Gulf Cooperation Council facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf مجلس التعاون لدول الخلیج العربية
Flag Logo
Map indicating GCC members
Headquarters	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Official languages	Arabic
Type	Trade bloc
Membership	Bahrain Kuwait Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates
Leaders

• Secretary general	Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi
• Supreme Council presidency	United Arab Emirates

Establishment	25 May 1981; 44 years ago (1981-05-25)
Area
• Total	2,673,108 km² (1,032,093 sq mi)
• Water (%)	0.6
Population
• 2023 estimate	59,620,000 (25th)
• Density	22.3/km² (57.8/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2021 estimate
• Total	$3.655 trillion (9th)
• Per capita	$71,200 (10th)
GDP (nominal)	2021 estimate
• Total	$2.250 trillion (7th)
• Per capita	$34,300 (35th)
Gini (2012)	▼ 28.7 low
HDI (2021)	0.860 very high · 40th
Currency	6 currencies (ISO 4217 in parentheses) (BHD) Bahraini Dinar (AED) Emirati Dirham (KWD) Kuwaiti Dinar (OMR) Omani Rial (QAR) Qatari Riyal (SAR) Saudi Riyal
Time zone	UTC+3 to UTC+4

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a group of six countries in the Arabian Peninsula. These countries are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. It is a political and economic union, meaning these countries work together on many important issues.

The main office of the GCC is in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. The group was officially started on May 25, 1981, when its founding document was signed.

All the countries in the GCC are led by monarchs, like kings or emirs. Some have a constitution that limits the ruler's power, while others have rulers with absolute power. The United Arab Emirates is a special case, as it is made up of seven smaller states, each with its own ruler. There have been talks about other countries like Jordan, Morocco, and Yemen possibly joining the GCC in the future.

In 2012, Saudi Arabia suggested making the GCC an even closer "Gulf Union." This would mean working together more on money, politics, and defense. The idea was to create a stronger group in the region. The Peninsula Shield Force is the military part of the GCC, created in 1984 to help protect the member states.

Founding the GCC

The Gulf Cooperation Council was created in 1981 with a special document called a charter. This document was signed in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on May 25, 1981. The countries that signed this document are the same ones that are members of the GCC today.

An important economic agreement was also signed by these countries on November 11, 1981. These nations are often called "the GCC states."

What the GCC Aims For

In 2001, the GCC leaders set some big goals for the group:

To create a Customs union by January 2003. This means goods could move between member countries without extra taxes.
To have a Common market by 2007. This would make it easier for people, goods, and services to move freely.
To introduce a Common currency by 2010. This would be like the Euro in Europe.

However, not all goals were met on time. Oman said it couldn't join the common currency by 2010. The UAE also decided not to join the currency project in 2009. The suggested name for this new currency was Khaleeji. If it happens, it would be a very large shared currency area in the world.

Other important goals of the GCC include:

Making similar rules in areas like money, trade, and tourism.
Helping science and technology grow in areas like industry and farming.
Setting up centers for scientific research.
Starting joint business projects.
Having a unified military force, the Peninsula Shield Force.
Encouraging private businesses to work together.
Making the people of these countries feel more connected.

The GCC region has some of the fastest-growing economies in the world. This is mainly because of their large amounts of oil and natural gas. They have used the money from these resources to build new things and invest for the future. For example, the UAE has invested hundreds of billions of dollars.

The region has also become a popular place for big events. Qatar hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2006 Asian Games.

The GCC Logo

The GCC logo has two circles, one inside the other. The outer circle has an Arabic phrase at the top that means "in the name of God." At the bottom, it has the full name of the council. The inner circle has a hexagon shape, which stands for the six member countries. Inside the hexagon, there is a map of the Arabian Peninsula, with the member countries colored in brown.

Economy

Rail transport map of Saudi Arabia. The GCC Railway, a proposed railway system to connect all six GCC member states, can be seen in yellow.

Working Together on Trade

A common market was started on January 1, 2008. This made it easier to move goods and services between countries. The goal is to have a fully connected market. A customs union, which removes taxes on goods traded between members, was completed by January 1, 2015.

By 2015, the common market allowed GCC citizens to work in government and private jobs in any member state. They could also own property, move money, and get education and health services in all member countries. However, some small challenges still exist for moving goods and services freely. The countries are also working on making their tax systems and laws more similar.

One Currency Idea

In 2014, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia worked towards creating a single currency. Kuwait's finance minister said they were moving forward with this plan. He believed a common market and central bank would make the GCC a strong player in the world's money system. A special Monetary Council is in charge of this project.

Even though a single currency isn't fully in place, businesses sometimes use a mix of GCC currencies for trade. Plans for a single currency have been around since 2009. But due to a global financial crisis and disagreements, the UAE and Oman decided not to join the currency project.

