Al-Badawi: GCC States Have Consolidated Their Position as a Global Destination for Investment and Strategic Partnerships
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States, Jassem Al-Budaiwi, affirmed that GCC member states have succeeded in building a robust economic, financial, and investment base, enhancing their capacity to adapt to global changes. This has solidified their status as a global investment destination and an effective source of capital and long-term international partnerships.
Speaking at a dialogue session titled “GCC Economies: Resilience, Investment, and Strategic Partnerships,” organized by DLA Piper and Highbridge Advisory yesterday in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Al-Budaiwi noted that the global economy is undergoing rapid transformations driven by geopolitical developments, the reshaping of trade, investment, and supply chain flows, alongside technological shifts and intensifying global competition for capital, technology, and talent. He emphasized that for GCC states, economic resilience extends beyond crisis management to encompass building economies capable of sustaining growth, transformation, and investment attraction, while maintaining confidence and openness to the world.
He clarified that the total size of GCC economies amounts to approximately $2.4 trillion US dollars, with GCC sovereign wealth funds’ assets exceeding $5 trillion, commercial bank assets reaching around $3.9 trillion, and the GCC’s total merchandise trade with the world standing at approximately $1.6 trillion.
He pointed out that these capabilities contribute to supporting the economic transformation and diversification agenda through investments in industry, technology, artificial intelligence, clean energy, logistics, tourism, financial services, and infrastructure.
Al-Budaiwi noted that the stock of foreign direct investment (FDI) in GCC states reached approximately $792.7 billion in 2025, emphasizing that the GCC’s investment vision is not limited to the volume of capital attracted, but extends to the technology and knowledge transfer, production capacity enhancement, value chain deepening, and job creation achieved through these investments.
Al-Budaiwi highlighted that GCC economic integration serves as a key pillar for enhancing the region’s competitiveness. He noted that approximately $171.4 billion of the FDI stock flowing into GCC states in 2025 originated from within the GCC itself, representing nearly 22% of the total, reflecting the growing movement of capital and business activities among GCC member states.
He added that the customs union, the common market, power grid interconnection, the payment systems integration project, digital integration, and the GCC railway project all serve as important tools for expanding the Gulf market, facilitating the movement of trade and capital, and enhancing supply chain efficiency. He stressed that GCC integration is not merely an economic project among six countries, but a collective competitive advantage for the GCC in the global economy.
Al-Budaiwi also affirmed that the GCC’s international partnerships have transcended traditional frameworks in trade and energy, now encompassing investment, technology, artificial intelligence, advanced industries, clean energy, infrastructure, logistics, food security, and supply chains. He noted that diversifying markets, partnerships, and sources of investment, technology, and knowledge enhances the resilience of Gulf economies in navigating global transformations.
He noted that the strategic location of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, along with their advanced ports, airports, logistics networks, financial institutions, and substantial investment capabilities, positions them to play a pivotal role in linking markets, capital, supply chains, and investment opportunities. Furthermore, they can contribute to development and reconstruction efforts by leveraging their investment, financial, infrastructure, energy, and logistics capacities in partnership with international expertise.
The Secretary-General of the GCC emphasized that the member states are open to building new, long-term partnerships based on mutual investment, technology and knowledge transfer, project development, and the creation of more integrated and resilient value chains. He expressed the GCC countries’ aspiration to work with investors, financial institutions, and international companies not only to capitalize on existing opportunities but also to innovate and create new prospects in sectors that will shape the future economy, thereby delivering shared value and sustainable long-term growth.
