5 Top Points
- EU-GCC Economic Dialogue in Brussels: Gulf and EU officials met in Brussels (12 December) for the 14th GCC-EU Economic Dialogue. Delegations led by senior GCC figures, including Bahrain’s Ambassador to the EU Mohammed Ali Behzad and European Commission officials discussed ways to address shared economic challenges, boost sustainable growth and identify new partnership opportunities in trade, investment and clean energy.
- EU-UAE Partnership Talks Begin: In Abu Dhabi, the UAE and EU launched negotiations for a Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) aimed at elevating ties in areas such as energy, digital transformation, security and education.
- Gaza Security Force Conference in Doha: The US Central Command convened a high-level forum in Qatar (16 December) with dozens of countries to discuss plans for an international stabilisation force in Gaza. Over 45 nations, including France, Italy, the UK, EU, and Saudi Arabia participated, reviewing command structures and pledging contributions as part of ongoing efforts to secure a durable peace in Gaza.
- Oman’s Global Diplomacy and Climate Cooperation: Oman reinforced its international engagement this week on multiple fronts, including at the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, where Omani officials signed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Korea to cooperate on environmental protection and climate change solutions.
- Sudan Peace Push in Riyadh: Saudi Arabia advanced its role in regional security, hosting Sudan’s de facto leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan for talks (15 December). Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and al-Burhan discussed strengthening ties via a Strategic Cooperation Council and steps to stabilise Sudan.
‘Round and About the Gulf’
Kingdom of Bahrain
Sunday, 14 December – King Hamad ordered a cabinet reshuffle in Manama, bringing in new ministerial blood ahead of Bahrain’s upcoming turn at the GCC presidency in 2026, a move aimed at reinvigorating domestic policy as the country looks to the future.
Tuesday, 16 December – Bahrain marked its 54th National Day with official ceremonies in Sakhir, where King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa reiterated themes of unity and progress. His Majesty was delivered a personal invitation from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to attend Expo Riyadh 2030, underlining close Bahrain-Saudi ties. In the UAE, authorities inaugurated a new public space, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Park in Abu Dhabi, as a tribute to Bahrain’s National Day.
State of Kuwait
Thursday, 11 December – The second session of the Kuwait-Uzbekistan Joint Ministerial Committee convened in Kuwait City, where officials, including Subaih Al-Mukhaizeem, Kuwait’s Acting Minister for Economic Affairs, agreed on measures to boost trade, travel links and cultural exchange between the two nations.
Monday, 15 December – Kuwait took a significant step to upgrade its infrastructure and regional connectivity by signing a MoU with Abu Dhabi’s AD Ports Group to develop and operate the container terminal at Kuwait’s Shuaiba Port. The agreement, signed in Kuwait City and witnessed by Kuwaiti Minister Noura Al-Mashaan and UAE Minister. Thani Al Zeyoudi, provides a framework for technical and financial studies to expand Shuaiba’s capacity in line with international standards.
Sultanate of Oman
Thursday, 11 December – Demonstrating its commitment to sustainable development, Oman signed a major environmental cooperation MoU with South Korea on the sidelines of the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi. The pact, signed by Oman’s Environment Authority chief and South Korea’s Vice Minister of Environment, creates a long-term partnership on air quality monitoring, water resource management, biodiversity protection, climate change mitigation and green economy initiatives.
Monday, 15 December – Oman’s quiet diplomatic profile was in the spotlight as UN Secretary-General António Guterres paid an official call on Sultan Haitham bin Tarik in Muscat. Guterres thanked Oman for its steadfast support of UN efforts and lauded the Sultanate’s ‘constructive diplomatic efforts’ in regional conflicts, a clear reference to Oman’s role in mediation, particularly in war-torn Yemen.
