Security Forces from UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday to take part in a joint tactical exercise of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states.
‘Arab Gulf Security 3’ will take place this month in Dammam in the Eastern Province, the Saudi Defense Ministry has said.
In a statement carried earlier by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Saudi Ministry of Interior on Tuesday said “the exercise aims to strengthen the bonds of cooperation between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries in the security field and raise the level of coordination and the degree of readiness of the security services to confront crises and emergencies and to address all threats and risks to the Arabian Gulf region.”
The Ministry added that its preparations for hosting the exercise had been completed. It was organized in accordance with a decision taken in 2020 during the 37th meeting of GCC Interior Ministers.
First to arrive was a contingent from the Royal Oman Police, commanded by Colonel Salim Mubarak Al Abrawi.
The Qatari force, which came on board a Boeing C-17 Globemaster military cargo plane, is commanded by Major Yousef Al-Hamad.
Kuwait's contingent is commanded by Brigadier General Abdullah Al-Ateeqi, who explained that the exercise is aimed at “raising the level of coordination and field cooperation” among the GCC states.
Bahrain’s team arrived in a motorcade through the King Fahd Causeway, which connects Saudi Arabia’s eastern city of Al Khobar to the island nation.
UAE’s Security Forces arrived in the Kingdom on Wednesday. Brigadier General Salem bin Abdullah Al-Habsi, a member of the Command and Control Committee, said the participants are prepared for the exercise, which aims to enhance coordination and field cooperation, and develop capabilities for dealing with crises and emergencies.
The Commander of the Qatari Force, Major Yousef Al-Hamad, stressed the readiness of the force to participate in the exercise, achieve common aspirations among member states and raise the level of coordination and field cooperation among the participants in implementation of the goals of the exercise, and to continue developing security work and the capabilities of security elements in dealing with emergencies and various crises.
The Commander of the Kuwaiti Force Brigadier General Abdullah Al-Ateeqi stressed the readiness of the force to participate in the exercise, achieve common aspirations among member states and raise the level of coordination and field cooperation among the participants in implementation of the goals of the exercise, and to continue developing security work and the capabilities of security elements in dealing with emergencies and various crises.
Brigadier General Dr. Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Assistant Chief of Public Security for Operations and Training Affairs, who is also the Head of the Bahraini Ministry of Interior’s delegation for the exercise confirmed the readiness of the force to participate in the exercise, achieve common aspirations among member states and raise the level of coordination and field cooperation among the participants in implementation of the goals of the exercise, and to continue developing security work and the capabilities of security elements in dealing with emergencies and various crises.
Colonel Salim Mubarak Al Abrawi, Commander of the Omani Security Force stressed the force’s readiness to participate in the exercise, looking forward to achieving common aspirations and raising the level of coordination and field cooperation among the participating states in order to achieve the exercise’s goals and continue developing security work as well as the capabilities of security components in dealing with emergencies and different crises. (SPA; Photo © SPA: Kuwait’s Security Contingent at King Abdulaziz Air Base in Dhahran)