Business Deals

Companies and investors from GCC countries are very active in buying and merging with other companies. Since 1999, there have been over 5,200 such deals worth a lot of money. Many of these investments come from special government funds.

Big Projects and Connections

The GCC has started large projects to help its members connect and become stronger. The GCC Interconnection Grid links the electricity networks of all member states. It started working in 2009, and by 2013, all six countries were connected. There have also been talks about connecting water systems, but this hasn't happened yet.

Unlike some other regions, GCC countries haven't fully opened their skies for airlines. This means airlines from GCC countries still compete for international flights.

The GCC is also building a huge railway system to connect all the countries. This railway will help trade and reduce fuel use. Over $200 billion will be spent to build about 40,000 kilometers of rail lines across the GCC. This project will link the six member states and help them work together even more closely. The railway is expected to connect cities and transport goods faster.

In banking, GCC countries are realizing that having a diverse workforce is important. Different ideas and experiences help banks be more creative and make better decisions. This helps them reach more customers and grow their business.

Politics and How the GCC is Run

Supreme Council

The Supreme Council is the highest decision-making body of the GCC. It is made up of the leaders of each member country. They set the main goals and direction for the GCC. For very important decisions, all members must agree. For smaller matters, a majority vote is enough. Each country gets one vote. The leader of the council changes each year, following the alphabetical order of the country names.

Ministerial Council

The Ministerial Council is made up of the Foreign Ministers from all member states. They meet every three months. This council creates policies and suggests ways to improve cooperation among the countries. Their suggestions are then sent to the Supreme Council for approval. The Ministerial Council also helps prepare for the Supreme Council meetings. They use the same voting rules as the Supreme Council.

Secretariat General

The Secretariat is like the main office that carries out the decisions of the GCC. It makes decisions within its own power and puts into action the decisions made by the Supreme or Ministerial Council. The Secretariat also studies ways to improve cooperation and planning. It sometimes publishes reports about the GCC's work. The current Secretary-General is Nayef Falah Mubarak Al Hajraf.

Monetary Council

On December 15, 2009, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia announced they would create a Monetary Council. This council's job is to introduce a single currency for these countries. The council met for the first time in March 2010 to plan how to set up a central bank and choose a currency system. Kuwait's foreign minister said it might take up to ten years to create a single currency. Oman and the UAE later decided not to join this proposed currency union.

In 2014, there were new efforts to launch a single currency. Kuwait's finance minister pushed for it to happen soon. Talks also restarted with the UAE and Oman to see if they would join the monetary union.

Patent Office

The GCC Patent Office was approved in 1992 and set up in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. People can apply for patents here in Arabic. A patent granted by this office is valid in all GCC member states. The first GCC patent was given out in 2002.

Peninsula Shield Force

The Peninsula Shield Force is the military arm of the GCC. It was formed to protect the security of the member states. For example, during a period of unrest in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE sent troops to help protect important places like the airport. Kuwait sent a navy unit to help.

The GCC also supported international efforts to help in Libya. GCC member states joined in to help enforce a no-fly zone. In 2014, some GCC members like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, and Qatar, along with Jordan, started air operations against a group called ISIL in Syria. Some GCC countries also helped train Syrian groups and allowed other countries to use their airbases. Some GCC countries also sent troops to support efforts in Yemen.

GCC Standardization Organization

The GCC Standardization Organization is responsible for setting common standards for products and services across the GCC countries. Yemen is also a member of this organization.

Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting

The Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) was started in 1976 by the six GCC member states. Yemen joined in 2009. Its main office is in Doha, Qatar. This organization helps with industrial development and cooperation.

Secretaries-General

No.	Name	Country	Tenure
1	Abdullah Bishara	Kuwait	26 May 1981 – April 1993
2	Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi	United Arab Emirates	April 1993 – April 1996
3	Jamil Ibrahim Hejailan	Saudi Arabia	April 1996 – 31 March 2002
4	Abdul Rahman bin Hamad Al Attiyah	Qatar	1 April 2002 – 31 March 2011
5	Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani	Bahrain	1 April 2011 – 31 January 2020
6	Nayef Falah Mubarak Al Hajraf	Kuwait	1 February 2020 – present

Member States of the GCC

There are six countries that are members of the GCC. The table below shows information about each country, including its population, size, and economic strength.

Country	Population (2023, United Nations)	Area (km²)	GDP (nominal)		GDP (PPP)		HDI
Country	Population (2023, United Nations)	Area (km²)	(USD million)	Per capita ($)	(Int$ million)	Per capita (Int$)	HDI
Bahrain	1,485,510	786.5	44,870	28,385	95,784	60,596	0.875 (very high)
Oman	4,644,384	309,500	104,902	21,960	201,531	42,188	0.816 (very high)
Qatar	2,716,391	11,581	219,570	83,891	326,731	124,834	0.855 (very high)
Saudi Arabia	36,947,025	2,149,690	1,061,902	29,922	2,300,967	64,836	0.875 (very high)
United Arab Emirates	9,516,871	83,600	498,978	49,451	890,171	88,221	0.911 (very high)
Kuwait	4,310,108	17,818	164,713	33,646	259,640	53,037	0.831 (very high)

Other Countries Working with the GCC

After Iraq invaded Kuwait, Iraq's special membership in some GCC groups was stopped.

