The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (the Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC) is a political, economic and social organization and a regional cooperation system among six Arab States of the Gulf: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In August 1989, IFAD and the GCC (through the GCC Secretariat-General) signed a cooperation agreement and began to jointly pursue shared development goals. Through this agreement, IFAD and the GCC Secretariat-General cooperate on agricultural and rural development, nutrition and related research. Their collaboration includes intercountry studies and projects that benefit from IFAD assistance in eligible recipient countries.