Their Majesties and Highnesses, leaders and heads of delegations of the Gulf Cooperation Council states, chaired by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, concluded the work of the 40th session of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Al-Duryia Palace in Riyadh, where he chaired His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, State delegation. The closing statement stressed the strengthening of military and security cooperation, to maintain regional security, adding that the leaders of the GCC countries stressed the importance of continued coherence and complementarity between them. He stressed that any aggression against any country in the council is an attack on the whole council, and he stressed that the higher goal of the Cooperation Council is to achieve complementarity and interdependence between its countries.

At the opening of the summit, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques expressed his thanks and appreciation to his brothers, Your Majesties and Highnesses, and to the secretariat of the Council, for their efforts to make the work of this summit successful, expressing his hope that its results will contribute to achieving the hopes and aspirations of the citizens of the countries of the Council.

King Salman said that since its establishment, the Cooperation Council has managed to overcome the crises it has passed through. He stressed that the Iranian regime continues its aggressive policies and undermines the stability of neighboring countries. King Salman called on the international community and the Gulf states to unite in the face of Iran's aggression.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, arrived yesterday, and the accompanying delegation, to Riyadh to participate in the work of the 40th summit of leaders and leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council states.

His Highness and the accompanying delegation were received - at King Salman bin Abdulaziz Air Force Base in Riyadh - the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, a number of His Royal Highnesses, and senior Saudi officials, civilians and military personnel.

After the arrival of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum from the ladder of the plane, he reviewed a guard of honor that paid tribute to his highness, then embraced his brother, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, who welcomed his highness and the accompanying delegation in his second country.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, confirmed yesterday that the Cooperation Council will remain, and the Gulf brotherhood will remain, because it is an Arab guarantee for the future.

His Highness wrote, in a tweet through his official account on "Twitter": "With my brother, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, during our participation in the Cooperation Council Summit in Riyadh."

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum added that «the Cooperation Council will remain, and the Gulf brotherhood will remain, because it is an Arab guarantee for the future, and the region’s hope that we will be part of making and shaping the future of the world».

The strength and cohesion of the Cooperation Council:

In the closing statement of the summit, the Supreme Council expressed its deep appreciation and gratitude for the great sincere and sincere efforts made by Sultan Qaboos bin Saeed, Sultan of Oman, and his government during the period of the presidency of the Sultanate of Oman for the 39th session of the Supreme Council, and for the important steps and achievements achieved. The Council congratulated the UAE on receiving the role of the presidency during the coming year, wishing it success in strengthening the march of the Cooperation Council in all fields.

The Supreme Council affirmed its keenness on the strength, cohesion and strength of the Cooperation Council, and the unity of the class among its members, due to the special relations and common features that bind them, stressing that its countries stand together in the face of any threat to any of the GCC countries.

The leaders affirmed the necessity of implementing the council’s decisions and all the agreements concluded within the framework of the Cooperation Council, according to their specific timetables, and commitment to their contents.

The Supreme Council emphasized that the sabotage attack on oil supply facilities to global markets in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in September 2019 was directed at international energy supplies, which is a continuation of the previous aggressive actions that Aramco's pumping stations were exposed to using Iranian weapons, and the Council called on the international community to bear His responsibilities are to condemn those behind it and to counter these terrorist acts, confirming that the states of the Council stand with the measures taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Supreme Council welcomed the assumption by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of the leadership of the Group of Twenty (G20), in December 2019, and hosted by the Group Summit in November 2020. The Supreme Council congratulated the UAE on hosting the Expo 2020, confirming its full support for the success of this global event, as a success for all countries and peoples the Council. The Supreme Council also praised the efforts of the UAE in the field of exploring outer space.

Promote joint Gulf action

The Supreme Council reviewed the developments of the joint Gulf action, and stressed the importance of preserving the achievements of the Council and the achievements of its integrative career.

The Supreme Council expressed its satisfaction for the progress achieved in implementing the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, to enhance joint Gulf action, which was approved by the Supreme Council at its 36th session in December 2015.

Financial and monetary unit in 2025

The statement, which was read out by the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Abdullatif Al Zayani, called for a financial and monetary union by the year 2025, stressing the need to work towards achieving economic integration and a customs union.

The Supreme Council agreed that the Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee should adopt and implement the necessary decisions for the requirements of joint work within the framework of the customs union, amendments related to the unified customs tariff, value-added tax, selective tax, and the Gulf common market.

