Joint Gulf efforts key to safeguard interests of GCC nations: Sheikh Mohamed

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday received Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the heads of delegations participating in a workshop titled ‘Preparing the GCC Strategy for Combating Drugs (2025-2028)’.

In attendance at the meeting was Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

Hosted in Abu Dhabi by the Ministry of Interior from Sept.16 to Sept.19, the workshop is organised by the General Secretariat of the GCC in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and with the participation of relevant authorities from the UAE.

During the meeting, held on Monday at Qasr Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed welcomed the GCC Secretary-General and the heads of delegations, stressing the importance of enhancing cooperation and exchanging expertise between security agencies in GCC countries and international bodies to address common challenges, particularly the threat posed by drugs, which affects the social, economic, health, and security sectors.

Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed that joint Gulf efforts, across all fields including security, are a key safeguard in ensuring the interests of GCC countries and their people. He also wished the participants of the GCC Strategy for Combating Drugs workshop success in their mission to protect Gulf societies and youth from the scourge of drugs through a unified and effective Gulf strategy.

In response, the heads of delegations expressed their gratitude to the UAE for hosting the workshop, praising the country’s comprehensive strategy in tackling drugs and addressing their associated risks.

The meeting was also attended by His Highness Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi;  Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region;  Sheikh Suroor Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan;  Sheikh Nahyan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation;  Sheikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan;  Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Also present were Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs;  Sheikh Zayed Bin Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence; and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Advisor for Special Affairs at the Ministry of Presidential Court; along with a number of officials, UAE citizens and guests.

WAM