Rappler's latest stories on Gulf Cooperation Council
Gulf economies to shrink 7.6% over virus, oil slump – IMF
The International Monetary Fund's 2020 projection for the 6-nation Gulf Cooperation Council dramatically worsens
China virus threatens to hobble Gulf economies
The 6 Gulf states – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates – count China as their main trading partner and crude buyer
Without reforms, Gulf oil wealth could vanish by 2034 – IMF
The International Monetary Fund says Gulf states have no choice but to accelerate and widen economic reforms
Qatar emir skips summit but warm words point to thaw with Saudi
In a sign of the changing mood, the Doha delegation receives a warm welcome in Riyadh, with Saudi Arabia's King Salman and the Qatari prime minister exchanging smiles and pleasantries
Saudi king calls on Gulf states to tackle Iran's 'criminal' acts
Saudi Arabia, a staunch US ally, is hosting leaders from across the Arab and Muslim world for emergency Gulf and Arab summits and a meeting of heads of state from Islamic nations
Saudi Arabia calls urgent Gulf, Arab League meetings over tensions
The Saudi Press Agency says King Salman had invited Gulf leaders and Arab states to two emergency summits in Mecca on May 30
Iran wants 'good' relations with Saudi Arabia, UAE
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says his country hopes to improve relations with its regional archrival
Qatar says Gulf alliance needs replacing
The Gulf Cooperation Council 'has been undermined by the crisis' between the emirate and its neighbors, says Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani
Qatar emir skips Saudi-hosted summit with Gulf rivals
Qatar is represented by its minister of state for foreign affairs, Sultan al-Muraikhi
Gulf economy recovering but faces oil volatility – IMF
The International Monetary Fund urges Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to expand reforms
Gulf states skip Qatar crisis, blast Huthis as summit ends
The 6-nation regional alliance affirms in a joint declaration the importance of preserving the GCC's existence which is threatened by a bitter dispute between its members
IMF tells Gulf states to speed up switch from oil
The IMF advises energy-rich Gulf economies to speed up their diversification away from oil after projecting the worst growth for the region since the global financial crisis
Bahrain suggests freezing Qatar's GCC membership
GCC members are supposed to meet before the end of the year, but the crisis could see the bloc's annual meeting postponed or cancelled
Kuwait emir warns against Gulf crisis escalating
Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, in an address to parliament, also says that Kuwait's goal is to save the Gulf Cooperation Council union from 'cracking and collapsing'
Kuwait emir warns against Gulf crisis escalating
Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed Al-Sabah says Kuwait's goal is to save the Gulf Cooperation Council union from 'cracking and collapsing'
Gulf states say goodbye to tax-free reputation
The 6 states are now taking austerity measures a step further with the plan to introduce value-added tax, ending their decades-old reputation for being tax havens
'Lot of time' needed to rebuild trust in Gulf – Qatar FM
As the impasse between Doha and 4 Arab states led by Saudi Arabia enters its 11th week Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani says regional relations have been transformed by the dispute
A crisis without end? Gulf states settle in for the long haul
Hopes of a swift resolution seem as remote as a summer downpour in the desert
UK foreign minister urges Arab states to end Qatar boycott
The blockade is unwelcome and we hope there will be a de escalation says Boris Johnson
Qatar to respond after Arab nations extend deadline
3rd UPDATE Saudi Arabia and its allies say they have decided to extend by 48 hours the deadline for Qatar to accept their list of demands to lift a de facto blockade
Qatar says Saudi-led ultimatum unreasonable
UPDATED Qatar has been given 10 days to meet the demands which apparently include a call to close down broadcaster Al Jazeera but Doha said the requests are unrealistic
Gulf cyber attacks on rise, conference told
All Gulf Cooperation Council countries are at risk Saleh Almotairi director general of the Saudi National Cyber Security Center tells the conference
IMF's Lagarde 'optimistic' about U.S. economy
Christine Lagarde predicts tax reform and more investment in infrastructure are both likely under US President Donald Trump
IMF: Oil exporters must do more to balance budgets
The International Monetary Fund says deep structural reforms are needed to create jobs for the growing labor force
Gulf countries, Canada to cooperate in anti-ISIS fight
The campaign against [ISIS] and other terrorist organizations is not religious or linked to a religion or sect but rather a war on terror says a statement from the Gulf Cooperation Council ministers
IMF urges Gulf states to adapt to lower oil prices
