A GCC statistical report revealed that the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries provided $6.1 billion in relief aid in 2025, accounting for around 21.7 percent of the world's total relief assistance.
In a report to mark World Humanitarian Day, which falls on August 19, the GCC Statistical Center said that "this indicator reflects the growing Gulf role in the humanitarian and relief work system at the international level."
It explained that this also comes within the framework of the importance the GCC countries place on protecting humanitarian workers and individuals who depend on aid for food, healthcare, and protection, as well as enhancing humanitarian solidarity in the face of crises.
Relief aid provided by the GCC countries is not limited to responding to immediate needs during emergencies, but rather extends to a number of vital sectors aimed at supporting the recovery of affected communities, boosting stability, and achieving sustainable development.
The report said "basic services" sectors accounted for 77.8 percent of total Gulf aid during 2025. This encompassed a wide range of fields, led by health, early recovery, services, water, governance, the environment, and reintegration of displaced persons, alongside other essential sectors, such as education and food security.
The report said that the health field accounted for 33.4 percent of aid, followed by early recovery with 23.2 percent, food security with 15.3 percent, education with 7 percent, and the contribution of other sectors amounted to 22.1 percent.
It noted that these figures "confirm the broad scope of the Gulf contribution to humanitarian work, combining urgent relief with supporting recovery, capacity building, and basic services, thereby strengthening the ability of affected communities to overcome crises and restore long-term stability."
It stressed that the GCC countries are among the most prominent international actors in the field of humanitarian and relief work, and that their development policies and rapid response to crises have contributed to consolidating their position as one of the world's largest donors of official and voluntary humanitarian aid.
The GCC Statistical Center was formed in 2011 and is based in Oman. It was established to be the official approved source for data, information, and statistics related to the GCC countries.
