Intra-Gulf Trade Exceeds $100 Billion

The 64th meeting of the Trade Cooperation Committee of the GCC Trade Ministers was held on Thursday in Muscat. (Omani News Agency)
The 64th meeting of the Trade Cooperation Committee of the GCC Trade Ministers was held on Thursday in Muscat. (Omani News Agency)
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Intra-Gulf Trade Exceeds $100 Billion

The 64th meeting of the Trade Cooperation Committee of the GCC Trade Ministers was held on Thursday in Muscat. (Omani News Agency)
The 64th meeting of the Trade Cooperation Committee of the GCC Trade Ministers was held on Thursday in Muscat. (Omani News Agency)

Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi, Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, said that the volume of intra-Gulf trade exceeded $100 billion, as a result of efforts to enhance areas of economic cooperation between the six countries.

Addressing an economic conference in Oman, Al-Budaiwi called for accelerating work to complete economic and development projects and to reach Gulf economic integration, with the aim to strengthen the position of the GCC countries as a global financial, investment and economic hub, and to confront global economic challenges in light of the current geopolitical crises and their repercussions on GCC countries.

Al-Budaiwi was speaking during the 64th meeting of the Trade Cooperation Committee of the GCC Trade Ministers, which was held on Thursday in Muscat.

He also attended the inauguration of the first edition of the Gulf Pioneers platform and the 50th meeting of the GCC Industrial Cooperation Committee.

Al-Budaiwi noted that the Gulf Pioneers platform aims to facilitate communication and provide the necessary data and information for Gulf entrepreneurs, as well as enable them to develop and improve their businesses

He indicated that the platform contributes to highlighting the various investment opportunities in the region and facilitates communication between Gulf entrepreneurs, investors, financiers, customers and job seekers.

For his part, Qais Al-Yousef, Omani Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment Promotion, praised the efforts made by the GCC General Secretariat to promote economic cooperation among the countries.

Dr. Saleh bin Saeed Masan, Undersecretary for Commerce and Industry at the Omani Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, said that Oman, the current chairman of the council, submitted two proposals, including an award for honoring GCC innovators, and the establishment of a Gulf industrial forum.

Meanwhile, the 50th meeting of the GCC Industrial Cooperation Committee discussed a number of issues, including finding a unified definition of the Gulf national product and its standards.

The heads of federations and chambers of the GCC states also held a consultative meeting to promote the growth of the economic sector.

 



Port of NEOM Strengthens Role in Global Supply Chain Connectivity

By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA
By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA
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Port of NEOM Strengthens Role in Global Supply Chain Connectivity

By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA
By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA

Port of NEOM has marked a major milestone with the arrival of the first fully automated, remote-controlled Ship-To-Shore (STS) and Electric Rubber-Tyred Gantry (eRTG) cranes in the Kingdom, advancing its goal to become a global hub for smart, sustainable trade, SPA reported.

Strategically located on the Red Sea, Port of NEOM is already serving as a critical gateway on the East-West trade route. The newly arrived state-of-the-art cranes will play a critical role in the port’s automation strategy, unlocking the potential for high-volume, high-efficiency operations.

Development of Port of NEOM continues at a pace ahead of the 2026 opening of Terminal 1, a next-generation container terminal, with recent infrastructure milestones including the completion of a 900-meter quay wall and the deepening of the port channel to 18.5 meters—enabling the world’s largest vessels transiting the Suez Canal to call at Port of NEOM.

Terminal 1 will also feature horizontal transport automation as part of its broader goal to achieve full automation. Once operational, these technologies will significantly expand the port’s logistics capacity, driving regional industrial growth, opening access to global markets, enhancing supply chain resilience, and unlocking business opportunities.

Port of NEOM Managing Director Sean Kelly said: “The arrival of our first automated cranes marks a tangible milestone as we lay the foundations for an advanced, future-ready port. We are not only accelerating industrial growth in northwest Saudi Arabia, but we are also setting a new benchmark for performance, efficiency, innovation and establishing a vital trade gateway for the Kingdom and the region beyond.”

In parallel with its investments in infrastructure and automation, Port of NEOM is also committed to developing local talent, including training Saudi women to take on high-tech roles. Central to this effort is a pioneering initiative to train the next generation of production specialists in remote crane operation skills, thereby helping to shape a more inclusive future for the logistics and industrial sectors.

By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.