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Gulf leaders gathered in Jeddah on Tuesday for their first in-person summit since the outbreak of the Iran war, projecting a unified front, even as the meeting stopped short of announcing concrete joint measures.
Chaired by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the consultative Gulf Cooperation Council meeting focused on coordination, diplomacy and regional security after weeks of Iranian missile and drone attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure across the bloc.
The meeting was as much about signalling unity as delivering concrete outcomes.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally received Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the aircraft upon arrival in Jeddah, a gesture that went beyond routine protocol and underscored a show of political warmth.
It reflects how far Saudi-Qatari ties have stabilised since the 2017 to 2021 Gulf rift. Similar arrival scenes involving Bahrain and Kuwait reinforced the image of a bloc closing ranks under pressure.
Unity narrative, underlying fractures
Despite the strong visuals, the summit also exposed the limits of Gulf unity.
The United Arab Emirates, represented by Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan rather than its president, has openly criticised the GCC’s response to the Iran war.
Just a day before the meeting, senior Emirati official Anwar Gargash described the bloc’s political and military stance as the “weakest in its history,” pointing to frustration over the lack of a coordinated response.
Oman’s absence, with no public confirmation of representation, further pointed to uneven engagement within the bloc at a critical moment.
Official statements pointed to broad areas of agreement rather than concrete policy steps, with leaders emphasising diplomacy, regional coordination and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said discussions focused on finding a diplomatic path that addresses Gulf security concerns and supports long-term stability, while Qatar warned against the risk of a prolonged “frozen conflict”.
The summit took place as Gulf states try to balance their security ties with the United States while avoiding further escalation with Iran, with uncertainty still surrounding talks between Washington and Tehran.
At the same time, disruptions to energy flows and shifting regional dynamics continue to shape the Gulf’s response.
On the same day, the UAE announced its withdrawal from OPEC and OPEC+, a move widely seen as prioritising national interests over collective frameworks and adding further complexity to Gulf coordination.