His Excellency Abdullah bin Touk Al Mari, the Minister of Economy and Tourism, led the delegation from the United Arab Emirates at the seventh ministerial meeting of the Permanent Preparatory Committee for Economic and Development Affairs of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which took place in Kuwait on October 9, 2025. The meeting focused on discussing various projects and initiatives aimed at enhancing collaboration and integration among the economies of the member states.
His Excellency emphasized that the UAE, under the guidance of its wise leadership, places significant importance on supporting joint Gulf efforts across various fields, particularly in economic and investment areas, which are fundamental to the growth and prosperity of the Council’s economies. This support aims to bolster their position on the global economic map and enhance their competitiveness in attracting quality investments, as well as achieving sustainable and comprehensive development for their peoples.
He stated, “The UAE is committed to continuing constructive efforts, enhancing collaboration, and innovating more practical visions and solutions to implement all initiatives and projects of the Council, ensuring the achievement of its goals in supporting sustainable growth and strengthening economic integration in the Gulf, in line with the aspirations of the member states to build a cohesive economy based on diversity and innovation.”
Additionally, His Excellency noted: “Gulf countries have made significant strides in diversifying their economies, presenting successful and pioneering models in this field, and have worked to develop advanced infrastructure and technology, leveraging their favorable geographical location. This opens up wide horizons and new opportunities to enhance collaboration among member states, support the competitiveness of their economies, and elevate them to more advanced and prosperous levels, especially amidst global developments.” He indicated that the meeting provided a vital opportunity to strengthen economic integration among GCC member states and advance efforts towards economic unity, adopting more unified economic policies to accelerate the sustainable development process.
The committee discussed mechanisms for economic cooperation among member countries in the upcoming period to execute the Gulf economic visions. It also reviewed the key outcomes of specialized teams’ meetings, dialogue sessions, brainstorming workshops, and discussions organized by the committee, focusing on anticipating the future of the Gulf economy and enhancing economic integration among member nations.
The meeting featured presentations on the notable developmental achievements attained by the Gulf Cooperation Council, particularly concerning the customs union, the common Gulf market, and the steps taken to enhance economic integration through initiatives and projects aimed at economic unity among the member states. Members of the committee were also informed about the economic performance of the member nations, growth indicators achieved across various economic and investment sectors, as well as efforts by the committee’s office to develop and adopt advanced tools and methods for measuring economic integration among Gulf countries, relying on the latest technologies and scientific approaches.