Organizational Structure

First: The Supreme Council

The Supreme Council is the highest authority of the Cooperation Council, composed of the heads of the member states. Its presidency rotates alphabetically according to the names of the countries. It convenes in a regular session annually, and extraordinary sessions may be held at the request of any member state with the support of another member. At the Abu Dhabi summit in 1998, the Supreme Council decided to hold a consultative meeting between the previous and upcoming summits. The council’s meetings are valid if attended by two-thirds of the members, each having one vote. Its decisions on substantive matters require unanimity among the participating member states, while procedural matters are decided by a majority vote. (Charter of the Cooperation Council)

Advisory Body of the Supreme Council

The advisory body consists of 30 members, with five members from each member state. They are selected for their expertise and competence for a term of three years. The body is tasked with studying issues referred by the Supreme Council. (Advisory Body Charter)

Dispute Settlement Commission

The Dispute Settlement Commission reports to the Supreme Council and is formed by the council on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature of the dispute. (Charter of the Cooperation Council)

Second: The Ministerial Council

The Ministerial Council comprises the foreign ministers of the member states or their representatives. Its presidency goes to the state holding the most recent presidency of the Supreme Council’s regular session. The council meets quarterly, and extraordinary sessions may be held at the request of any member state with the support of another. A quorum is established when two-thirds of the member states are present.

Among its responsibilities are proposing policies, making recommendations to enhance cooperation between member states, encouraging and coordinating joint activities in various fields, and referring its decisions requiring approval to the Supreme Council. The Ministerial Council also prepares for the Supreme Council meetings, including setting the agenda. Voting procedures in the Ministerial Council are the same as those in the Supreme Council. (Charter of the Cooperation Council)

Third: The General Secretariat

The General Secretariat's responsibilities include preparing studies to enhance cooperation, coordination, and integration in joint Gulf projects and initiatives, issuing periodic reports on the council’s activities, monitoring the implementation of decisions, preparing reports and studies requested by the Supreme Council or Ministerial Council, and organizing meetings, including preparing the agendas and draft resolutions for the Ministerial Council.

The organizational structure of the General Secretariat includes:

Secretary-General: Appointed by the Supreme Council.
Five Assistant Secretaries-General: Responsible for political and negotiation affairs, economic and developmental affairs, military affairs, security affairs, and legislative and legal affairs. They are appointed by the Ministerial Council upon nomination by the Secretary-General.

Each assistant secretary-general oversees specific sectors and departments:

Political and Negotiation Affairs: Includes the Political Affairs Sector, Strategic Dialogue and Negotiation Sector, and other related departments.
Economic and Developmental Affairs: Includes the Economic Affairs Sector, Human and Environmental Affairs Sector, and the Technical Office for Combating Harmful Trade Practices.
Military Affairs: Includes various military-related departments.
Security Affairs: Supervises the GCC Emergency Management Center, the Gulf Police Organization, and the GCC Criminal Information Center for Combating Drugs.
Legislative and Legal Affairs: Includes the Legislative Affairs Sector, Legal Affairs Sector, the Advisory Body Office for the Supreme Council, and the Judicial Authority Office for the GCC Economic Council.

Departments Reporting Directly to the Secretary-General:

Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy to Yemen
Heads of External Missions, appointed by the Ministerial Council upon nomination by the Secretary-General:
GCC Mission to the European Union – Brussels
GCC Mission in Geneva
GCC Mission in Vienna
GCC Mission to Yemen
GCC Permanent Observer Office to the United Nations – New York