UAE Hosts 63rd GCC Technical Committee Meeting On Pension And Social Security Agencies

The United Arab Emirates is set to host the 63rd meeting of the Permanent Technical Committee for Civil Retirement and Social Security Agencies of the Gulf Cooperation Council States in Dubai from 19th to 21st January 2026. Officials will review the Insurance Protection Extension System, which gives GCC citizens working abroad social security coverage similar to that in their home countries.

The session will also look at how this unified system is working in practice, using statistical indicators to measure its performance. These figures will help identify achievements and ongoing challenges. Officials aim to ensure that GCC nationals receive retirement and insurance benefits fairly, whether they work in the public or private sector.

The Insurance Protection Extension System was approved by the GCC Supreme Council during its 25th session in Bahrain in December 2004. The decision guaranteed that GCC citizens working in another member state receive extended insurance protection. Under this framework, employers in the host country insure eligible workers according to pension laws in the workers’ home states.

When GCC citizens complete their service under the Insurance Protection Extension System, they qualify either for a retirement pension or an end-of-service gratuity. The type and value of benefits depend on pension legislation in their home country. This approach allows citizens to build social security rights without losing coverage when they move between GCC labour markets.

The Insurance Protection Extension System covers civilian GCC citizens employed in any member state, in public or private sectors, if they already fall under pension and social security laws in their home country. Participation is compulsory for both employers and employees. This obligation helps create a consistent safety net across all GCC states, regardless of workplace location.

Employers must register eligible employees and pay contributions at the rates applied in the workers’ home state. Contributions are limited to the employer’s share used in the host country. If there is any difference between the required contribution and the local employer share, that gap is paid by the GCC citizen. This rule balances responsibilities between both parties.

The 63rd meeting’s agenda includes a major item on the 2026-2030 Action Plan for the Committee of Heads of Civil Retirement and Social Security Agencies in GCC countries. The plan proposes improvements to the Insurance Protection Extension System, including extending coverage to work-related injuries. It also calls for updating rules to keep pace with labour mobility across the region.

Insurance Protection Extension System digital upgrades and programmes

One proposed change under the Insurance Protection Extension System involves activating a clause that adds extra charges when employers delay contribution payments. The committee will examine how this measure could encourage timely payments. Members will also discuss digital data integration between GCC civil pension and social security bodies to improve accuracy and speed in handling records.

The meeting will consider the unified annual awareness campaign plan for 2026, prepared by the UAE’s General Pension and Social Security Authority. Delegates will review the Scientific Research Award, periodic seminars, a planned benefits programme for retirees under the Insurance Protection Extension System, and the unemployment insurance programme. These programmes aim to support retirees and jobseekers within a shared GCC framework.

Alongside the formal sessions, an introductory forum will bring together committee members, employers, and GCC citizens working in the UAE to discuss the Insurance Protection Extension System in practical terms. The gathering in Dubai from 19th to 21st January 2026 is expected to help align retirement and social security coordination across GCC states for the coming years.

With inputs from WAM