His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), underscored that bolstering Gulf integration in the electricity and water sectors represents one of the strategic pillars for consolidating the security of the GCC states and the sustainability of their development. He indicated that the drive towards cementing the Gulf electrical interconnection system and studying the possibility of establishing a water interconnection project among the member states reflects the shared vision of Their Majesties and Highnesses the Leaders of the GCC states towards building an integrated Gulf system that is more prepared and efficient in confronting regional variables and developments in order to ensure the continuity of vital services and strengthening the shared interests of the GCC states and their peoples.
These remarks came during His Excellency's speech at the extraordinary meeting of the Electricity and Water Cooperation Committee of the GCC states, held today, Thursday, 5 November 2026, via video conferencing. The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Mr Yaser bin Ebrahim Humaidan, Minister of Electricity and Water Affairs in the Kingdom of Bahrain and Chairman of the current session of the Committee, with the participation of Their Highnesses and Excellencies the members of the Committee.
His Excellency the Secretary General explained that this meeting comes as an extension of Gulf efforts aimed at translating the directives of Their Majesties and Highnesses the Leaders of the GCC states into joint strategic projects and initiatives. "It also follows up on the implementation of their decisions issued during the 19th Consultative Meeting, held in Jeddah on 28 April 2026, regarding the elevation of cooperation and integration in strategic sectors, foremost among them the electricity and water sectors, as they are fundamental pillars of the developmental and economic security of the member states," His Excellency added.
Moreover, His Excellency pointed out that the rapid developments witnessed by the region underline the significance of upgrading the levels of Gulf coordination and integration in managing vital resources, enhancing the readiness of infrastructure, and raising its efficiency and capacity to deal with various circumstances. He affirmed that joint Gulf action in these two sectors constitutes a critical pathway to bolstering the security and stability of the GCC states and supporting their ability to steadfastly and sustainably continue their developmental trajectory.
Furthermore, His Excellency the Secretary General highlighted that the meeting discusses two main topics of strategic importance: the first being the outcomes of the study on the possibility of building water interconnection projects among the member states, while the second addresses the study on enhancing the Gulf electrical interconnection system, thereby contributing to supporting the paths of Gulf integration and upgrading the cooperation framework in vital sectors.
Additionally, His Excellency indicated that the General Secretariat, in cooperation with the member states and competent authorities, has worked over the past period to follow up on the preparation of technical studies related to these projects. "This was achieved by holding a series of workshops and bilateral meetings with member states and the specialised consultancy firm to complete data collection, address technical observations, and review the outputs of the studies across their various stages, culminating in the meeting of Their Excellencies the Undersecretaries on 20 October 2026, which was dedicated to discussing the results and outputs of these studies," His Excellency said.
He concluded by expressing his appreciation for the efforts exerted by the member states and relevant authorities, in cooperation with the General Secretariat and the GCC Interconnection Authority (GCCIA), in preparing these studies and following up on their progress. He underscored the importance of building upon the technical and institutional efforts achieved to reach practical recommendations that support moving forward with these vital projects, in preparation for submitting them to the Supreme Council of the GCC.
