The Gulf between Two Summits… A New Era and Confident Steps towards the Future

The Gulf between Two Summits… A New Era and Confident Steps towards the Future

A handout picture provided by the Saudi Royal Palace shows (L to R) Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Dr. Nayef al-Hajraf, Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Mishaal al-Jaber al-Ahmad Al Sabah, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Oman's Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmud al-Said, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the UAE's Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum posing for a family photo during the GCC summit in the Saudi capital Riyadh on December 14, 2021. (AFP)

The Gulf scene in 2021 was bookended by the AlUla summit, held on January 5, and the Riyadh Summit, on December 14. Both summits appear to have kicked off a new era of consensus and cooperation between Gulf countries as they march confidently towards the future.

Since AlUla's hosting the reconciliation summit, the Gulf scene witnessed several positive changes after disputes were resolved. Many Gulf countries launched a new phase of consensus and prioritizing interests and shunning disputes.

Chairman of the Gulf Research Center, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Sager said since the AlUla summit, the Gulf has witnessed several positive changes.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said: "The reconciliation paved the way for establishing