The joint military exercise, titled “Gulf Shield 2026,” kicked off in Saudi Arabia on Sunday with the participation of all six GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait), the Saudi Ministry of Defense announced.

“The exercise is considered a key example of regional defense cooperation and reflects the Gulf States’ commitment to maintaining security and stability, as well as fostering collective military action to address current and future challenges,” the Ministry said.

The exercise aims to enhance the level of combat readiness, strengthen joint operations and military cooperation, and achieve integration within the joint operations environment.

Its objectives also include developing the operational capabilities of the participating forces, strengthen coordination and integration in the joint operations environment, contribute to unifying military concepts and exchanging field expertise, and improve the efficiency of joint planning and execution.

The exercise includes a comprehensive set of meticulously designed procedures, tests, and scenarios to measure combat readiness and the effectiveness of responses to various potential threats, thereby contributing to enhanced integration within the flexible deterrence system among the participating forces.

The Gulf Shield 2026 exercise is part of a series of joint Gulf military exercises that reflect the depth of the defense partnership among the GCC countries and affirm the readiness of their Armed Forces to address various challenges, thereby enhancing the security and stability of the region.

Last month, at the 46th GCC Summit in Bahrain, member states focused on finalizing a joint defensive air shield.

Security concerns have been rising since two attacks on Qatar last year: an Iranian missile strike on the US Al Udeid Airbase, and an Israeli strike on a Hamas meeting in Doha. These attacks highlighted the need for a unified defensive posture in the Gulf.

In the aftermath, Qatar moved to strengthen its external security umbrella, announcing an expanded defense agreement with the US, covering bases, coordination and training.

In September, Gulf defense officials met in Doha after Israel’s attack on Qatar and agreed to step up intelligence sharing, develop new missile warning systems and hold joint air defense drills.

GCC Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi said ahead of the December summit that completing the long-discussed regional air defense network was a priority in light of the unprecedented attacks.

“What matters most, and what we hope to complete, is the joint defense shield that we are working on with our partners,” he said at the time.

“There are technical matters involved, but God willing, we will reach this goal in the near future,” he added. (Photo © Saudi Ministry of Defense)