Gulf-British Outlook to Push Free Trade Agreement Toward Implementation
Emphasis on transitioning from negotiations to the actual implementation of the free trade agreement between GCC countries and the United Kingdom
Translated by Qiyas from الوسط — Original source
Gulf and British officials have emphasized the importance of moving from negotiations to the actual implementation of the free trade agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the United Kingdom, following the conclusion of talks. They stressed that the agreement represents an opportunity to deepen economic and investment ties between the two sides amid challenges facing global trade and supply chains.
During the GCC-UK Economic Forum in London, GCC Secretary-General Jassem Mohamed Al-Bedaiwi affirmed that “the true value of this achievement will be measured by the joint projects it generates, the productive investments it attracts, and the economic opportunities it creates for both sides.” He called on business leaders and investors to move “from agreement to implementation, from opportunities to investment, and from partnership to shared prosperity.”
For his part, UK Minister of State for Trade Policy Anas Sarwar confirmed that his country is working with its Gulf partners to bring the agreement to the signing stage and subsequently to implementation. However, he stressed that companies and investors are not required to wait for these procedures to be completed in order to expand their cooperation. Addressing business representatives, he said, “We do not need to wait until we go through the signing and legislative procedures and reach the implementation stage,” urging the acceleration of existing trade and investment partnerships.
Al-Bedaiwi noted that trade volume between the GCC countries and the UK reached approximately $70 billion in 2025, making the GCC collectively the UK’s tenth-largest trading partner. The total value of mutual investment assets and liabilities between the two sides amounted to around $643 billion in 2024.
He stated that these figures reflect the strength of Gulf-British economic relations and the potential to enhance them, pointing out that the GCC’s gross domestic product reached approximately $2.4 trillion, placing the bloc among the world’s top ten economies. Meanwhile, its external trade volume exceeded $1.8 trillion.
He clarified that the conclusion of the free trade agreement negotiations represents a strategic step to strengthen these relations by facilitating trade, encouraging investments, and opening new opportunities for the private sector.