State of Qatar
Tuesday, 16 December – Qatar was at the centre of intensive multilateral diplomacy as it hosted a US-led conference on establishing an International Stabilisation Force for Gaza. Held in Doha under US Central Command auspices, the one-day meeting gathered representatives from over 45 countries spanning Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Notably, attendees included key Gulf states (Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia), Egypt and Jordan alongside European partners such as France, Italy, Germany and the EU, though Turkey was pointedly not invited due to sensitivities. Discussions focused on the proposed force’s command structure, rules of engagement and contributions.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Monday, 15 December – Saudi diplomacy was on full display as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, for a one-day visit in Riyadh. In their talks, the two sides agreed to bolster relations into a ‘sustainable strategic partnership,’ including plans for a high-level Saudi–Sudanese Cooperation Council to institutionalise ties. Prince Mohammed affirmed the Kingdom’s support for peace in Sudan, and was thanked by al-Burhan for Saudi Arabia’s ‘valuable efforts’ toward achieving stability. The meeting also reviewed developments in Sudan’s conflict and the humanitarian situation, coming after Riyadh (as part of the US-Saudi led Quad grouping) helped broker multiple ceasefire attempts.
United Arab Emirates
Thursday, 11 December – The UAE underscored its reputation as a global convenor by hosting the inaugural BRIDGE Summit 2025 in Abu Dhabi, a large-scale international forum bringing together policymakers, technology innovators, media leaders and cultural figures from around the world. The summit’s participants, including former heads of state, executives and creators, praised the ‘exceptional vision’ of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in positioning the UAE as a hub linking East and West.
EU Corner
Thursday, 11 December – The EU took another major step in its Gulf engagement by formally opening negotiations on a comprehensive EU-UAE Strategic Partnership Agreement in Abu Dhabi. Dubravka Šuica, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, joined UAE Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh to announce the talks, which will cover cooperation across security, clean energy, green transition, digital innovation, research, education and humanitarian coordination. This initiative mirrors the EU’s recently launched partnership talks with Qatar and reflects Brussels’ broader postBrexit strategy of forging bilateral frameworks with Gulf states. UAE officials noted that parallel discussions on an EU-UAE free trade deal (CEPA) are also progressing, with 2025 marking an ‘inflection point’ in relations. Both sides touted the UAE as the EU’s top export market in MENA and highlighted booming non-oil trade, which hit 67.6 billion USD in 2024.
Saturday, 13 December – In Brussels, senior representatives of the GCC and the European Commission convened for the 14th GCC-EU Economic Dialogue. Bahrain’s Ambassador to the EU, Mohammed Al Behzad led the GCC delegation, while the EU side was headed by Annika Ericsgård, a director in the Commission’s economic affairs department. The dialogue reviewed macroeconomic developments and explored avenues to enhance trade and investment flows between the two regions. Key topics included supporting sustainable growth amid global uncertainties and cooperation on clean energy transition. GCC officials stressed the importance of addressing shared economic challenges, such as energy market volatility, through closer coordination.
Key Official Visits & Contacts
Friday–Saturday, 12–13 December (Abu Dhabi/Riyadh) – China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited the Gulf, with stops in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, for high-level talks aimed at strengthening the comprehensive China-Gulf partnership. In Abu Dhabi, Wang met with Khaldoon Al Mubarak (UAE Presidential Envoy) at the new Zayed National Museum to review UAE-China strategic ties and cooperation across key sectors. He then traveled to Riyadh to confer with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Discussions spanned politics, trade, infrastructure, energy and technology, as Beijing seeks to deepen its engagement in the Middle East.
Sunday, 14 December (Nicosia) – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan paid a historic official visit to Cyprus, the first by a UAE head of state. He met President Nikos Christodoulides for discussions on expanding bilateral ties in investment, energy, technology, education and defence. The leaders agreed to establish a joint business council and outlined a concrete action plan to translate their strategic partnership into projects, noting the timing of Cyprus’s EU Presidency in 2026 as a springboard for enhanced EU-Gulf cooperation. Several agreements were signed, including on tourism and transport, marking a new chapter in UAE-Cyprus relations.
Sunday, 14 December (Kuwait City) – Kuwait’s Electricity and Water Minister Sabeeh Al-Mukhaizeem met with UK Trade Envoy Lord Ian McNicol in Kuwait to explore investment cooperation in sectors such as sustainable energy, information technology and transport, underscoring Kuwait’s aim to diversify partnerships and attract foreign expertise.
Monday, 15 December (Riyadh) – General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, made a brief working visit to Saudi Arabia to galvanise support for peace in Sudan’s ongoing conflict. He was received by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace.