The Cooperation Council Discusses Developing Economic Models Related to the Study of Enhancing Gulf Electrical Connectivity

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The electricity and water ministers' representatives from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries reviewed the latest developments in the bilateral water linkage between the member states, the work of the advisory and regulatory committee, the Gulf Electricity Interconnection Authority, and the progress in the committees for water resources, electricity and water conservation, customer services, and new and renewable energy, in addition to programs, seminars, workshops, and events related to the sectors.

This came during the thirty-second preparatory meeting for the thirty-first meeting of the Committee for Electricity and Water Cooperation in the GCC, which was held today, Monday, September 28, 2026, via video conferencing.

The meeting discussed the follow-up on the implementation of the Supreme Council's decisions regarding the study of the possibility of establishing water linkage projects between the member states, enhancing the Gulf electricity linkage, and developing the economic and financial models associated with it.

It also explored ways to cooperate in the field of energy with the People's Republic of China, the work of Gulf bodies and associations concerned with energy and water, and the participation of the General Secretariat in the Riyadh Committee for Youth in Water (RWYC).

The meeting addressed the work of the advisory and organizational committee for the Gulf electrical interconnection, the preparation for the unified Gulf forum for electricity and water regulators in 2027, the establishment of a joint Gulf pavilion at the 11th World Water Forum - Riyadh 2027, in addition to the guiding plan for the committee on electrical and water conservation and customer services for the period 2027-2031.

The report "Water Under Fire - Volume Four" issued by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) was also reviewed, along with support for the participation of member states in upcoming Gulf conferences, and the proposal from the Kingdom of Bahrain regarding the conclusion of a joint agreement to determine prices and exchange electrical energy between the Council's countries in cases of extreme emergencies in the region.

The meeting was chaired by the Deputy President for Electricity Affairs in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State Presidency, Engineer Ali Al-Naimi, with the participation of the Undersecretaries of the Ministries of Electricity and Water from the Council countries, and the Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Development Affairs at the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Khalid Al-Sunaidi.

The meeting concluded with a number of recommendations to be raised to the thirty-first meeting of the ministers concerned with electricity and water affairs of the Gulf Cooperation Council, scheduled to be held on Monday, October 5, 2026, in the Kingdom of Bahrain, to take appropriate decisions regarding them.