He emphasised the importance of a Gulf media sector that draws its strength from the unity of the GCC position and its credibility from the principles and values of the member states. His Excellency stressed that the shared responsibility of the GCC states requires making their media a unified Gulf voice that speaks with confidence, exercises its influence with professionalism, defends their interests, safeguards their achievements and highlights their civilisational and developmental progress.
He further emphasised the significance of ensuring that Gulf media keeps pace with the aspirations of the wise GCC Leaders and reflects to the world the GCC states’ established model of stability, security, progress and prosperity.
These remarks came during HE the Secretary General’s address at the 29th Meeting of the GCC Ministers of Information, held on Wednesday (29 October 2026) in Manama, the capital of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Dr Ramzan bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Minister of Information of the Kingdom of Bahrain and Chairman of the current session, in the presence of Their Excellencies the Ministers of Information of the GCC states.
At the beginning of his address, HE the Secretary General expressed his profound thanks, appreciation and gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, President of the current session of the GCC Supreme Council, for the support and encouragement that His Majesty and Their Majesties and Highnesses, the Leaders of the GCC states, continue to extend to the progress of joint GCC action, in fulfilment of the aspirations of GCC citizens for greater cooperation and integration. His Excellency also prayed to Allah the Almighty to continue blessing the Kingdom of Bahrain with security, safety and prosperity.
HE the Secretary General stated: “We renew our strong condemnation and denunciation of the blatant Iranian attacks against the GCC states, which constitute a violation of their sovereignty and a threat to their security and stability. We reaffirm the unity of the GCC position and our categorical rejection of any infringement upon the security and territorial integrity of our states. We also strongly condemn the terrorist assaults carried out by the Houthi militia against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including the targeting of holy sites, in flagrant violation of international laws and norms. We affirm our full solidarity with the Kingdom in all measures it takes to protect its security and sovereignty.”
In this context, His Excellency expressed his deep pride and appreciation for the media outlets across the GCC states, which have demonstrated, since the beginning of the Iranian attacks against the member states, that they are fully capable of fulfilling their national responsibilities. He noted that Gulf media had been at the heart of events, standing shoulder to shoulder with the valiant GCC armed forces, defending the truth, countering misleading narratives and confronting malicious rumours with professionalism and competence.
“Through its leading institutions and distinguished national talent, Gulf media has presented an exemplary model of responsible journalism in times of crisis, combining rapid response with accurate information and transparent reporting, while maintaining effective and reliable communication with the public. It has served as a voice of truth, a source of trust and reassurance, and a strong pillar of support for the domestic front,” HE the Secretary General stated.
He further stressed that this commendable performance demonstrates that Gulf media is not merely a conveyor of events, but an essential partner in safeguarding the security and stability of the GCC states, embodying their unity and the solidarity of their peoples, and protecting their achievements in the face of challenges.
Additionally, HE the Secretary General also noted that, over the past years, the GCC states have achieved an advanced standing in the media sector, supported by well-established media institutions, exceptional national talent, growing capabilities in content production and digital media, and accelerating investment in modern technologies.
Commenting further, he said: “These include the use of artificial intelligence in translation, supporting newsrooms, automating media workflows and producing content, as confirmed by numerous statistics and studies. The standing attained by the GCC states, together with their ongoing transformation, achievements and growing presence in various regional and international affairs, provides Gulf media with the opportunity to expand its regional and international reach and highlight the visions, positions and initiatives adopted by the member states.”
HE the Secretary General emphasised that the expertise and achievements accumulated across the GCC provide a strong foundation for advancing Gulf media towards a new phase characterised by greater integration, innovation and influence, strengthening the reach of the unified Gulf media message and showcasing the collective achievements of the GCC states.
In this regard, he highlighted the particular importance of ongoing efforts to develop the guidelines for Gulf media content in the GCC states, describing them as a practical step towards improving content quality, preserving Gulf identity and values, and establishing a common foundation that responds to the rapid developments taking place across the media landscape.
HE the Secretary General concluded his address by expressing his hope that the decisions and recommendations of the 29th Meeting of the GCC Ministers of Information would make an important contribution to the progress of joint GCC media cooperation and advance it towards broader horizons of integration and excellence.