The workshop was organized on 27 October 2011. The main objective of the workshop was to review the draft of the "FAO Sub-Regional Priority Framework for the Countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf and Yemen (SNGPF)" and propose follow-up actions. The workshop was organized under the patronage of H.E. the Minister for Environment and Water, UAE. 

The workshop was opened by Dr. Mariam AI-Shenasi, Undersecretary, Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW), UAE, who highlighted efforts undertaken in establishing the SNG Sub-regional Office and praised the current draft of the SNGPF for its comprehensive assessment of challenges facing the region in agriculture and food security and the identified priorities that can be addressed with the assistance of FAO. The workshop was also addressed by the SNG Coordinator, Mr. Abdu Al Assiri, who explained the preparatory process for the draft SNGPF, including the earlier review of the draft by the meeting of the GCC Ministers of Agriculture in September 2011.

The workshop was attended by 16 participants representing 5 member countries in the Sub-region (2 from Bahrain; 2 Qatar; 2 Saudi Arabia; 2 Yemen and 8 from the UAE). Country participation was mostly at the level of undersecretaries, assistant undersecretaries and/or directors. The workshop was also attended by a representative of the GCC Secretariat as well as representatives of UNDP, UNHCR, OCHA, International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) and Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD). Five staff members from RNE and FAO HQs (including the Director, Policy and Programme Development Support Division, TCA and the Deputy Regional Representative, RNE) participated and made presentations in the workshop.