Trade volume between Saudi Arabia and its GCC partners reached a staggering SAR 270 billion ($72 billion) in 2025. This milestone surfaced during the 70th meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Trade Cooperation Committee, highlighting a new era.
Over the last five years, Saudi Arabia’s total trade volume with GCC member states surged by an impressive 125 percent. Furthermore, national exports climbed to approximately SAR 188 billion ($50.1 billion), which represents a massive 163 percent increase since 2020.
Minister of Commerce and Chairman of the General Authority of Foreign Trade, Majid Al-Kassabi, chaired this landmark ministerial gathering. The session featured GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi and commerce ministers from across the region to discuss strategic integration.
The committee reviewed progress on implementing unified commercial laws and evaluated a proposal for a dedicated virtual Gulf business incubator. Additionally, leaders examined the status of free trade agreement negotiations with various international blocs to expand their global reach.
The ministers also analyzed the 2025 annual report regarding the GCC Commercial Arbitration Centre to ensure robust legal frameworks. Consequently, these measures address existing challenges facing intra-GCC trade while following the latest decisions of the Supreme Council.
Private Sector Empowerment
Secretary-General Albudaiwi emphasized that the private sector remains the primary engine for achieving national objectives and advancing joint Gulf action. He noted that consultative meetings with chamber heads aim to empower businesses to fulfill their roles in regional integration.
“It further represents the highest level of communication among government officials and the private sector,” Albudaiwi stated during the session. He explained that this strategic dialogue stimulates economic growth while addressing the various international challenges facing the Gulf business community.
The Secretary-General highlighted that recent trade achievements provide clear evidence that the region has successfully overcome many significant economic obstacles. “The intra-GCC trade volume reached approximately $146 billion in 2024, with an annual growth rate of 9.8%,” he added. This data confirms the growing strength and expanding scope of Gulf trade exchange as the region pursues its ambitious 2030 goals.
