Manama, Bahrain – His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on Tuesday took part in the 46th Summit of the GCC Supreme Council at Sakhir Palace in Manama. He was received on arrival by King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa of Bahrain.

Opening the session, King Hamad said joint Gulf action remains grounded in long-standing ties and a shared regional vision. He noted that the GCC, established by leaders committed to security and cooperation, continues to demonstrate its strategic role in regional and international affairs.

He stressed that the Council’s gains were built on principles including respect for sovereignty, good neighbourliness and non-interference. These principles, he said, form the basis of the GCC’s indivisible security and stability. The King reaffirmed the GCC’s support for diplomatic solutions to regional issues, especially the Palestinian question, and said dialogue remains central to achieving stability and sustainable development.

Sheikh Mishal al Ahmad al Jaber al Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, said the GCC has managed regional and international challenges through cohesion and public awareness. He noted that unity and collective action remain essential to safeguarding regional stability, and pointed to recent initiatives aimed at strengthening partnerships with international allies.

GCC Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed al Budaiwi said two recent incidents involving Qatar underscored the shared nature of Gulf security. He said these events demonstrated that unity remains the GCC’s strongest asset, with common history and shared decision-making reinforcing collective interests.

He reiterated the Council’s position on the Palestinian cause, calling for an end to the occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. He added that the Council’s balanced approach in political, economic and security fields has strengthened its role as a dependable partner internationally.

His Majesty the Sultan also attended the GCC–Italy Summit held on the sidelines of the meeting. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed the growing engagement between the GCC and European partners and described the current period as one of constructive cooperation.

GCC Summit Key points

• Commit to deeper integration across political, security, economic and social fields

• Reject interference or the use of force; security of GCC states deemed indivisible

• Welcome outcomes of the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace summit and back efforts to uphold the Gaza ceasefire, ensure aid delivery and support the establishment of a Palestinian state

• Stress finalising the GCC Common Market and Customs Union

• Prioritise digital integration, e-commerce growth and unified digital payments

• Reaffirm environmental commitments, including cutting emissions and supporting net-zero goals