Given falling revenues from oil exports the International Monetary Fund says affected countries must cut spending and implement other measures
Iran says Gulf Arab moves against Hezbollah harm Lebanon
Those who call Hezbollah terrorists have intentionally or unintentionally harmed the unity and security of Lebanon
Gulf states declare Lebanon's Hezbollah 'terrorist' group
They cite terrorist acts and incitement in Syria Yemen and Iraq as basis for the declaration
Kerry in Riyadh to reassure allies over Iran
The US Secretary of State also announces that the Syria Support Group of 20 nations and organizations will meet very shortly to help push peace in the war ravaged country
Saudi-Iran crisis widens as Kuwait recalls envoy
UPDATED Washington and other Western powers have called for calm amid fears the dispute could raise sectarian tensions across the Middle East and derail efforts to resolve conflicts from Syria to Yemen
Max's Group to open 200 overseas stores by 2020
UPDATED Restaurant chain operator Max’s Group Inc plans to open 70 80 stores in 2016 in line with its target to have 1 000 stores by 2020
US agrees to 'expedite' arms sales to Gulf states – Kerry
US Secretary of State John Kerry says the US and states in the region will also increase efforts to share intelligence
Kerry in Qatar to assure Gulf allies over Iran deal
Kerry is set to hold discussions with his 6 counterparts from the Sunni dominated Gulf Cooperation Council in a bid to allay fears about Shiite Iran after the nuclear deal
John Kerry in Egypt on first leg of Middle East tour
Many Gulf states are concerned about Iran s ambitions in the region following the pact with the US and five other world powers – Britain China France Germany and Russia
Gulf expat workers send home $100 billion: report
Saudi Arabia topped the list with its estimated 10 million expats sending home 44 billion
Obama offers Gulf allies 'ironclad' security pledge
Obama faces the tough task of convincing skeptical emirs princes and sheikhs that his ambition to reach a nuclear deal with Tehran will not come at their expense
Saudi King Salman to miss US-Gulf summit
Six Gulf Cooperation Council leaders are due to visit the White House on Wednesday May 13 and attend the summit at the bucolic Camp David presidential retreat the next day
Saudi king warns of Iran threat, rebels hit border town
Saudi Arabia s King Salman says that Gulf leaders must stand up to Iran as Yemeni rebels backed by Tehran attacked a Saudi border town with mortar shells
Gulf leaders hold summit as concern grows over Yemen
The 6 Sunni dominated Gulf Cooperation Council states meet in the Saudi capital with their region also threatened by jihadists and amid concerns over a potential final nuclear deal with Iran
Qatar recalls envoy to Egypt after dispute over Libya strikes
The diplomatic row comes just 3 months after a thaw in relations between the two countries
Shiite militia tightens grip on Yemen after 'coup'
The Huthi coup marks a grave and inacceptable escalation and endangers the security stability sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen the Gulf Cooperation Council says
Qatar joins Gulf partners in backing Sisi's Egypt
Leaders of the 6 nation Gulf Cooperation Council GCC states in their final statement announce their full support to Egypt and the political program of President Abdel Fattah al Sisi
PH welcomes new domestic workers' contract in Gulf states
Still the New York based Human Rights Watch says a standardized contract is no substitute for labor law protection and institutional reforms
Rights groups urge Gulf states to protect migrant workers
International rights and labor groups call for urgent actions to protect the rights of migrant workers ahead of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue on labor migration
Yemen to name new PM, raising hopes for end to standoff
Yemen s president offers to appoint a new premier within 48 hours under a potential deal with Shiite rebels in return for ending their protests after a weeks long standoff
Go for Middle East market, PH tuna processors urged
The Philippines agricultural attaché to the UAE says PH can take advantage of a US 2 B market in Saudi Arabia Kuwait Bahrain the UAE Oman and Qatar
Gulf monarchies condemn Islamic State jihadists
The 6 nation Gulf Cooperation Council strongly condemns Islamic State jihadists in Iraq and Syria and their extreme interpretation of Islam as it opened a meeting in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia demands Qatar shut down Al Jazeera – source
Saudi Arabia reportedly demanded that Qatar shut down Al Jazeera for allegedly supporting the Muslim Brotherhood
Saudi, Bahrain, UAE recall envoys to Qatar
The three Gulf Arab states made the decision following what newspapers described as a stormy meeting of foreign ministers from the 6 nation Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh
Gulf states call for rapid Syria political transition
Representatives of the six oil rich Gulf Cooperation Council states call for a rapid political transition in war torn Syria
