The State of Qatar participated in the 29th meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministers of Information, held on October 28 in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The gathering brought together information ministers from the GCC member states, alongside GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, to discuss expanding media collaboration within the bloc.
Qatar’s delegation was led by Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer al-Thani, chairman of Qatar Media Corporation. The meeting primarily focused on advancing initiatives outlined in the Joint GCC Media Cooperation Strategic Plan for 2023-2030. Key areas of discussion included enhancing cooperation in international media, digital platforms, news agencies, radio, and television.
The ministers also deliberated on establishing unified guidelines and standards for media content across Gulf nations. Another significant topic was the organisation of a joint media forum involving GCC members and the Arab Republic of Egypt, intended to foster wider regional media collaboration.
Qatar Media Corporation presented a proposal to conduct training programmes and media workshops targeted at university students across GCC countries. This initiative is planned as part of the preparations for Doha’s designation as the Arab Media Capital in 2027, aiming to cultivate media expertise among young professionals throughout the region.
In addition, meeting participants approved the 2027 budgets for the Joint Program Production Institution and the Gulf Radio and Television Corporation, two key bodies supporting regional media projects. The ministers also reviewed several other proposals designed to further strengthen media ties and coordination among member states of the GCC.
The session underscored a continued commitment among Gulf countries to deepen cooperation in media sectors, reflecting broader efforts to unify and modernize media frameworks within the region.
