RIYADH: The Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) Chambers of Commerce Union’s Secretariat and the Council of Saudi Chambers (CSC) are organizing the 2nd edition of the Gulf Economic Forum (GEF), under the patronage of Saudi Minister of Commerce and Investment Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qassabi.
The event will be held in Riyadh on Oct. 21-22, with a broad participation of government officials, business owners and economy leaders from the Gulf states.
Mohammed Thani Murshed Al-Rumaithi, chairman of the GCC Chambers of Commerce Union, said: “The Gulf Economic Forum comes in the context of the efforts exerted by the GCC countries’ governments and their private sectors to strengthen economic cooperation.
“A large number of high-level Gulf ministers and officials in the sectors of investment, customs, capital markets, trade and another economic field will take part in the forum. This will boost the forum’s activities and help deliver effective decisions and recommendations that support the joint Gulf economy.
“The GCC leaders’ keenness to involve the Gulf private sector in relevant laws and decisions is of great value. This support and political will should be invested in the development of the business environment in the Gulf countries.”
Dr. Sami bin Abdullah Al-Obaidi, chairman of the Council of Saudi Chambers, said: “The second Gulf Economic Forum is one of the important economic activities in the Gulf region. It discusses the activation of economic cooperation, the acceleration of the integration’s pace, the strengthening of the private sector’s role in the sustainable development process and allowing the Gulf business sector to increase its contribution to development projects.
“This forum will hopefully come up with strong and effective recommendations that will help overcome the main challenges facing the process of unity and economic integration in the Gulf.”
He also highlighted the importance of the topics to be discussed in the forum. “They include the Gulf Customs Union, which is the main pillar in the development of intra-GCC trade, cybersecurity, industrial cities, free trade zones, in addition to the logistics services sector and its significance in the GCC countries’ economies. Saudi Arabia relies a lot on the logistics services sector in the diversification of its sources of income, which come in line with its 2030 Vision.”
During the forum, a number of economic officials, experts and researchers from the Gulf will discuss six main subjects. The first session will take on the logistics services industry in each of the GCC countries and the role these services play in the development of the countries’ economies, while the second session will talk about the Gulf Customs Union’s progress, its achievements and the challenges facing its activation.
The third session will tackle the role trading plays in the logistics services in the GCC countries, in addition to the impact of value-added tax and the selective commodity tax on the growth of the trade sector in the Gulf.
The investment opportunities in the logistics services sector available in the GCC countries and their challenges will be the focus of the forum’s fourth session.
The forum will discuss the role of industrial cities and existing free trade zones and the support they are providing to the logistics services sector in its fifth session.
The sixth and last session will focus on the importance of quality, consumer protection, the improvement of trade exchange between the GCC countries and cybersecurity.
Gulf Economic Forum to boost economic integration in the region
Gulf Economic Forum to boost economic integration in the region
Standing alongside passionate, innovative teachers from around the world humbling and inspiring: Saudi teacher
- Saeed Salem Abdullah Al-Zahrani, a primary teacher from Jubail, named in the top 50 shortlist for $1 million GEMS Global Teacher Prize 2026
RIYADH: Saeed Salem Abdullah Al-Zahrani, a primary school teacher at Al-Mutrafiyah Elementary School in Jubail Industrial City, has been shortlisted for the GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize 2026.
Al-Zahrani has been named on the top 50 shortlist for the prize, a Varkey Foundation initiative organized in collaboration with UNESCO.
He was selected from over 5,000 nominations and applications from 139 countries.
Now in its 10th year, the $1 million prize is the largest of its kind. It was set up to recognize one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession as well as to shine a spotlight on the important role teachers play in society.
By unearthing thousands of stories of heroes who have transformed young people’s lives, the prize hopes to bring to life the exceptional work of teachers all over the world.
Reacting to his shortlisting, Al-Zahrani told Arab News: “I am extremely honored to be among the top 50 finalists for the Global Teacher Prize. Standing alongside so many passionate and innovative teachers from around the world is both humbling and inspiring.
“I extend my sincere thanks to the Varkey Foundation, GEMS Education, and UNESCO for recognizing the vital work that teachers carry out every day. Teachers everywhere help ignite curiosity and give young people the confidence to pursue their ambitions, and I am proud to be part of this mission,” he added.
“This prize has provided us a global platform to amplify the voice of teachers and has entrusted us with a deeper responsibility to continue working toward more impactful and humane education — one that believes the mission of education transcends borders and makes a real difference in the lives of individuals and communities,” he said.
Al-Zahrani is a distinguished Saudi educator, renowned for his innovative programs and commitment to inclusive, high-quality education. Teaching at Al-Mutrafiyah Elementary School. He has developed initiatives such as “The Challenge,” “Maher,” and “Steps,” improving reading, writing, and learning outcomes for students of all abilities.
These programs have been adopted in Royal Commission kindergartens and praised by the Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan.
Holding a doctorate in linguistics and a masters in counseling psychology, Al-Zahrani integrates storytelling, interactive digital tools, and personalized learning to ensure every student reaches their potential.
He has published research in peer-reviewed journals, presented internationally, and trained teachers across Saudi Arabia and beyond.
Founder of the Global Teacher Prize, GEMS Education, and The Varkey Foundation, Sunny Varkey, said: “Congratulations, Saeed. The Global Teacher Prize was created with a simple mission: to shine a light on teachers like you — educators whose dedication, creativity, and compassion deserve to be celebrated and shared with the world. Your work extends far beyond the classroom — it touches lives and shapes the world.”
UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education Stefania Giannini, said: “Congratulations to this year’s top 50 finalists. UNESCO is honored to stand alongside the Global Teacher Prize in celebrating the extraordinary commitment of teachers everywhere. Our world is navigating profound challenges — from teacher shortages and rapid technological shifts to the urgent demands of climate action. If we are to build a just, inclusive and sustainable future, we must recognize a simple truth: we cannot rise to this moment unless we invest in teachers.”
GEMS Education is one of the world’s leading private K-12 education providers, educating more than 200,000 students of more than 175 nationalities across its global network of owned and managed schools. With nearly half a million alumni, GEMS has built a legacy of impact that spans generations and continents. Established in Dubai in 1959, GEMS remains a family-founded and family-led organization.
The prize is open to working teachers who teach children in compulsory schooling or who are between the ages of 5-18. Teachers who educate children age 4 and over in a government-recognized curriculum are also eligible, as are teachers working on a part-time basis, and teachers of online courses. It is open to teachers in every kind of school and, subject to local laws, in every country in the world.
Teachers applying for the Global Teacher Prize are assessed on teaching practices, how they innovate to address local challenges, achieve demonstrable learning outcomes, impact the community beyond the classroom, help children become global citizens, improve the teaching profession, and gain recognition from external bodies.
The prize will now be narrowed down to the top 10 finalists, and the winner will be chosen by the Global Teacher Prize Academy, made up of prominent individuals, and announced at the World Governments Summit, taking place in Dubai Feb. 3-5, 2026.
