الأمانة العامة لمجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية

The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, also known as the Gulf Cooperation Council, is a regional, intergovernmental, political, economic union, and military alliance comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The council's main headquarters is located in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. The Charter of the GCC was signed on 25 May 1981, formally establishing the institution. All current member states are monarchies, including three constitutional monarchies, two absolute monarchies, and one federal monarchy. There have been discussions regarding the future membership of Jordan, Morocco, and Yemen. Iraq is the only Gulf Arab state that is not a GCC member. During the Arab Spring in 2012, Saudi Arabia proposed transforming the Gulf Cooperation Council into a 'Gulf Union.' The plan aimed to introduce tighter economic, political, and military coordination, a move considered to be intended to counterbalance Iranian influence in the region. The proposal received support from Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. However, Oman raised objections to the plan.