The UAE Ministry of Finance hosted a closed-door briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abu Dhabi to discuss the country’s role in Gulf financial and economic integration, as regional efforts to establish a GCC common market continue.
Senior officials from both ministries participated in the session, including Younis Haji Al Khoori, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance; Omar Obaid Al Shamsi, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and other department heads. The meeting addressed the structure of Gulf economic cooperation and reviewed the progress of the GCC Customs Union and common market frameworks.
The UAE is set to assume the rotating presidency of the GCC in 2026. Officials discussed ongoing preparations, including the launch of awareness campaigns and joint initiatives to facilitate capital flows, improve tax coordination, and ease cross-border business operations within the bloc.
Al Khoori said Gulf economic integration remains a strategic priority for the UAE and highlighted the Ministry of Finance’s role in implementing GCC resolutions and coordinating bilateral and multilateral frameworks to strengthen regional financial systems.
The session forms part of a broader economic engagement programme by the UAE Ministry of Finance, which aims to promote alignment with the GCC Unified Economic Agreement. The agreement is the foundation for regional financial cooperation and outlines integration mechanisms across customs, capital mobility, taxation, and trade.
The GCC’s common market initiative has been under development since its formal launch in 2008, with periodic updates on implementation from member states. The UAE continues leading efforts to push forward integration milestones, including harmonising financial regulation and expanding intra-GCC economic activity.
