Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani welcomed on Tuesday leaders of the GCC ahead of the 35th session of the GCC Supreme Council.

Leaders of Gulf monarchies arrived on Tuesday to hammer out a common strategy to fight the threat from Islamic extremism and plunging oil prices.

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani recieved Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and Emirati Prime Minister and Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.

Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud arrives in Doha to attend the GCC summit.

Also Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah and Omani Deputy Prime Minister Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud al-Said were also recieved by Prince Tamim.

Crown Prince Salman with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar, King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah of Kuwait, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum of UAE, Fahd bin Mohammed Al-Saeed of Oman and GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif Al-Zayani at the start of the summit. (SPA)

The leaders of GCC members are expected to discuss relations with neighbouring Iran, economic integration as well as unrest in Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

Qatar, whose support for the Muslim Brotherhood, had caused months of acrimony with fellow GCC members Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates and the bloc has recently made concerted efforts to reconcile.

Crown Prince Salman being received by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on arrival in Doha. (SPA)

At an emergency meeting on Nov. 16 in Riyadh, GCC leaders had agreed to turn over a new page in relations after Doha was accused of destabilizing the region by supporting Islamist movements, namely the Muslim Brotherhood. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have both listed the Brotherhood as a terrorist organization.

Arab League Secretary-General, Nabil al-Arabi, stressed on Monday the importance of the summit in facing the matters challenging the region.

Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim greets Saudi Crown Prince Salman upon arrival to Doha.

 
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