The GCC media sector took centre stage as information ministers met to discuss regional security, media cooperation and strategies to counter disinformation.

Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Authority, affirmed that the media battle today is no less important than the battle of arms.

His remarks came during the extraordinary meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council Ministers of Information. The session was held via videoconference and chaired by Dr. Ramzan Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Minister of Information for the Kingdom of Bahrain and the current session chair. GCC information ministers also participated.

At the start of his remarks, Al Hamed conveyed greetings from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and expressed his wishes for the meeting’s success. He also thanked the GCC General Secretariat and the Kingdom of Bahrain for organising the session.

Al Hamed said the region is facing a critical moment that tests the resilience of Gulf unity. He stressed that this moment requires clarity of vision and integrated efforts driven by the shared destiny of GCC states.

He said the meeting aims to define the features of media sovereignty and reaffirm the role of media as a key partner in safeguarding stability and strengthening public awareness.

Moreover, Al Hamed said the meeting comes amid what he described as unprovoked Iranian attacks targeting GCC countries. He said these attacks violated sovereignty and threatened the security of Gulf societies while breaching principles of good neighbourliness.

While condemning the attacks strongly, he emphasised that aggression would not weaken the determination of Gulf leaders or derail the region’s development path. He also expressed pride in the armed forces across GCC states for defending their nations.

Al Hamed particularly praised the UAE Armed Forces for intercepting hundreds of hostile missiles and drones. He said protecting the integrity of information is as important as defending the battlefield, noting that responsible media protects the will of the people.

He also extended condolences to the families of victims and martyrs in the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. He noted that Gulf citizens and international residents lost their lives during the attacks.

Furthermore, Al Hamed warned that the crisis has exposed the spread of false narratives through paid media channels and accounts. He described them as electronic tools aimed at inflaming tensions and spreading misinformation.

To counter this challenge, he proposed a joint Gulf system based on three pillars. These include smart monitoring, rapid refutation through verified narratives and immediate coordination among GCC states.

He emphasised that a unified Gulf narrative is essential. He added that media strategy should move from reacting to events to shaping them through artificial intelligence and digital sovereignty.

To support this goal, he proposed several initiatives. These include firm action against media figures who incite division, digital measures to combat anonymous accounts spreading misinformation, and the creation of a 24-hour GCC monitoring centre equipped with AI to track disinformation in real time.

Al Hamed said the outcomes of the meeting go beyond statements or recommendations. Instead, they send a message that Gulf states possess advanced media awareness and strong collective crisis-management capabilities.

He called for the meeting to mark a genuine starting point for building responsible, unified and courageous media that supports stability across the region.

For his part, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, said the extraordinary meeting reflects a shared understanding of the important role of professional media in countering attempts to distort facts.

He noted that Iranian military escalation requires a unified and firm stance, where media serves as the first line of defence against disinformation.

The ministers strongly condemned the Iranian attacks targeting GCC countries. They described the assaults on civilian sites, infrastructure and residential areas as serious violations of international law, international humanitarian law and the Charter of the United Nations.

They also affirmed that GCC states reserve the legal right to respond in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter, which guarantees the right of self-defence individually and collectively in the event of aggression.

The ministers praised the role of armed forces across GCC states in defending national security and confronting the attacks. They also commended security agencies and authorities for implementing measures to enhance stability and protect citizens, residents and vital facilities.

In addition, ministers expressed condolences to families of martyrs who lost their lives while performing national duties, as well as to civilian victims across GCC countries.

The meeting also discussed enhancing coordination among official media institutions across GCC states. Ministers stressed the need to intensify efforts to counter rumours and disinformation campaigns, while strengthening public awareness and reinforcing the role of GCC media in supporting regional stability.

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