Gulf Cooperation Council

UAE hopes to avert new Iran conflict, prepares for worst-case scenario

At a Bahrain security summit, UAE adviser Anwar Gargash called for diplomacy with Iran while warning that Gulf states remain prepared for more conflict.

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain receives Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, before a meeting with HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, in this undated picture obtained by Reuters.
UAE Political Affairs Assistant Minister Lana Nusseibeh attends a meeting with foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council Member States (GCC) and the US Secretary of State, in Manama on June 25, 2026.

UAE’s Lana Nusseibeh receives more support in bid to become next UN secretary-general

A flydubai Boeing 737-8 MAX A6-FKF aircraft

The flydubai hijacking exposed a flaw in Gulf security. Here's how the GCC can counter it - opinion

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the Negev Conference in the southern city of Dimona, southern Israel, July 17, 2026.

Netanyahu vows Iran will never have nuclear weapons, rejects BoP's 15-point Gaza plan


Gulf states couldn't bear cost of another war, pressure Trump to avoid attacking Iran - analysis

The Gulf countries, meanwhile, understood that they would bear much of the immediate cost of restarting the war against the Islamic regime.

US President Donald Trump attends a GCC summit photo session in Riyadh, alongside Qatari, Saudi, and  Bahraini leaders, May 2025.

UAE tried to coordinate with Saudi Arabia, Qatar to strike Iran during recent war - report

The UAE attempted to convince Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other Gulf states to coordinate a military response to Iran’s missile and drone attacks, but neighbors refused, sources told Bloomberg.

An Emirati F-16E fighter jet; illustrative.

Fractures rock Gulf alliance as UAE quits OPEC during Iran war - analysis

Abu Dhabi’s exit, a summit snub, and public criticism expose a widening Saudi-Emirati split reshaping energy and security coordination.

UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei speaks, on the day of the Make it in the Emirates (MIITE) conference, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 4, 2026.

After Iran war, attack on Gulf States, will the GCC withdraw from Arab League - analysis

Abdullah Al-Khamis, a Kuwaiti political journalist, proposes an alternative: an Arab coordination council comprising the Gulf states, Jordan, Morocco, and Syria.

Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi chairs an extraordinary meeting of Arab League foreign ministers day before the 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in Istanbul, Turkey, June 20, 2025

After the war: A more coordinated, but still divided, Gulf - opinion

Iranian strikes, targeting not only military assets but also civilian infrastructure, have underscored vulnerabilities across the Gulf.

 A view of Burj Khalifa, after an Iranian attack, following United States and Israel strikes on Iran, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 1, 2026

Iran’s aggression forces Gulf states to rethink regional security - opinion

The UAE is redefining Gulf security, prioritizing capability and committed partners over rhetoric and ideology.

Diplomatic advisor to the UAE president, Anwar Gargash speaks at the World Governments Summit, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, February 3, 2026.

Gulf countries seeking seat at negotiation table following Iranian attacks

“The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) stressed on Thursday the importance of Gulf states participating in any talks between Iran and the United States to end the war in the Middle East,” UAE news said.

 Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, US President Donald Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa attend a group photo session with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 14, 2025.

Can France lead the charge in disarming Hezbollah? - opinion

France’s role in Lebanon could determine whether Hezbollah is contained or strengthened.

ANTI-MISSILE BATTERES fire interception missiles toward incoming ballistic missiles launched from Lebanon, as seen in northern Israel, during the war with Iran and Hezbollah and ongoing missile fire toward Israel, March 16, 2026.

UN resolution condemning Iran leaves the country unexpectedly isolated - analysis

For years, Iranian-backed militias and terror groups attacked countries, and Iran carried out attacks directly, but the regime never seemed to face any censure.

US AND UK representatives vote in favor of a sanctions resolution regarding the situation in Iran and the Middle East a United Nations Security Council at UN headquarters in New York City, US, March 12, 2026.

Tehran's miscalculation: How Iranian missiles brought Gulf states, Israel together - analysis

By targeting every GCC member with missiles and drones, Tehran has achieved the unthinkable: placing Israel and Qatar on the same team. This strategic blunder may finally cement a regional axis.

Iran and Israel flags on Middle east geopolitical map.