The Gulf Cooperation Council was formally launched in Abu Dhabi on May 25, 1981. The leaders of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman put their signatures to the basic constitution of the GCC. Opening the historic meeting, President Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan declared that the Council will help unify the Arab nation and promote its solidarity against external dangers.
The leaders adopted the Unified Economic Pact that aimed at removing barriers among the member states in the second summit held in November 1981 in Riyadh. The GCC countries have signed defence pacts among themselves, carried out joint military exercises and created a GCC force of up to 15,000 men. In 2003 GCC members eliminated tariffs on trade between member nations.
In 2007, the GCC ID card for citizens of member states that allow intra-GCC travel was implemented. The Council also launched the common market in 2008.
