Wednesday 28 / October / 2026
Manama: The Sultanate of Oman participated on Wednesday in the 29th meeting of the GCC Information Ministers, held in Manama, the Kingdom of Bahrain, in its capacity as President of the 46th session of the GCC Supreme Council.
The Sultanate of Oman’s delegation was led by Dr. Abdullah Nasser Al Harrasi, Minister of Information.
In a statement issued following the meeting, the GCC Information Ministers affirmed the importance of reinforcing Gulf unity, safeguarding the security and stability of the GCC states and countering any act liable to undermine the fraternal ties between their peoples. They stressed the need to intensify joint efforts in addressing contemporary media challenges, particularly those relating to content disseminated through the media and digital platforms.
The Ministers underscored that cohesion and solidarity among the GCC states — their leaderships and their peoples — constitute a firm foundation for protecting security and stability and for preserving Gulf achievements. They affirmed that Gulf unity is a shared responsibility and an enduring commitment, one whose significance is only magnified by present circumstances and the challenges and repercussions they impose.
The Ministers voiced their categorical rejection of any attempt to fracture Gulf unity or to disparage the GCC states, their symbols or their peoples. They emphasised the need to step up the monitoring and documentation of violations committed across the various media outlets and digital platforms, and to take the requisite legal measures to hold perpetrators to account through the competent authorities in each state, in accordance with national legislation, the relevant GCC decisions and regulations adopted by the member states, and the procedures in force in each country.
In this context, the Sultanate of Oman has proposed an initiative to establish unified guidelines for handling content published on social media — one that would strengthen media coordination and cooperation among the GCC states in addressing content liable to undermine Gulf unity or to disparage the GCC states, their symbols or their peoples, given the growing influence of digital platforms and their expanding role in shaping public opinion.
The Omani initiative forms part of broader efforts to advance joint Gulf media action, to entrench accountability in the handling of digital content and to develop coordination frameworks among the competent authorities in the GCC states. Its aim is to curb the circulation of offensive and misleading content and to preserve the fraternal ties and common interests shared by the GCC states and their peoples.
The Ministers called on media institutions, media professionals and social media users to honour their responsibilities, to verify accuracy, to source information from official channels and to refrain from publishing or circulating offensive or misleading content. They affirmed that the distinctive character of the current juncture demands a concerted effort to protect Gulf unity, to entrench the fraternal ties between the peoples of the GCC states and to support all that reinforces their security and stability.
The meeting examined pathways for advancing joint Gulf action and for strengthening cooperation and integration among the GCC states in the media domain. It likewise addressed the pivotal role of the media in consolidating fraternal ties between Gulf peoples and in showcasing the developmental and civilizational achievements and gains secured by the GCC states.
The meeting further examined mechanisms for developing joint media action and enhancing coordination among Gulf media institutions, with a view to keeping pace with rapid developments in digital media and artificial intelligence technologies, and to harmonizing media perspectives on national, regional and international issues of common interest.
The Ministers affirmed the importance of the role played by official media institutions in conveying facts, fostering community awareness, safeguarding developmental gains, highlighting the humanitarian values espoused by the GCC states and demonstrating their commitment to entrenching the foundations of peace, security and stability.
The meeting is convened within the framework of joint Gulf efforts to strengthen media integration and to coordinate positions on the challenges confronting the media and digital landscape, thereby helping to protect the common interests of the GCC states and to support the course of Gulf cooperation.
