His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), underscored that thanks to the vision of Their Majesties and Highnesses, the Leaders of the GCC states, and their continuous support, the Cooperation Council member countries occupy a leading global position in the field of cybersecurity.
"The GCC countries have achieved advanced rankings and prestigious global ratings in specialised international indices, launched qualitative initiatives to develop national capabilities and qualify specialised competencies, reinforced the protection of data and digital infrastructure, as well as elevated the efficiency of response to cyber incidents and threats," His Excellency added.
These remarks were made by His Excellency the GCC Secretary General during the 5th meeting of the GCC Ministerial Committee for Cybersecurity, held today, Thursday (27 August 2026), in Manama, capital of the Kingdom of Bahrain, chaired by His Excellency Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of the National Cybersecurity Centre and President of the current session. The meeting was attended by Their Excellencies the officials responsible for cybersecurity authorities across the GCC states.
At the outset of his speech, His Excellency the GCC Secretary General extended his highest expressions of thanks, appreciation, and gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of the Kingdom of Bahrain and President of the current session of the GCC Supreme Council, for the Kingdom of Bahrain's hosting of the Committee's meeting, and for the facilities and support Bahrain provides to ensure the success of the GCC's work, as well as the support and attention joint Gulf action receives from His Majesty and from Their Majesties and Highnesses, the Leaders of the GCC states, across all fields.
During his remarks, His Excellency pointed to the recent developments and events in the region and the accompanying escalation of cyber risks and threats, stating that they demonstrated a high level of readiness and efficiency within the GCC cybersecurity ecosystem. "Proactive measures and continuous coordination have contributed to protecting critical infrastructure, digital systems, and services, while bolstering the capacity to confront attacks and mitigate their impact with utmost competence," His Excellency highlighted.
"The standing and readiness achieved by the GCC states were not merely the result of individual efforts, but were built on a steadfast journey of joint Gulf action and the establishment of an integrated ecosystem of frameworks, policies, and coordination mechanisms. This has translated into several significant successes, foremost among which are the adoption of the Executive Plan for the GCC Cybersecurity Strategy (2024–2028), the GCC International Cooperation Framework in the Field of Cybersecurity, the governance mechanism for information sharing on the Cyber Threat Intelligence Platform, and the annual organisation of joint Gulf cyber drills," His Excellency explained.
His Excellency underlined that these accomplishments embody the GCC states' vision that cybersecurity is a fundamental pillar of state security, safeguarding developmental and economic gains, and advancing the march of Gulf integration and digital transformation.
His Excellency also indicated that the agenda of the 5th meeting of the GCC Ministerial Committee for Cybersecurity is rich with significant topics that will lead to achieving greater convergence among the GCC member states and driving the march toward broader and more comprehensive horizons.
