Manama – Oman has joined fellow Gulf states in calling for deeper regional cooperation in electricity and water as rising demand and the need for greater resilience put critical resources firmly at the centre of the GCC’s strategic agenda.

The sultanate participated in the 31st meeting of the GCC Committee for Electricity and Water Cooperation, held in Manama, Bahrain, with the Omani delegation led by HE Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals.

The meeting focused on strengthening electricity interconnection, improving water security and exploring new opportunities for cooperation in infrastructure, technology and emergency preparedness.

Jassem Mohamed Al Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, said electricity and water are strategic priorities for joint Gulf action because of their importance in securing resources, meeting growing demand and strengthening the region’s ability to respond to crises.

He said the outcomes of the 19th consultative meeting of the GCC Supreme Council, held in Jeddah on April 28, 2026, called for stronger regional preparedness, including studying the possibility of water interconnection projects between GCC states and continuing to strengthen electricity interconnection.

Al Budaiwi stressed the need to translate these directives into practical projects that can deepen Gulf integration and improve readiness.

Rising demand

The scale of the challenge is reflected in regional production figures. GCC electricity generation reached around 876,000 gigawatt-hours in 2025, up 9.6% from the previous year, while desalinated water production reached about 8.5bn m³, an increase of 10.8%.

The GCC Secretary-General called for greater efficiency across electricity and water systems through investment in production, transmission and distribution infrastructure, as well as wider use of modern technologies and smart solutions.

For Oman, closer regional coordination offers opportunities to strengthen energy security, improve system efficiency and support the country’s wider economic and infrastructure development.

Power links deliver major savings

The GCC electricity interconnection network continues to demonstrate its economic value. Financial savings generated through the network exceeded US$952mn in 2025, while cumulative savings since the project began have surpassed US$5.2bn.

Al Budaiwi called for the acceleration of electricity interconnection projects and greater use of their economic potential, including expanded electricity trading between GCC states.

Water security

Water security and emergency preparedness were also high on the agenda, with the GCC highlighting the need to examine water interconnection alongside existing bilateral projects.

For Oman, which continues to invest in desalination, water infrastructure and resource security, stronger regional cooperation could provide an additional layer of resilience during emergencies and periods of exceptional demand.

The meeting underlines the growing importance of regional cooperation in securing two of the Gulf’s most critical resources – electricity and water – while supporting long-term economic growth and sustainability.