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His Excellency Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi met on Monday with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, David van Weel. The meeting took place on the margins of the 29th joint ministerial meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union (EU), convened in Kuwait. The two sides discussed advancing bilateral cooperation, as well as a variety of topics of shared interest.

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands David van Weel on the sidelines of the 29th Joint Ministerial Meeting between the GCC and the European Union, currently taking place in Kuwait. The meeting discussed ways to enhance the GCC-Dutch relations and the strategic partnership between the GCC and the European Union, in a manner that serves common interests. The two sides also exchanged views on the latest regional and international developments. Albudaiwi commended the Netherlands' balanced positions and expressed hope that it would recognize the State of Palestine, a step that would support efforts to achieve the two-state solution and promote security and stability in the region.

The 29th joint ministerial meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union (EU) kicked off today in Kuwait with the participation of foreign ministers and senior officials from both sides. The meeting will address a number of regional and international topics of common interest, including developments in the Middle East, ways to enhance trade and energy corporation, and efforts to combat climate change. It will also follow up on the implementation of the outcomes of the first GCC-EU summit held in Brussels last year. In this context, Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the current session of the GCC Ministerial Council, Abdullah Al-Yahya said in a speech at the launch of the joint ministerial meeting that the convening of the GCC-EU meeting embodies the shared desire to continue building on the solid achievements of cooperation and coordination. He added that regional and international events have proven that common challenges, most notably terrorism, foreign interventions, threats to maritime security, and humanitarian crises, require collective coordination and cooperation to enhance the stability of peoples and support peace and development. He stressed the need to launch joint initiatives that reflect a commitment to collective solutions and international solidarity. He also affirmed the two sides' keenness to enhance cooperation in the areas of regional security, energy security, the green economy, digital transformation, advanced technology, and cultural and educational exchange, to serve the aspirations of their peoples for a more stable and prosperous future. On the Palestinian cause, the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister affirmed that it remains a top priority for the GCC as a matter of right and justice. He condemned the humanitarian tragedies experienced by the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip due to the siege, destruction, and displacement, calling on the international community to take urgent action to stop the violations and enable the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. He also commended the efforts made by US President Donald Trump to stop the war in Gaza and the joint initiative adopted by Saudi Arabia and France to hold an international conference to implement the two-state solution. He also welcomed the announcement by a number of friendly European countries of their recognition of the State of Palestine, expressing hope that this recognition would expand in support of a just and comprehensive peace. The Kuwaiti Foreign Minister expressed the country's support for Syria's path toward stability and reconstruction, and for ongoing efforts to strengthen Lebanon's sovereignty and stability. He called on all parties in Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, and Libya to prevail and engage in political dialogue that achieves security, unity, and sovereignty for these countries.

The gross domestic product (GDP) of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries at current prices reached $588.1 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2025, compared with $570.9 billion in the same period of 2024, reflecting a 3% annual increase, according to data issued by the GCC Statistical Center (GCC-Stat). The statistics indicated that non-oil activities contributed 73.2% to the GCC's GDP at current prices by the end of the first quarter of 2025, while oil activities accounted for 26.8%. At constant prices, the GCC's GDP recorded marginal quarterly growth of 0.1% in the first quarter of 2025, compared with $587.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024. The figures highlight the region's continued progress in diversifying its economic base, supported by sustained expansion in non-oil sectors across member states.

Qatar participated Saturday in the 88th meeting of the Gulf Health Council of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) and the 11th meeting of the GCC Health Ministers Committee in Kuwait.Qatar delegation was headed by HE the Minister of Public Health, Mansoor bin Ebrahim al-Mahmoud.The two meetings reviewed topics related to joint Gulf health co-operation and action.The 88th meeting of the Gulf Health Council focused on significant issues, including an update of the unified Gulf Health Strategy 2026-2030.The 11th meeting of the GCC Health Ministers Committee addressed several key topics, notably the GSS Strategy for Combating Drugs 2025-2026, health insurance, the outcomes of unifying the classification and registration procedures for health specialities, healthy cities, and the Gulf Virtual Health Platform.Speaking during the 11th meeting of the Committee of GCC Health Ministers, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi affirmed that the Gulf health system has achieved great development in recent years by upgrading its health systems, qualifying national cadres to be at the highest levels of efficiency, elevating their capabilities for disease prevention and control, as well as expanding the scope of initiatives aimed at improving the quality of medical services, thereby surpassing the regional and global averages in the health index.Albudaiwi affirmed that the GCC countries are moving with confident steps towards completing the process of Gulf health integration by unifying common health standards and protocols and building strategic partnerships with international organisations and leading countries in the health field.“The GCC countries are working in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the project to accredit the Healthy Cities Programme, which seeks to achieve the highest level of health and well-being in sustainable and socially effective cities,” he pointed out.Albudaiwi underscored that health represents the fundamental pillar of comprehensive development and the most important investment in the future of man and society, saying: “The GCC countries have been keen to transform this belief into a tangible reality that is reflected in the lives of Gulf citizens and residents.”The GCC secretary-general mentioned that there are many gains achieved by the GCC countries in the health field, including that more than 204,000 Gulf citizens benefited from government medical services in the GCC countries outside their home countries during 2023, in implementation of the principle of equal treatment among citizens of the GCC countries.“The total number of hospitals in the GCC countries has exceeded 863, with an average annual growth of 1.5%, and the number of health centres and complexes has exceeded 3,400 health facilities, with an average annual growth of 2.5%,” Albudaiwi added.He added: “The General Secretariat, in co-ordination with the Ministries of Health and relevant authorities, also implemented the experimental indicative classification programme for 783 male and female doctors from GCC countries working outside their countries during 2025, in support of national competencies and to strengthen an integrated Gulf health system. The statistics of these gains are living proof of the depth of health integration among the GCC countries and of our common determination to build a solid health sector that guarantees a better life for our citizens.”

The State of Qatar participated in the 124th meeting of the Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee of the GCC countries, held in the capital of the State of Kuwait. His Excellency Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari led the State of Qatar's delegation participating in the meeting. During the meeting, approval was granted for the outcomes of the 85th meeting of the Committee of Central Bank Governors, the outcomes of the meetings of the Customs Union Authority, and the 15th meeting of the Committee of Tax Administrations. In addition, discussions were held regarding the development of a comprehensive electronic system to serve all types of indirect taxes. The meeting also addressed the latest developments in the negotiations of free trade agreements between the GCC countries and other nations and international blocs, as well as the programme for achieving economic unity among GCC member states by the year 2025. This was alongside a number of topics of mutual interest to the GCC states aimed at achieving economic integration and enhancing innovation and economic resilience in the face of common challenges.

Qatar participated in the 31st preparatory meeting of the Electricity and Water Co-operation Committee of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries, held in Kuwait. HE President of Qatar General Electricity and Water Corp (Kahramaa) Eng. Abdulla bin Ali Al Theyab led Qatar's delegation at the meeting. The meeting discussed ways to enhance Gulf integration in the electricity and water sectors, progress on electricity and water interconnection projects, and support for energy efficiency and demand management programs. Governance frameworks and monitoring mechanisms for joint projects were also addressed. HE Eng. Al Theyab affirmed Qatar's commitment to continuing to work with its brothers to develop an integrated Gulf infrastructure that ensures the security and sustainability of supplies and supports the goals of the transition to clean energy.

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi welcomed the plan announced by US President Donald Trump regarding ending the war in the Gaza Strip. The Secretary General considered that any international effort aimed at ending the crisis and putting a stop to the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip deserves praise, engagement, and contribution. He affirmed that a ceasefire, the direct and rapid lifting of restrictions on aid delivery, preventing the displacement of the population from the Strip and protecting them, are priorities that should be at the core of any responsible international action. He stressed that the success of any initiative is contingent on the seriousness of its implementation and on ensuring the protection of civilians and providing suitable conditions for stability. GCC Secretary General indicated that the Cooperation Council views the proposed steps positively, as they could contribute to paving a genuine and just path that guarantees the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the establishment of their independent state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. He also underscored the Cooperation Council's readiness to cooperate with regional and international partners to support every effort that leads to ending the crisis in the Gaza Strip and formulating a solution that preserves all the rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, based on the two-state solution, and achieves security and stability in the region.

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi met with Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres to discuss ways to enhance joint cooperation. The meeting took place today on the sidelines of the GCC Secretary-General's participation in the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. In light of regional developments, the UN Secretary-General praised the role and efforts of GCC member states in mediation and their ongoing pursuit of security and stability in the region and the world, affirming that the entire world needs the GCC's efforts across all fronts. Albudaiwi emphasized the GCC's keenness to strengthen joint cooperation with the United Nations to contribute to resolving regional and international issues, foremost among them the crisis in Gaza and the achievement of sustainable development. He also commended the General Assembly's resolution on cooperation between the GCC and the United Nations, which will significantly contribute to enhancing their partnership.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) reaffirmed its full solidarity with the State of Qatar following the recent terrorist attack against it, expressing its categorical rejection of any threat to Qatar's security and stability or to the security of the region as a whole. During a joint meeting with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Council stressed the need to strengthen cooperation and coordination to confront such attacks and preserve stability. In his speech at the meeting, GCC Secretary-General Jasim Mohammed Albudaiwi stated that the world and the region have witnessed serious developments and major challenges since the last meeting, foremost among them the recent terrorist attack on Qatar, which he described as a threat to regional and international security, a blatant violation of international law, and an assault on the sovereignty of a GCC member state. Albudaiwi also voiced deep concern over Israel's ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the massive humanitarian suffering it has caused, emphasizing that the situation requires urgent action by the international community. He reiterated the GCC's firm and unwavering position in support of a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, in accordance with international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, and based on the two-state solution that guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the Jun. 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Regarding relations between the GCC and CELAC, Albudaiwi stressed that both sides are determined to strengthen and elevate their partnership to broader horizons. He explained that merchandise trade between the GCC and CELAC reached around $20 to 28 billion in 2024, noting that the trade balance favored CELAC in 2023 and 2024 due to a decline in GCC exports and an increase in its imports, particularly food supplies from Brazil and Mexico. He affirmed that strengthening partnerships and exchanging expertise, despite challenges such as geographical distance and varying levels of development, can open new opportunities for sustainable growth between the two regions.

The availability of electric heavy-duty trucks remains "limited" in Qatar and the wider Gulf Co-operation Council or GCC, underscoring the urgent need to expand supply and attract manufacturers to the region, a PricewaterhouseCoopers or PwC study has said.Stressing that accelerating sustainable trucking offers significant, measurable climate benefits; PwC Middle East research shows that, under a government-led scenario, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar could avoid up to 2.6mn tonnes of carbon dioxide annually by 2035 – the equivalent of 2.6 years of Qatar’s current road freight emissions.PwC and TruKKer, the Middle East’s first and largest on-demand truck aggregator, in their joint research across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar found that electric heavy-duty truck availability in the GCC remains limited, especially in the crucial mid-weight segment (10–20 tonnes), hindering fleet diversification and slowing electrification.With only 15 zero-emission models available - 70% fewer than in Europe - and most internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles being second-hand imports, "the region needs to expand its EV model availability, attract OEMs, and tailor deployment strategies to accelerate sustainable road freight transformation."The report said ambitious commitments made by countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other GCC countries include nationwide electrification targets to public-private partnerships for clean transport.With GCC countries committing to net-zero targets, decarbonising heavy transport – one of the most emissions-intensive sectors – is essential, it said, adding without intervention, logistics emissions risk offsetting pervades into other areas.The shift to battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks offers a chance to rethink mobility and reshape the region’s energy model, according to the report ‘Driving change – the future of sustainable heavy-duty trucks in the Middle East’.For economies built on hydrocarbons, road freight is both a challenge and an opportunity – a bridge between legacy systems and the cleaner, technology-led future outlined in Saudi Vision 2030, the UAE Net Zero by 2050, Qatar National Vision 2030 and vision programs of other GCC countries, it said.Scaling zero-emission trucks can cut emissions while driving industrial innovation and diversification, it added.“With smarter policy, investment and the right incentives, zero-emission trucks can soon outpace their combustion-engine counterparts not just environmentally but commercially. The GCC has everything it needs to lead this transition, including a fast-growing clean energy base, a strong logistics backbone, and the ambition to drive change," said Heiko Seitz, Global Transport and Logistics Leader, PwC Middle East.Calling for a confident and future-focused coordinated action plan; it said this is not only about reducing emissions, but on building a road freight system that is more efficient, more resilient, and ready for the next generation of growth.Clear regulations and subsidies can spark early demand, strong grid and charging networks will enable operations, cost optimisation through renewable integration will make fleets viable and localised solutions will ensure technology works in the Gulf region’s unique climate and logistics environment.

The participation of Qatar and several of its Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) neighbours in the recently-concluded Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2025 in Kuala Lumpur can be positioned as part of the Southeast Asian nation’s broader GCC engagement strategy, a senior official of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) has said.Frame Malaysia’s halal diplomacy as a strategic move to deepen ties with Middle Eastern economies, using MIHAS 2025 as a launchpad. Highlight how Malaysia is not only exporting products but also exporting its halal governance model, offering technical expertise, certification frameworks, and collaborative platforms. Qatar’s participation can be positioned as part of a broader GCC engagement strategy.“The Middle East is undeniably a key priority for us, especially given the current geopolitical landscape and ongoing trade tensions. To address these challenges, we recognise the urgent need to diversify our export markets.“While we continue to engage with traditional partners in developed regions like Europe, we are also directing our focus towards emerging and rapidly growing markets, including the US. Notably, we have seen significant participation from various Middle Eastern nations,” MATRADE deputy CEO Abu Bakar Yusof told a press conference held on the sidelines of MIHAS 2025, which was formally opened by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.Aside from Qatar, other participating GCC countries include the UAE, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, noted Yusof, underscoring Malaysia’s keenness to deepen economic ties with Gulf nations through halal industry engagement.In January this year, Yusof stated that Malaysia has “successfully finalised” its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE, which he described as “an important mechanism for balancing our trade.”“Our collaboration is reciprocal, fostering two-way economic and trade relations between our countries. Additionally, we have been actively engaging with Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia,” he pointed out.He added: “As we move forward, we are strengthening our partnerships with these nations. In May of this year, under our Prime Minister’s leadership, Asean initiated an economic framework with the GCC countries.“Next steps include conducting a feasibility study aimed at further liberalising trade between Asean and the GCC. This initiative represents a promising avenue to enhance economic exchanges between our regions.”Dr Sirajuddin Sujaimee, director general of JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia), emphasised that Malaysia’s halal standards “are largely recognised as global benchmarks and are being adopted by many countries, including those in the GCC.”“Most of the international standards are derived from Malaysian standards. Thus, to date, almost all of our global standards are primarily based on Malaysian standards,” he pointed out.Earlier, participating companies from Qatar lauded MIHAS as a platform to enrich the Qatari market with a wide range of halal-certified products, especially amongst Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs).Companies such as Lari Group, Al Majid Jawad, and Qatar National Import & Export (QNIE) participated in the ‘Premium Buyers’ segment of the International Sourcing Programme (INSP), one of the key components of the four-day MIHAS 2025.Lari Group chairman Abdulrazaq Lari expressed full confidence in Malaysian halal standards, adding that Lari Group actively shares feedback with Malaysian suppliers to meet Qatari consumer preferences.Reji Sam, Group Brand manager of Al Majid Jawad, emphasised Malaysia’s reputation for stringent and consistent halal certification, contrasting it with the fluctuating standards in other countries. He added that MIHAS serves as a gateway to discovering new, unique F&B products that can meet rising demands.QNIE category supervisor Waqqas Jaffar lauded the organisation and energy of MIHAS 2025, noting the enthusiasm of Malaysian companies eager to export to Qatar. With a limited number of halal brands currently available, Jaffar views MIHAS as a strategic platform for exploring new offerings, especially in health-conscious categories.