Lead

Gulf leaders gathered in Saudi Arabia this week for their first in-person summit since the outbreak of the US–Israel war with Iran, a meeting that underscored a shift in regional priorities towards collective security and diplomatic coordination. The summit, held under the banner of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), addressed both the immediate crisis triggered by the war and the long-term strategic projects that member states have long pursued but struggled to complete.

According to images released by Saudi state media, the leaders were greeted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as they arrived in Jeddah on Tuesday. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that the summit discussed a number of topics related to regional and international developments and the coordination of efforts in response to them.

Coverage comparison

Two separate reports from Al Jazeera detailed the summit, each focusing on distinct aspects of the proceedings. One report highlighted the meeting's role in expediting longstanding joint projects under the GCC, describing how the war with Iran has transformed these initiatives from economic aspirations into security necessities. The other report emphasized the summit's symbolic value as a show of "unified Gulf stance" towards the war, quoting Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Both reports agreed on the core fact: this was the first in-person meeting of Gulf leaders since the conflict began two months ago. However, they diverged in emphasis. The first report delved into the specifics of infrastructure projects—a railway network, electrical grids, water systems, and a missile warning system—while the second focused on diplomatic manoeuvring, including the UAE's withdrawal from OPEC and discussions about a potential Iranian proposal to end the war.

A recurring theme in both reports was the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy supplies. The six GCC members—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—have all stressed that the strait must reopen and that any deal must result in a permanent, long-term arrangement, according to Al Jazeera.

Key claims

  • Gulf leaders met in Riyadh (or Jeddah, as reported by one source) for their first in-person meeting since the war began, focusing on both security and joint projects under the GCC.
  • The meeting discussed expediting several long-planned projects, including a unified Gulf railway network, an electrical interconnection grid, a water interconnection system, oil and gas pipeline integration, and a joint ballistic missile early warning system.
  • Experts cited in one report argue that the war has converted these projects from economic aspirations into security necessities, injecting urgency into their implementation.
  • The electrical interconnection grid has been operational for 15 years and has generated $3 billion in economic savings, according to the same report.
  • The UAE announced its decision to withdraw from OPEC and OPEC+, a move described as a blow to the oil cartel during a time of war.
  • The US is considering an Iranian proposal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though this claim was carried by a single outlet and has not been independently confirmed.
  • Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs cautioned against a "frozen conflict" in the Gulf, urging a diplomatic resolution.

Perspectives

On the role of joint projects

The first Al Jazeera report, through the analysis of Thomas Bonnie James, a Gulf studies expert at AFG College with the University of Aberdeen, framed the meeting as a pivotal moment. James argued that Iranian strikes on GCC infrastructure have made these projects essential to regional security, shifting the political calculus and making their completion a strategic priority. This perspective suggests that the war has acted as a catalyst for deeper Gulf integration.

On diplomatic unity and the war

The second Al Jazeera report emphasised the summit's diplomatic dimension, quoting the Qatari Emir's description of a "unified Gulf stance" and the need for coordinated efforts to preserve regional security. This perspective highlights the Gulf states' desire to present a united front amid the conflict, even as individual national interests—such as the UAE's OPEC withdrawal—may pull in different directions. The report also noted the US's consideration of an Iranian proposal, hinting at a potential diplomatic off-ramp.

A note on timing and location

It is worth noting that while both reports describe a GCC summit in Saudi Arabia, one specifies Riyadh and the other Jeddah. This discrepancy may arise from the summit's agenda spanning multiple days or from reporting variations. Additionally, the reports may have been published at different times during the summit, with one focusing on the opening sessions and the other on earlier discussions. No source has explicitly resolved this difference.