EU – Gulf relations

The Gulf region

The Gulf is a very dynamic region. It is located at the crossroads of major trade, energy, and connectivity routes between Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Gulf’s and the European Union’s security, stability, and prosperity are closely linked.

Bilateral cooperation

The economic and societal transformation underway in the Gulf countries offers a wide range of cooperation and investment opportunities. In a world of fierce geo-strategic competition where dependencies are often weaponised, the EU and the Gulf partners stand much to gain from win-win partnerships. Together, we can strengthen renewable energy security, connectivity, climate resilience, and the alignment of positions on global challenges in multilateral fora and also on regional issues. Recent conflicts in the Middle East and the Gulf have demonstrated the major role of the Gulf countries for sustainable peace and stability in the region and beyond. This is an opportunity for the GCC countries and the EU to strengthen ties on security-related issues.

EU-Gulf relations are currently governed by the 1989 Cooperation Agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which provides the legal basis for institutional cooperation between the EU and the GCC. In addition, the EEAS signed bilateral Cooperation Arrangements with the 6 GCC Member States: Bahrain (2021), Kuwait (2016), Saudi-Arabia (2021), Oman (2018), Qatar (2018) and the United Arab Emirates (2018).

Bilateral relations between the EU and the GCC members have intensified following the EU’s first ever Strategy for the region in 2022 (Joint Communication on a strategic partnership with the Gulf, endorsed by Council Conclusions). The Joint Communication set out a path for the EU to develop a closer, forward-looking partnership with the Gulf countries in several priority areas. These include increasing trade and investment, fighting climate change, ensuring energy security and a smooth green transition, enhancing cooperation on connectivity and digitalization, meeting growing global development and humanitarian needs, and promoting peace and stability, including the de-escalation of tensions in the broader region. 

On 16 October 2024, the leaders of the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries met for the first-ever EU-GCC Summit under the theme “Strategic partnership for peace and prosperity”. The next GCC-EU Summit is scheduled for October 2026 in Riyadh.

The EU had stepped up its high-level engagement with the Gulf partners by nominating the first EU Special Representative for the Gulf, Luigi di Maio, as of 1 June 2023. The EU bilateral cooperation and dialogue with the Gulf States includes Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) thematic working groups, Human Rights Dialogues (HRD) to enhance and improve cooperation on human rights issues, and regular exchanges on regional and international developments at various levels.

In July 2025, the EU proposed to each of the GCC countries to negotiate Strategic Partnership Agreements (SPAs). Such agreements will anchor the parties’ deepening ties and provide a legally-binding framework and an institutional set up for that. All 6 GCC Member States have accepted to engage into such negotiations.

The 6 GCC Member States

The EU maintains fruitful and constructive bilateral relations with each of the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council. 

The Kingdom of Bahrain and the EU share a mutual interest in regional stability, security, and enhanced political and sectoral cooperation. The focus is on sustainable development, the green transition, education, and people-to-people contacts. Bahrain is an important interlocutor for the EU in the context of its normalisation of relations with Israel. The EU also continues to engage constructively with Bahrain on human rights, notably promoting freedom of religion or belief. The EU and Bahrain launched their negotiations for a Strategic Partnership Agreement on 13 July 2026.

The Emirate of Kuwait has traditionally been a close partner of the EU on several files as it held the first Syria Conference and has supported UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) financially. The EU facilitated Kuwaiti accession to the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) during its GCTF co-chairmanship. 2026 marks the 40^th Anniversary of EU-Kuwait relations, and the EU Delegation in Kuwait plays a key role in reinforcing these ties. As is the case for the other GCC countries, Kuwaitwelcomed the EU’s offer to negotiate a Strategic Partnership Agreement, signalling its commitment to deeper cooperation.

The State of Qatar is an important partner for the EU, playing a relevant and constructive role in the international community’s efforts to find peaceful resolutions to numerous conflicts. Qatar is also an important partner for Europe to diversify gas supply in line with REPowerEU. In 2023 the EU opened a Delegation in Doha. The negotiations of a Strategic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Qatar were officially launched in December 2025.

The Sultanate of Oman and the EU enjoy constructive diplomatic ties. Oman is a key partner which plays an important role in the efforts to reduce tensions and de-escalate conflicts in the region. The EU has a solid cooperation with Oman on the green transition, connectivity, and people-to-people contacts. Oman welcomed the proposed Strategic Partnership Agreement negotiations, signalling its commitment to deeper cooperation.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the EU have recently strengthened their bilateral relations, marked by high-level visits and expanded cooperation in areas of shared interest. Both the EU and the KSA are founding signatories of the India-Middle-East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) which aims to create a strong trans-continental link through advanced transport, digital, and energy infrastructure. 

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) are a partner for the EU in promoting regional security, stability, and prosperity. Based on strong cooperation in trade, investment and energy, collaboration expanding in innovation, connectivity, and the green and digital transitions, negotiations for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement were launched in April 2025. The negotiations for a Strategic Partnership Agreement between the EU and UAE were launched in December 2025. The EU Delegation in Abu Dhabi, established in 2016, plays a key role in reinforcing these ties. The UAE is also amongst the founding signatories of the India-Middle-East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).