5 Top Points

1. A meeting between the GCC and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) met on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.
2. A meeting between the GCC and the US was held.
3. China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs met with his GCC Counterparts.
4. Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria.
5. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company takeover bid was accepted by German chemicals group Covestro.

‘Round and About the Gulf’

Kingdom of Bahrain
Saturday, 28 September—Bahrain’s Auditor General of the National Audit Office (NAO), Ahmed bin Mohamed Al-Khalifa attended the Digital Transformation Conference coordinated by the Bahrain Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India where he highlighted Bahrain’s leading role in digital transformation and technological advancements in all sectors including the use of artificial intelligence and the launch of its eGovernment Strategy. These initiatives are meant to support the growth of the digital sector in line with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.

Monday, 30 September—Chaired by the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA), Mohammed Ali Al-Qaed, the 74th Information and Communication Technology Governance Committee (ICTGC) held a remote meeting to discuss several projects including: the Ministry of Electricity and Water Affairs mobile app project for electric vehicle (EV) chargers, the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs, and Waqf’s digital transformation project that enables a secure platform for virtual court hearings and virtual notary services, and the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture electronic animal registration system project. This comes as the UN eGovernment Development Survey 2024 ranks Bahrain as 18th worldwide in digital government development.

State of Kuwait
Saturday, 28 September—Undersecretary of the Oil Ministry, Nimr Fahad Al-Malik Al-Sabah, attended the 18th meeting of Undersecretaries of the GCC Ministries of Oil in Qatar. The meeting strengthened regional collaboration in the oil and energy sector in a market that faces global and regional challenges. This comes in preparation for the oil Ministerial Committee on 6 October 2024 which looks to boost collective action among its member states.

Sultanate of Oman
Wednesday, 25 September—Coordinated by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the North Al Batinah Social Investment Forum took place which was a collaboration between social institutions and private businesses that encouraged sustainable development initiatives and enhanced corporate social responsibility (CSR) throughout Oman. Notably, several agreements were signed, one being a RO 1.4 million partnership for the Majees Bridge Project.

Sunday, 29 September—The Central Bank of Oman (ONA) issued its 2023 Annual Report providing a comprehensive macroeconomic analysis. Oman experienced an increase in its Real GDP by 1.3%, an improvement in credit ratings, and improved fiscal performance, despite global challenges. The 2024 projected fiscal outcome is set to see improvement in oil prices, private investment in non-hydrocarbon sectors, and fiscal consolidation measures which will strengthen Oman’s economic resilience despite global factors causing downside risk. This is in accordance with the Oman Vision 2040.

State of Qatar
Sunday, 29 September—Qatar moves up 21 places on the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s Global Innovation Index (GII) compared to 2020. The Index ranks the innovation capabilities of world economies based on 80 indicators. Qatar now ranks 49th.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Thursday, 26 September—The Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, launched the Riyadh Non-Profit Foundation which will advance institutional and social work by funding research and supporting social development and cohesion while preserving Riyadh’s cultural identity. The foundation’s work will focus on education, culture, arts, healthcare, and sustainability in alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

Monday, 30 September—Saudi Arabia’s Interior Minister, Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, inaugurated the new General Directorate of Public Security, as well as the Innovation Center, and the Indicators and Artificial Intelligence Center. These new facilities are to improve security operations and promote digital transformation.

United Arab Emirates
Tuesday, 1 October—The German chemicals group Covestro accepted a takeover bid from UAE state-owned energy company the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). The deal values Covestro at €12 billion Euros and ADNOC plans to inject another €1.2 billion Euros by issuing new shares. This comes as the German chemicals industry struggles with rising energy costs caused by the war in Ukraine, while ADNOC seeks to expand its operations beyond oil.

EU Corner

Wednesday, 25 September—Bahrain’s Ambassador to Belgium and Head of its Mission to the EU, Abdulla Bin Faisal Bin Jabr Al-Doseri, attended a meeting in Brussels that was Chaired by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel. This comes after Michel’s recent visit to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries which was meant to prepare the agenda for the GCC-EU Summit to be held in Brussels on 16 October 2024.

Thursday, 26 September—The Ambassador of Qatar to the EU and NATO, Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al-Malki, attended the Day of German Unity reception organised by Permanent Representative of Germany to NATO, Géza Andreas von Geyr.

Monday, 30 September—Bahrain’s Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Nawaf Bin Mohammed Al-Maawda met with the newly appointed Italian Ambassador to Bahrain, Andrea Catalano, to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and developing joint cooperation initiatives, including the exchange of expertise in the judicial sector.

Key Official Visits& Contacts

Wednesday, 25 September—A Joint Ministerial Meeting with the Foreign Ministers of the GCC and the US was held on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. Co-chaired by Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, the meeting aimed to promote strategic coordination and cooperation to address international and regional challenges.
Thursday, 26 September—A Joint Ministerial Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the GCC with five Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland) was held on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.

Saturday, 28 September—Kuwait Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah Al-Yahya, took part in a Joint Ministerial Meeting with the Foreign Ministers of the GCC and the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yi to discuss regional and international topics of mutual concern and interest for strategic cooperation.

Saturday, 28 September—Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for International Affairs, Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, participated in the Joint Ministerial Meeting of the GCC and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. The meeting addressed coordination efforts on Israeli violations against the Palestinian people and the military escalation in Lebanon which threatens regional and international stability and peace. In attendance was Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Mexico, Haitham Al-Maliki and the Director of the GCC Department, Anas Alwasedy.
Sunday, 29 September—the Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to Egypt, Abdullah Nassir Al–Rahbi, attended the Peace and Development in Arab and African Framework held at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. The conference addressed opportunities for achieving peace by developing innovative mechanisms in the Arab region and the African continent.

Sunday, 29 September—General Supervisor of Saudi Arabia’s aid agency, KSrelief, Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, met with UN Undersecretary General for Counter Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov, at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly meeting where the two officials discussed humanitarian projects and relief issues.

Sunday, 29 September—Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Faisal Bin Farhan Bin Abdullah met with the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly. The officials discussed cooperation efforts between Saudi Arabia and the United Nations in regard to the efforts of the Arab Ministerial Liaison Committee on Syria.

Tuesday, 1 October—Kuwait Emir, Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, congratulated NATO’s new Secretary General, Mark Rutte, wishing him success in achieving NATO’s goals and upholding international security and peace.

Tuesday, 1 October—The Ambassador of Kuwait in Moscow, Rashid Al-Adwani, presented his credentials to the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, as non-resident Ambassador to the country. Both parties discussed building their bilateral relations in various sectors, including Kuwaiti investments in Belarus.