Arabic press review: Is the GCC on the verge of collapsing?

GCC starting to disintegrate

An investigative study conducted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London revealed that the GCC has begun to "disintegrate from within" as a result of the rift between Qatar and the countries boycotting it, the Qatari newspaper al-Raya reported.

The study said that the crisis, which began when Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain announced in June that they were imposing an embargo on Qatar, could cause the council to "vanish" and pointed out that the UAE has publicly raised the issue of Qatar leaving the Gulf Cooperation Council.

According to the study, one likely scenario would be Qatar leaving the GCC, but another is the total collapse of the only stable regional bloc, the paper reported.  

UAE expels dozens of Syrian families

The United Arab Emirates has expelled dozens of Syrian families, who had legal status within the country, according to the London-based al-Quds al-Arabi.

The expulsion, which happened in recent days, included Syrian businessmen and investors, and no reason was given behind the move, the report said.

Abu Dhabi authorities expelled a total of 50 Syrian families, telling them that they were “unwelcome people in the Emirates" and were warned to leave within 24 hours, according to the newspaper.

Kuwait confident mediation efforts on Gulf crisis will soon bear fruit

Kuwaiti officials expressed their hope that the upcoming Gulf summit, which is due to be hosted by Kuwait, will put an end to the ongoing dispute between Qatar and its neighbours.

The deputy foreign minister of Kuwait and its ambassador to Bahrain, Sheikh Azzam al-Sabah, said that the results of diplomatic attempts to resolve the Gulf crisis will materialise in the coming days, the Saudi newspaper al-Hayat quoted him as saying.

"The Gulf summit in Kuwait will open a bright page in the history of cooperation among Gulf countries, which will make it possible for all the disparities in the Gulf region to end up happily," said Sabah.

Kuwaiti sources said the country will send envoys to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states within days to try to calm the atmosphere ahead of the upcoming summit, due to be held in December.

US gives $1.3bn in aid to Jordan 

Jordanian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury said US aid to the kingdom will total around $1.3bn in 2017, according to the Jordanian newspaper Al Ghad.

Speaking during a meeting with a delegation of US congressional staff, Fakhoury said that the assistance comes in recognition of Jordan’s pivotal role in the region, the responsibilities it has to bear and the Jordanian model of reform and development.

The minister stressed that Jordan bears great burdens due to the situation in the region, including hosting a large number of Syrian refugees. He also called for the continued support of the international community for Jordan to assist it with these burdens.