WHO and Gulf CDC Strengthen Partnership to Boost Health Security Across the Gulf

CAIRO, Egypt, 22 October 2026 — The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Gulf Center for Disease Prevention and Control (Gulf CDC) are strengthening their strategic partnership to improve health emergency preparedness and response across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

The collaboration gained momentum following a two-day regional simulation exercise in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which concluded on 20 October. The exercise tested how countries coordinate responses to cross-border public health emergencies.

Participants included representatives from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, alongside experts from WHO headquarters, the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and other regional and international institutions.

Using a simulated disease outbreak, participants assessed procedures for emergency activation, joint risk assessment, information sharing, resource mobilisation and public communication.

Dr Annette Heinzelmann, WHO Regional Emergency Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said recent developments in the Middle East had highlighted the importance of strong preparedness, effective response mechanisms and regional cooperation in protecting public health.

She said WHO's longstanding collaboration with GCC countries provided a strong foundation for expanding cooperation with Gulf CDC, strengthening the region's capacity to anticipate and respond to emerging health threats.

Conducted through a multisectoral approach and coordinated with the GCC Emergency Management Center, the exercise also examined how health and other relevant sectors could respond to changing emergency needs, including situations requiring mutual assistance between countries.

The simulation demonstrated a strong foundation for coordinated regional action while identifying areas for improving operational coordination and emergency response arrangements.

To implement the findings, WHO and Gulf CDC will work with GCC countries to develop a joint implementation plan focusing on cross-border information sharing, peer support, public communication and multisectoral coordination.

The plan will clarify institutional responsibilities, strengthen operating procedures, establish clear triggers for escalating or reducing emergency responses, and improve arrangements for mobilising additional support during crises.

The initiative forms part of a broader WHO–Gulf CDC partnership combining the centre's regional leadership with WHO's technical expertise, international standards and global emergency response networks.

Supporting a shared strategic direction for 2026–2030, the partnership aims to strengthen regional health security, build more resilient emergency management systems and safeguard the health of populations across the Gulf.