Yemen has been talking about joining the GCC since 2007. It hoped to become a member by 2016. Yemen is already part of several GCC organizations, like the Standardization Authority and the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting. It also takes part in the Gulf Cup Football Tournament. The GCC has said that Yemen should have the same rights and duties as other members in these groups.

Sports in the GCC

The GCC helps its member countries work together in sports. The Youth and Sports Ministers from each state meet every year. Their goal is to encourage sports and activities for young people in the region. Hosting big international sports events also helps the economies of these countries.

The GCC Games is a major sports event held every four years, started in 2011. There are also many long-running GCC Championships for different sports, including:

GCC Athletics Championships
GCC Swimming Championships
GCC Gymnastics Championships
GCC Shooting Championships
GCC Football Championships
GCC Futsal Championships
GCC Basketball Championships
GCC Handball Championships
GCC Volleyball Championships
GCC Ice Hockey Championships
GCC Badminton Championships
GCC Table Tennis Championships
GCC Tennis Championships
GCC Sailing Championships
GCC Rowing Championships
GCC Chess Championships
GCC Billiards and Snooker Championships
GCC Bowling Championships
GCC Judo Championships (since 1998)
GCC Karate Championships
GCC Taekwondo Championships
GCC Weightlifting Championships

Past Diplomatic Challenges

Sometimes, countries within the GCC have had disagreements. In March 2014, there was a diplomatic issue involving Qatar. As a result, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain temporarily removed their ambassadors from Qatar.

Later, on June 5, 2017, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt officially cut diplomatic ties with Qatar. Saudi Arabia stated this was due to Qatar's support for certain groups. This led to restrictions on Qataris and their businesses. For example, Qatar Airways planes were not allowed to fly over these countries. There was even a plan to dig a canal along Saudi Arabia's border with Qatar, but this plan was later dropped.

However, on January 4, 2021, Kuwait announced that Saudi Arabia would restore all diplomatic ties with Qatar. This included reopening air space and the land border. Later that day, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt also agreed to restore ties with Qatar. This official agreement was signed at the Al-Ula summit, ending the disagreement after more than three years.

GCC and Other Summit Meetings

The GCC holds meetings with leaders from other countries and regions to discuss important issues.

GCC and US-GCC Summit meetings

#	Year	Held in
1	1993	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

GCC and Central Asia-GCC Summit meetings

#	Year	Held in
1	2023	Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
2	2024	Tashkent or Samarkand, Uzbekistan

GCC and ASEAN-GCC Summit meetings

#	Year	Held in
1	2023	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

GCC—Pakistan relations

In January 2022, the GCC and Pakistan agreed on a plan for working together until 2026. In September 2023, they also signed an early agreement for a free trade deal.

Countries Connected to the GCC

Euler diagram for the Arab League, which contains members of the Gulf Cooperation Council

Since the GCC was created in 1981, its membership has not grown. All current members are Arab monarchies. Some GCC countries share land borders with Iraq, Jordan, or Yemen. They also have sea borders with Iran, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, or Somalia.

Egypt

Only the Sinai Peninsula part of Egypt is in the Arabian Peninsula. In 2011, Bahrain's Foreign Minister suggested that Egypt should join the GCC.

Iraq

Iraq is an Arab country with land in the Arabian Peninsula and a border on the Persian Gulf. However, it is not a member of the GCC. In 2012, Iraq's former Defence Minister said Iraq wanted to join the GCC. Kuwait supported this idea, but no real progress has been made.

Jordan and Morocco

In May 2011, Jordan asked to join the GCC, a request it had made 15 years earlier. This time, its request was accepted. Morocco was also invited to join the union. In September 2011, a five-year economic plan for both countries was discussed. Even though they were looking into joining, there was no set date for when they would become members.

Jordan and Morocco are the only two Arabic-speaking monarchies not currently in the GCC. The current members see them as strong potential partners. Jordan borders Saudi Arabia and has economic ties to the Gulf States. Even though Morocco is far from the Persian Gulf, its foreign minister noted that distance is not a barrier to a strong relationship.

Yemen

Yemen has been in talks to join the GCC and hoped to become a member by 2016. Although Yemen does not have a coastline on the Persian Gulf, it is located in the Arabian Peninsula.

Other Related Groups

The GCC members and Yemen are also part of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA). However, the GCC has faster goals for working together, so GAFTA is not expected to change the GCC's plans much.