Leaders of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will begin a two-day summit in Riyadh on Wednesday, focusing on security, economic and social challenges facing the countries. His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, will head the UAE delegation to the summit. The summit, being held amid a huge drop in oil revenues, the war in Yemen and pressure for peace in Syria, will be the first to be chaired by Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz who came to power in January following the death of his brother King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. King Salman chaired the GCC Advisory Council in May, the agenda-free annual meeting of leaders traditionally held in Saudi Arabia where the council is headquartered. Ahead of the summit, Dr Abdul Latif Al Zayani, GCC Secretary-General, stressed the importance of the summit in light of political, security and economic developments in the region. He said the meeting will contribute to deepening GCC relations and promoting cooperation, as well as addressing the risks facing the countries. He said that the countries are aware of the political, security, economic and social challenges and are working towards taking all measures to maintain security and stability and to defend its interests and achievements. Al Zayani also said that the meeting reflects their keenness to ensure prosperity and welfare for all GCC peoples, with special attention to the youth. He noted that the GCC General Secretariat is currently completing the implementation of the Supreme Council's decisions concerning the youth and developing their talents and capabilities. Riyadh is adorned with the flags of member states and banners welcoming the participants. The fanfare about the summit is matched by the tight security imposed on the major roads leading to the venue of the summit as part of a zero-risk policy. The GCC foreign ministers held their preparatory meeting in Riyadh on Monday to finalise the agenda for the summit.