Joint military and security action

The Supreme Council approved the decisions of the Joint Defense Council at its sixteenth session, stressing keenness to implement them according to the procedures and regulations followed in that. He blessed the conclusions reached by the Joint Defense Council in the various military fields, including with regard to confronting the growing threats against the GCC states, especially the threat of navigation in the Arab Gulf and international straits.

The Supreme Council affirmed the permanent positions and decisions of the Cooperation Council towards terrorism and extremism, its rejection of all its forms and images, its rejection of its motives and justifications, whatever its source, and work to dry its sources of financing.

Condemning Iran's occupation of the three islands

The Supreme Council affirmed its unwavering stances and previous decisions regarding condemning Iran's continued occupation of the three islands: (Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa) of the United Arab Emirates, reaffirming the support for the right of sovereignty of the United Arab Emirates over its three islands, the territorial waters, the air region, the continental shelf and the region Exclusive economic activity of the three islands, as an integral part of the territory of the United Arab Emirates.

The Council considered that any decisions, practices or actions carried out by Iran on the three islands are null and void and do not change any of the historical and legal facts that are gathered on the right of the United Arab Emirates’s sovereignty over its three islands, and called on Iran to respond to the Emirates’s efforts to resolve the issue through direct negotiations, or asylum To the International Court of Justice.

The Council affirmed its consistent positions and decisions regarding relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, stressing the need for Iran to adhere to the basic principles and principles based on the Charter of the United Nations and charters of international law, principles of good-neighborliness, respect for the sovereignty of states, non-interference in internal affairs, and resolving disputes by peaceful means.

The Supreme Council expressed its total rejection of the continued Iranian interference in the internal affairs of the states of the Council and the region, and its condemnation of all terrorist acts carried out by Iran.

Regional and international issues

The Supreme Council reviewed the developments of regional and international issues, stressing the keenness of the GCC countries to maintain stability and security in the region and support the prosperity of their peoples, and to enhance the relations of the Council with brotherly and friendly countries, and to work with regional and international organizations to maintain global peace and security.

The final statement stressed the permanent positions of the GCC states regarding the Palestinian issue, as it is the first Arab and Muslim issue, and its support for the permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people over all the occupied Palestinian territories since June 1967, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the return of refugees in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative, international references and international legitimacy resolutions .

In the Yemeni affairs, the Supreme Council affirmed the positions and decisions of the Cooperation Council on the crisis in the Yemeni Republic, and the need to reach a political solution to the crisis, in accordance with the references represented by the Gulf initiative and its executive mechanism, and the outcomes of the comprehensive national dialogue conference, and Security Council resolution 2216, and expressed its support for the envoy's efforts The Special Secretary-General of the United Nations to reach a political solution to the crisis in Yemen in accordance with these references, and the Council praised the efforts made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its sponsorship of the Jeddah Dialogue, to bridge the rift between the brothers in the Republic of Yemen, which culminated in the signing of the Riyadh Agreement The Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council, and the Council noted the efforts of the United Arab Emirates to make the agreement a success.

The Supreme Council affirmed its consistent positions and decisions regarding Iraq, stressing the importance of preserving the integrity and territorial integrity of the country, its full sovereignty, its Arab identity, its social fabric and its national unity, and its support for confronting terrorist groups, and affirmed its support for everything that would end the current state of escalation, calling for the language to prevail.

On the Egyptian issue, the Council affirmed support for the security and stability of the Arab Republic of Egypt, appreciating its efforts in strengthening Arab national security, security and peace in the region, and combating extremism and terrorism, and expressed its support for the existing efforts to solve the Renaissance Dam issue, in a way that meets the water and economic interests of the countries concerned.

On the Syrian issue, the Supreme Council affirmed its positions and firm decisions regarding the Syrian crisis, a political solution based on the principles of «Geneva 1», and Security Council Resolution No. 2254, which provides for the formation of a transitional governing body to manage the affairs of the country, draft a new constitution for Syria, and prepare for elections to draw A new future for Syria.

On the Lebanese issue, the statement stressed the positions of the Cooperation Council and its firm decisions regarding Lebanon, its concern for the security, stability, and territorial integrity of Lebanon, its Arab affiliation, the independence of its political decision, and the reconciliation between the components of its brotherly people.

On the Libyan issue, the Supreme Council affirmed its positions and firm decisions regarding the Libyan crisis, and supported the efforts of the United Nations to reach a political solution, drawn from the Skhirat agreement signed between the Libyan parties in December 2015.

On the Sudanese issue, the Council welcomed the historic agreement reached by the Sudanese parties, aimed at achieving the interest of Sudan, preserving its security, safety and stability and achieving the aspirations of the brotherly Sudanese people, stressing the need to ensure Sudan's security and stability.