Gulf Cooperation Council

Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images

Map of the Middle East highlighting the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council in orange, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Oman, with major cities such as Riyadh, Kuwait City, Manama, Doha, Abu Dhabi, and Muscat labeled. Surrounding bodies of water, including the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean, are also shown.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al-Saud, wearing a red and white keffiyeh and white robe, speaks at a conference table marked Chairman during the Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Riyadh.

At a Glance

default image

Gulf Cooperation Council summary

Gulf Cooperation Council: References & Edit History

More Articles On This Topic

Additional Reading

R.K. Ramazani, The Gulf Cooperation Council: Record and Analysis (1988).

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Contributors

george braun

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type	Description	Contributor	Date
	Add new Web site: Oxford Public International Law - Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC).	Grace Young	Oct 25, 2026
	Add new Web site: Officila Site of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council.	Gloria Lotha	Aug 14, 2025
	Add new Web site: Al Jazeera - What is the GCC?	Grace Young	Apr 11, 2025
	Add new Web site: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace - Can the Gulf Cooperation Council Transcend Its Divisions?	Grace Young	Jan 11, 2025
	Add new Web site: Academia - The Gulf Cooperation Council: From Past to Present and Gulf Crisis- Sinem Cengiz.	Gloria Lotha	Dec 08, 2023
	Corrected display issue.	The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica	Mar 20, 2023
	Add new Web site: Ministry of External Affairs - Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).	Aakanksha Gaur	Dec 23, 2022
	Added mention of certain member states lifting the blockade of Qatar at the January 2021 summit.	Adam Zeidan	Jan 13, 2021
	Updated the discussion of tensions between Qatar and other members of the council.	Adam Zeidan	May 18, 2020
	Add new Web site: The Balance - Gulf Cooperation Council � GCC Countries.	Gloria Lotha	Nov 14, 2019
	Add new Web site: Jewish Virtual Library - The Gulf Cooperation Council.	Aakanksha Gaur	Jun 15, 2019
	Media added.	The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica	Jan 23, 2019
	Updated discussion of the organization's policies and added discussion of its relationships.	Adam Zeidan	Dec 14, 2018
	Corrected display issue.	Adam Augustyn	Dec 15, 2017
	Add new Web site: GlobalSecurity.org - Gulf Cooperation Council.	Satyavrat Nirala	Jun 09, 2015
	New bibliography added.	Amy Tikkanen george braun	Feb 18, 2014
	Updated to note the decision in December 2009 to adopt a regional currency similar to the euro.	Laura Etheredge	May 10, 2010
	New article added.	Brian Duignan	Aug 19, 2008