- Civil defence chiefs from GCC states met in Riyadh for their 35th committee meeting.
- The meeting reviewed the GCC Emergency Management Centre’s work during recent regional events.
- Recommendations were issued as Gulf states continue to strengthen regional emergency preparedness and coordination.
The 35th meeting of the GCC Committee of Directors General of Civil Defence was held in Riyadh, bringing together senior civil defence officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council member states.
Saudi Arabia’s Director General of Civil Defence, Major General Dr Hammoud Al-Faraj, participated in the meeting, which was chaired by Bahrain and organised by the GCC General Secretariat.
The meeting reviewed developments relating to projects previously approved by GCC interior ministers, as well as a report from the GCC Emergency Management Centre covering its activities during recent regional events and its role in coordinating between member states.
Recommendations were issued following the meeting.
The involvement of the GCC Emergency Management Centre highlights the increasing importance of regional coordination in emergency management, particularly where incidents can cross national boundaries or require cooperation between multiple civil defence organisations.
For fire and emergency response agencies, this type of coordination can support the sharing of operational information, expertise and resources, as well as helping authorities develop more consistent approaches to preparedness and response across the Gulf.
The meeting also comes shortly after Qatar and Saudi Arabia held the first meeting of a bilateral committee established to implement their civil defence cooperation agreement. That meeting produced recommendations covering readiness, operational efficiency, expertise exchange and emergency response mechanisms.
Together, the developments point to continued efforts by Gulf states to strengthen civil defence cooperation and regional emergency preparedness through both bilateral agreements and GCC-wide coordination.
