous officials, the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), held a celebration commemorating the 44th anniversary of the GCC’s founding on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at its headquarters in Riyadh. 

His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the GCC, began his speech by expressing his sincere thanks and great gratitude to His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of Riyadh Region, for his patronage and honour of the ceremony, and for his participation with Their Highnesses the Princes, Their Excellencies the Ministers, Their Excellencies the Ambassadors, representatives of the diplomatic corps, and all the officials “who honoured us with their gracious presence on this dear occasion for all citizens of the GCC countries,” 

His Excellency also expressed his pride that this “meeting is renewed with you at the General Secretariat of the GCC on this precious and dear occasion to all of us, and I am honoured to stand before you today to extend, on my own behalf and on behalf of my colleagues in the General Secretariat of the GCC, and all its agencies, organisations and centres affiliated to it, the highest congratulations and blessings to Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC countries on the passage of 44 years since the establishment of the Cooperation Council, whose blessed journey began on May 25, 1981,” underscoring his great pride and appreciation for the achievements made in the journey of joint Gulf cooperation and integration across various fields. 

His Excellency the Secretary General highlighted that “during our celebration today of the 44th anniversary of the launch of the blessed journey of the GCC, we recall with pride and loyalty the insightful vision of the founding leaders who laid the solid foundation for this great institution,  relying on deep fraternal ties, shared destiny, and common history among their peoples. The current leaders have continued this journey with unwavering determination, focusing on strengthening the bonds of brotherhood among their peoples and solidifying the pillars of joint Gulf action, which brings prosperity and growth to their countries and peoples. Despite all regional and international challenges and changes, the Council’s journey remains a model of unity, effective integration, and constructive cooperation, becoming a leading example at both the regional and international levels across various fields,” 

Moreover, His Excellency said that the blessed journey of the GCC has witnessed bright milestones and qualitative achievements that have contributed to consolidating Gulf integration in various fields. “The member states have become a model for collective action and a reliable partner regionally and internationally. They have garnered the world’s attention thanks to their strategic vision and balanced policies, which emphasise the values of security and peace and enhance pathways for sustainable development and prosperity,” His Excellency stressed, adding: “A notable scene reflecting the Council’s growing influence is the recent Gulf-European summit, followed shortly by the Gulf-American summit, with upcoming summits anticipated with ASEAN and China. This clearly affirms the Council’s status and pivotal role in shaping international relations. These high-level summits of Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the member states alongside their counterparts in these countries, as well as 15 ministerial meetings with other nations, highlight the Council’s ability to build bridges of cooperation with both East and West, fostering balanced partnerships that achieve mutual interests. They also reflect the global appreciation and respect for the GCC countries and the sincere desire from various nations to deepen relations based on mutual trust and strategic interests,”  

His Excellency also pointed out that what the GCC countries have achieved in terms of a qualitative leap in their economic performance, as a result of economic diversification, optimal utilisation of resources, and strengthening their economic position regionally and internationally, reviewing some of the economic achievements made during the past period, where the GCC countries ranked 11th as the largest economy in the world with a total GDP of 2.1 trillion US dollars, and the average per capita GDP reached about 36.8 thousand dollars, which is more than three times the world average.  

“This mirrors the high level of income and improved quality of life for the Gulf citizen. The economic growth of the GCC countries is expected to continue at a higher pace in 2025 to reach 4.5%. With growth in the non-oil sector approaching 3.3% in the same year, the GCC countries have collectively become among the top seven global financial regions. The total market value of the GCC financial markets are now exceeding 4.3% of the total global market value.  

“In the field of sustainable development, the GCC countries have witnessed great growth in their productive capacity from clean energy sources, as the electricity production capacity from renewable sources in the GCC countries reached 30% of the total production of the Middle East, and amounted to 54.5% of wind energy production, which is 30% of global production. The intra-trade between the GCC countries has witnessed remarkable growth, with the volume of intra-exports reaching 131.6 billion US dollars with a growth rate of 67%, which reflects the depth of economic integration and facilitating the movement of goods between member states. The total capital of publicly traded companies allowed for trading by citizens of other member states reached 520.4 billion USD, showing a growth rate of 226.9%, indicating the smooth flow of Gulf capital and ease of access to markets. 

“In higher education, the number of Gulf students enrolled in higher education institutions outside their home countries within the Council reached approximately 12,800, promoting the exchange of competencies and reinforcing the principle of shared economic and educational citizenship. Additionally, the member states are among the most prepared in the world to implement the digital economy, with the government readiness index for artificial intelligence exceeding the global average. It is expected that AI will contribute 34% to the GDP of the member states by 2030. 

“In the same context, and in line with the digital and technological transformation, the Ministers of Information in the GCC countries launched this year the joint application of the news agencies of the GCC countries.  The General Secretariat, via the GCC Statistical Centre,  has launched a smartphone application for the statistics of the GCC, providing a reliable window into the realities of the member states through numbers and facts. This application offers accurate indicators on development, economy, society, and the environment, reflecting the scale of ambitious achievements and the comprehensive renaissance experienced by the member states,” His Excellency explained. 

Besides, His Excellency added that, based on the high directives of Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the Council to empower and highlight the role of women and youth in the Gulf, the General Secretariat of the GCC organised two events in the recent period.  

“The first was for Gulf women, titled +Inspiring Gulf Woman+ held in celebration of International Women’s Day, to spotlight the achievements of Gulf women and the efforts of the Council in empowering them. The second event was Gulf Youth Day, aimed at supporting and motivating youth and showcasing their creativity and accomplishments in various fields,” His Excellency said.  

He reiterated the General Secretariat’s ongoing support for all segments of Gulf society and the importance of highlighting their efforts and initiatives. 

In concluding his remarks, His Excellency reiterated his gratitude to the GCC member states, its leadership, governments, and peoples for the unlimited facilitation and support provided to the General Secretariat and its affiliated offices and bodies. He also expressed appreciation to the State of Kuwait, the current presidency, for its exceptional efforts in hosting and preparing meetings. He thanked the esteemed ministers of foreign affairs of the member states for their continuous support and care for the General Secretariat and its staff. He acknowledged all his colleagues at the General Secretariat and its affiliated bodies for their dedicated efforts and commitment, emphasising their focus on enhancing the joint Gulf work and achievements. 

He prayed to Allah – the Almighty – to grant the member states the blessings of security and safety, and to bestow upon “us further stability and prosperity, guiding our efforts to fulfill the aspirations of our leaders in strengthening the path of joint Gulf action and achieving the hopes of the citizens of the member states,”