Khaberni - The leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council states, at the conclusion of the 19th consultative meeting hosted by the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia yesterday, emphasized the need to accelerate the completion of the requirements for implementing joint Gulf projects, including the sectors of transport and logistic services, as well as the military sector and others.
Below is a review of the most prominent joint Gulf projects:
Railway Project
The Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council, in its 30th session in December 2009, approved the creation of a railway project connecting the Council's member states, due to its direct positive effects on facilitating commercial movement and enhancing the freedom of movement of citizens and residents between the states, in addition to supporting joint investments and invigorating trade and economic exchange in the Gulf.
In the 42nd session in 2021, it was decided to establish the Gulf Railway Authority, while the Ministerial Council in its 185th session in 2023 set December 2030 as the target for the full operation of the project between member states, with the possibility of operating and connecting any two neighboring states as soon as the section pertaining to them is completed.
The project extends over 2117 kilometers, with diesel trains operating at speeds up to 200 kilometers per hour.
Electricity Connection Project
The electrical interconnection between the Gulf Cooperation Council states is one of the most important foundational projects approved by the Gulf Cooperation Council. It aims to reduce the required reserves in each state and provide mutual coverage in emergencies, take advantage of surplus and reduce the cost of electricity production.
In implementation of the decision of the 18th session of the Supreme Council in 1997, the “GCC Electricity Linking Authority” was established to create, operate, and maintain the project.
In November 2005, a series of contracts were signed to implement the first phase of the project, which includes Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait, with a value exceeding one billion US dollars, and actual operation began in July 2009.
The second phase was completed in 2006 by increasing the efficiency of the electrical networks of the UAE and Oman. The first part of the third phase was completed by linking the UAE's network with the main interconnection network in April 2011, raising the number of electrically connected countries to five.
The second part of the third phase involves linking the network of Oman with the main network through the UAE's electricity network. In November 2014, Oman officially joined the Gulf electrical interconnection, thereby completing the third and final phase of the project.
Water Connection Project
The Gulf water connection project was implemented following the directives of the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council states during the 14th consultative meeting held in Riyadh in 2012.
In light of that, a specialized consulting firm was assigned to prepare an adjusted study for the water connection based on reference terms that take into account regional developments.
According to the General Secretariat of the Council, the study has been completed, and consultations are still ongoing among the member states to find the best way to implement the project on the ground, taking into account environmental requirements, as the project is vital and ensures the long-term availability of water in the Council states.
Oil and Gas Pipeline Project
The leaders of the Gulf Arab states - according to the final statement of the consultative meeting - called for accelerating the steps towards establishing a pipeline project for oil and gas transportation.
The Unified Economic Agreement of 1981 stipulated the necessity for the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council to coordinate their policies in the oil industry at all stages from extraction and refining to marketing, manufacturing, pricing, and exploiting natural gas and developing energy sources, in addition to working on unified oil policies and taking joint positions towards the external world and in international and specialized organizations.
The Economic Agreement of 2001 affirmed this, as it stated in its ninth article the need to "achieve integration among the Council states in the fields of petroleum and mineral industries and other natural resources and enhance the competitive position of the Council states."
Ballistic Missile Early Warning System
In the military aspect, the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council emphasized the importance of intensifying military integration among the Council states, and accelerating the completion of the ballistic missile early warning system project.
The system is an integrated defense network aimed at detecting and tracking any ballistic missile launches from the moment of launch until its flight path, aiming to give sufficient time for military and civil authorities to take defensive or precautionary measures, and it is used by countries such as the United States, Russia, Japan, and South Korea.
According to the United States Space Force website, the system operates through satellites, equipped with thermal sensors capable of detecting the heat of rocket engines at the moment of launch, providing early warning before the missile reaches high altitudes.
The system also relies on long-range radars capable of tracking the missile's flight path, and command and control centers receive this data and issue orders to activate interception systems to destroy the missile before it reaches its target, and begin civil protection procedures.
