The upcoming GCC summit in Manama will discus several issues related to political and security conditions in the region. The current events, especially the situation in Syria and threats facing the Gulf, will top the summit’s agenda.

However, economic cooperation will not be given the same attention it had in the previous summits for several reasons, including challenges facing the GCC countries, requiring more intra-GCC coordination and solidarity.

Meanwhile, economic integration of the bloc will not be completely achieved, despite several achievements such as Free Trade Zone, Customs Union and the free movement of commodities and professional workers among the GCC countries.

The rest of economic issues that require abandoning part of national sovereignty, such as the common market, single currency and unification of economic laws will remain pending for a long time. This is clearly evident from the way the GCC’s General Secretariat handles such issues by putting them aside due to the gap between the stances of GCC countries.

Nevertheless, the progress made by the GCC countries in some areas has yielded positive results, such as the electricity grid that ensures non-stop power supply in all GCC countries during the peak times in summer. This will prompt the GCC countries to adopt similar avenues of cooperation in their upcoming summit, like the water issue.

The water network bears important economic and living aspects, and can add significantly to the Gulf cooperation — if it is discussed and approved on the Manama summit’s agenda. The GCC countries can no loner remain heavily reliant on water desalination. This is because demand for water resources is growing considerably in all Gulf countries at a time when supplies from conventional resources are falling. Water desalination plants are expensive. The cost of setting up water desalination plants in the GCC countries is expected to reach $19 billion (Dh69.88 billion) in 2020, according to a study.

Therefore, the GCC water network must be placed top on the summit’s agenda as it is no less important than the power grid. The water connection should go beyond the logistic link to include developing a comprehensive strategy.

First, the amounts allocated for importing water desalination technology make up the largest portion of the costs and operation of these water desalination plants. Hence, if the water network is approved as an economic and living necessity, it must be connected with another important issue — nationalisation of desalination technology and preparation of qualified GCC cadres in this field, and activating the role of the Research Centre in Oman which was established upon an agreement by all GCC countries. If this approach is adopted, it will help cut the high costs of water production.

The GCC countries should also consider tapping various resources of water supply, instead of depending completely on water desalination since there are groundwater resources, which are yet to be untapped.

Nasa scientist Dr Farouk Al Baz has said that there are vast amounts of water under the Empty Quarter desert equal to the mouth of the Nile River for 600 years. Also, there are fresh water resources in the Gulf waters discovered and developed by the Phoenicians thousand years ago. The area, extending from Basra in Iraq to Al Ehsa in Saudi Arabia, was then called Bahrain, because of the existence of fresh and saline water together.

There are abundant water resources, which are untapped and low-cost, in the Gulf waters, since each cubic metre of seawater costs $ 1 only, compared to $ 5-7 the cost of one cubic metre of desalinated water.

Finally, the rationalisation of water consumption may come at the top of priorities for GCC water strategy, since there is a significant rise in consumption rate due to misuse, thus putting the GCC at the forefront of countries in the world in terms of per capita share of consumption, despite lack of water resources.

The water issue, one of the important economic and living issues, constitutes a key pillar of sustainable development, and thus it should be given special attention.

The GCC countries take all the necessary precautionary measures to avoid and deal with the effects of political issues and developments in the region to protect them selves from their impacts- an issue is highly important and crucial issue to protect and defend their interests.

However, economic issues remain the safety valve for GCC’s stability, preservation of their natural resources and maintaining high living standards at present.

Dr Mohammad Al Asoomi is a UAE economic expert and specialist in economic and social development in the UAE and the GCC countries.