GCC in focus: Looking back at the top seven Gulf stories of 2023

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a regional organisation, comprising 6 members: the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Set up in 1981, the GCC’s objectives are to enhance coordination and integration among its members. The year 2023 marked a number of notable developments in the six countries. Let’s have a look at some of the most prominent ones, as the year draws to a close.

Exploring the top seven GCC news of 2023

1. COP28 delivers historic decision

The recently concluded COP28 Summit in Dubai saw negotiators from hundreds of countries reaching an agreement to transition away from polluting fossil fuels. In addition, the conference also marked the operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund.

2. India-Middle East-Europe Corridor

In September, the G20 Summit hosted by New Delhi recorded the launch of the historic India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. It is an initiative on cooperation on connectivity and infrastructure involving India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, EU, France, Italy, Germany and the US.

3. UAE and Bahrain focus on space technologies

The same month, headlines emerged across the globe on cutting-edge companies in the UAE, Bahrain and the UK set to join forces to develop advanced space technologies to reduce greenhouse emissions and tackle natural disasters.

4. BRICS to more than double

From the beginning of 2024, the BRICS group of big emerging economies – currently comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – is set to be joined by six other countries: the UAE, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, Saudi Arabia and Iran.

5. First-ever liquefied hydrogen ship in Oman

In August, Oman welcomed the world’s first liquefied hydrogen carrier ship Suiso Frontier, a Japanese vessel, at Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat. The sultanate is on track to become one of the largest producers of the low-carbon fuel on the planet by 2030.

Read More: Turkey Declares Significant Update To Visa Policy For Omani Citizens

6. Syria joins Arab League

Following years of isolation, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been welcomed back into the Arab League. In May, he attended the regional bloc’s 32nd summit in Jeddah for the first time since his country’s suspension following the eruption of war in 2011.

7. Fedha becomes a part of Kuwait media

In April, “Fedha” – a virtual news presenter generated using artificial intelligence, with plans for it to read online bulletins – grabbed headlines. The anchor appeared on the Twitter account of the Kuwait News website, asking viewers: “What kind of news do you prefer?”