Definition

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), formally the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, is a regional intergovernmental political and economic union established on 25 May 1981. Its six member states are the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. The GCC headquarters is located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

UAE Context

The UAE is a founding member of the GCC and one of its most influential participants. The council was established in part as a response to regional security concerns following the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq War in 1980. The UAE’s role within the GCC has evolved from a primarily security-oriented participation to a comprehensive economic and diplomatic engagement.

Economic Significance

The GCC represents one of the wealthiest regional blocs globally, with a combined GDP exceeding USD 2 trillion. The UAE accounts for approximately 25 percent of total GCC economic output, second only to Saudi Arabia. Key GCC economic initiatives relevant to the UAE include the GCC Customs Union (implemented 2003), the Common Market (2008), and ongoing discussions regarding monetary union and a single currency.

Vision 2031 Relevance

The We the UAE 2031 vision explicitly positions the country within its GCC context. The sealed peer group used for benchmarking on this platform comprises all six GCC member states. The UAE’s competitiveness targets, diversification metrics, and diplomatic positioning are all measured against GCC peers, making the council framework essential to understanding the vision’s ambitions.

Related Terms

• GCC Benchmark — Cross-country comparison analysis
• OPEC+ — Energy production coordination
• CEPA — Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements