Gulf Cooperation Council

Bahrain unveils massive reform package to tackle $50 billion debt crisis

The reform package includes higher electricity and water tariffs, with an exception for citizens’ first homes, which will continue to receive subsidized rates up to a specified limit.

|ByHUDHAIFA EBRAHIM / THE MEDIA LINE
BAHRAIN'S MINISTER of Finance and National Economy, Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa al-Khalifa speaks during a financial conference in Manama, Bahrain February 27, 2019.
President of Egypt Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attends the 34th Arab League summit, in Baghdad, Iraq, May 17, 2025; illustrative.

Egypt's Sisi refers to Israel as 'enemy' for first time since before 1977 Sadat visit to Jerusalem

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi labeled Israel an “enemy” at the Arab-Islamic summit, saying its actions threaten Egypt’s security and future peace deals, including by causing Gazans to flee.

|ByJAMES GENN
Family group photos of all the participating members during the Member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) Summit (ASEAN-GCC Summit) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia October 20, 2023

Tariffs rattle gulf markets, but some economists see a silver lining

Analysts indicate that low US tariffs for Gulf countries may attract international companies, but others caution that global tariffs could threaten vital oil income and raise consumer goods costs.

|ByHUDHAIFA EBRAHIM/THE MEDIA LINE
(L-R) US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over a backdrop of Hamas terrorists in Gaza.

Voices from the Arab press: Trump’s Gaza plan remains a fantasy

A weekly selection of opinions and analyses from the Arab media around the world.

|ByTHE MEDIA LINE

Blinken meets E3 Foreign Ministers: “concern about Iran’s nuclear escalation”

The US and the GCC called on Iran “to immediately reverse course, cease its nuclear provocations and engage in meaningful diplomacy."

FEBRUARY 16, 2023ByOMRI NAHMIAS
GULF COOPERATION Council foreign ministers meet in Riyadh, last year. President Joe Biden is to attend a GCC meeting, augmented by the leaders of Egypt, Jordan and Iraq.

'War over food and energy, not nuclear proliferation, is the greatest possibility' - interview

An interview with decorated business consultant on Middle East political, security, economic, and energy issues, Norman T. Roule.

AUGUST 1, 2022ByFELICE FRIEDSON/THE MEDIA LINE
An Iranian Officer of Revolutionary Guards, with Israel flag drawn on his boots, is seen during graduation ceremony, held for the military cadets in a military academy, in Tehran, Iran June 30, 2018

Rising cost of living forces expats to leave Gulf countries

Lower-paid foreigners have been largely unaffected by the surging cost of living.

AUGUST 1, 2022ByHUDHAIFA EBRAHIM/THE MEDIA LINE
People walk outside The Dubai Mall in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 12, 2020.

Jeddah Summit showed US is no longer sole strategic partner in Gulf - opinion

US President Joe Biden attended the summit held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia recently along with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Egypt, Jordan and Iraq.

JULY 27, 2022BySALEM ALKETBI
THE JEDDAH Security and Development Summit takes place, earlier this month.

Every US administration suffers from the same strategic rigidity - opinion

Most analysts and authors agree that each successive US administration has made strategic mistakes in their relations with Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

APRIL 23, 2022BySALEM ALKETBI
HOUSE DEMOCRATIC leader Nancy Pelosi presents then-US president Barack Obama with a book in 2016 containing Democratic members’ statements of support for the Iran nuclear agreement. Obama ignored concerns of Gulf allies about the threat posed by Iran.

Saudi ambassador to return to Lebanon after Mikati statement - report

A diplomatic crisis exploded in November after a Lebanese minister expressed support for the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.

MARCH 23, 2022ByTZVI JOFFRE
Lebanon's President Michel Aoun meets with Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid bin Abdullah Bukhari at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon March 23, 2021

Iran-backed Houthi rebels attack Saudi oil facilities

Cars and homes were damaged in the attacks but there were no casualties, state media has reported.

MARCH 19, 2022ByREUTERS
A MILITARY drone is launched from an unknown location in Yemen last week, as viewed in this screenshot obtained from a handout video.

First Selichot gathering to be held for Jews in Gulf Countries

The AGJC will hold a joint Selichot event for the 6 Gulf Countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.

AUGUST 18, 2021ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
SEPHARDIM HAVE been saying Slihot since the start of Elul – such as those said this past week at the Emuna synagogue on Baka’s Rivka Street.

Lebanese president seeks to avert crisis with Gulf over FM's comments

The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council asked the foreign minister to make a formal apology to Gulf states.

MAY 19, 2021ByREUTERS
Saudi King Salman bin Abulaziz Al-Saud meets with Lebanon's President Michel Aoun in Riyadh

Egypt, Qatar agree to resume diplomatic relations

The move follows an agreement between Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt earlier this month to end their boycott of Qatar

JANUARY 20, 2021ByREUTERS
Supporters of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Tahrir square after presidential election results in Cairo, Egypt April 2, 2018.