His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), affirmed that the GCC member states have moved beyond their role as energy suppliers and have become an influential partner in shaping the global economic and political landscape. He noted that viewing the Gulf region solely through the lens of oil and energy no longer reflects the scale of the transformations witnessed across the GCC states, nor their growing standing in the global economy, trade, investment, technology, and supply chains.
His Excellency’s remarks came during his participation in the opening panel discussion of the third edition of the Hili Forum, organised by the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) and the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), today, Monday (7 September 2026), in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
His Excellency the GCC Secretary General highlighted that energy and energy security remain fundamental pillars of the global economy, with the GCC states producing around 16.6 million barrels of crude oil per day, representing approximately 22.2% of global production. He further underlined that the economic transformations witnessed by the GCC states have contributed to diversifying their production bases, with the non-oil sector now accounting for more than 78% of the GCC economy and recording a growth of 5.3% in 2025.
"The GDP of the GCC states reached around USD 2.4 trillion, while the assets of GCC sovereign wealth funds are close to USD 5 trillion. In addition, foreign merchandise trade reached around USD 1.6 trillion in 2024. These indicators reflect the transition of the GCC states from being major energy suppliers to active partners in shaping the future of the global economy and enhancing its stability and prosperity," His Excellency explained.
Moreover, His Excellency stated that the foreign policies of the GCC states are built on mutual respect and a genuine commitment to the principles of good neighbourliness, in accordance with international and UN principles and laws.
During his address, His Excellency the GCC Secretary General also touched upon GCC cooperation and integration since the beginning of the treacherous Iranian attacks against the GCC states last February, as well as the high level of coordination among member states to overcome the risks of these attacks, ensure that the daily lives of their peoples remain unaffected, and strengthen logistical connectivity among all GCC states.
"The GCC has become a model to be emulated among countries and regional and international organisations around the world. Despite the relatively short period since the establishment of the Council, its states have achieved significant and valuable accomplishments across many areas for their peoples, and many regional and global blocs are seeking to establish relations and cooperation with the GCC," His Excellency added.
His Excellency the GCC Secretary General concluded his address by affirming that continuous coordination among member states on regional and international issues and developments represents a fundamental pillar in addressing challenges, as well as in dealing with all regional and international changes.
