To achieve security, peace, stability and prosperity in the region

With great success and understanding, the leaders of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf concluded the 41st session of the «Sultan Qaboos and Sheikh Sabah Summit», which was held in Al Ula yesterday (Tuesday), and emphasized the strengthening of ties of friendship and fraternity among the peoples of the region.

The AlUla Declaration Declaration included the establishment of the Gulf Center for Disease Prevention and Control and its rapid activation to coordinate joint Gulf action to confront the coronavirus pandemic and other epidemics.
The declaration also included strengthening military integration among GCC countries under the supervision of the Joint Defense Council, the Supreme Military Committee and the GCC Unified Military Command to face emerging challenges.
The following is the text of the statement:

The following is the text of the declaration:

<The summit of the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at its forty-first session, the «Sultan Qaboos and Sheikh Sabah Summit», affirmed the lofty objectives of the GCC, as stipulated in the statute, to achieve cooperation, interdependence and integration among the GCC countries in all fields, leading to their unity, strengthening their regional and international role, and working as a single economic and political group to contribute to achieving security, peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
The citizens of the region hope that the «Al-Ula Statement» reached at this summit will restore joint action to its natural course and strengthen the bonds of friendship and brotherhood among the peoples of the GCC countries. The signature of the Arab Republic of Egypt on the Al-Ula Declaration confirms the close fraternal relations between Egypt and the GCC countries, based on what is stipulated in the Statute that coordination, cooperation and integration among the GCC countries serve the lofty goals of the Arab nation.

<The challenge of the novel coronavirus pandemic has shown what can be achieved through cooperation between the countries of the world in confronting this epidemic, as the G20 was able to achieve unprecedented achievements during the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's presidency in this field. There is no doubt that confronting the pandemic and addressing its repercussions requires strengthening joint Gulf action, in particular the following:

<Full and accurate implementation of the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, which was approved by the Supreme Council at its 36th session in December 2015, according to a specific timetable and strict follow-up, including completing the components of economic unity, joint defense and security systems, and a unified foreign policy.
- Activating the role of the Gulf Center for Disease Prevention and Control, which was established at this summit, based on the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and enabling it to quickly coordinate joint Gulf action to confront the Corona pandemic and other epidemics.
- Completing the requirements of the customs union and the Gulf common market, achieving full economic citizenship, including granting GCC citizens freedom of work, movement and investment, equality in receiving education and health care, building the Gulf railway network, the food and water security system, encouraging joint ventures, and localizing Gulf investment.
- Taking advantage of the advanced tools of cooperation developed within the framework of the G20, during the presidency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in all fields, including stimulating the economy, engaging the business sector and civil society institutions, empowering women and youth more in economic development, encouraging initiatives related to the digital economy, and mandating the General Secretariat of the Council to follow up and develop plans and programs to implement this in cooperation with specialized expertise houses.
- Developing technical capabilities in government agencies, including artificial intelligence to ensure the speed and efficiency of implementing services and procedures, and developing educational curricula Strengthening cooperation between GCC institutions and the Digital Cooperation Organization established in 2020 to achieve the interests of the GCC countries.
- Strengthening the tools of governance, transparency, accountability, integrity and anti-corruption through joint Gulf action and in all GCC bodies, offices and specialized organizations, and taking advantage of what was agreed upon in the framework of the G20 and the «Riyadh Initiative» regarding cooperation in investigating cross-border corruption cases and prosecuting perpetrators, because corruption has a significant impact on economic growth, sustainable development and mutual trust between governments and peoples.
- Strengthening military integration between GCC countries