GCC Cultural Values Report

August 2025

This DCO General Report presents a comprehensive analysis of online misinformation in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), highlighting the critical role of cultural values in shaping how misinformation is perceived, shared, and addressed. Drawing on insights from a GCC roundtable and a global survey covering 20 countries including 1,220 participants from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates the report reveals the need for culturally grounded counter-misinformation strategies.

Key recommendations include empowering community led fact-checking hubs, integrating media literacy into education, leveraging traditional communication channels, developing AI-powered tools in local dialects, updating legal frameworks, and establishing cross-sector digital trust councils.

The report calls on GCC policymakers to adopt holistic and culturally attuned approaches that build public trust, strengthen resilience, and foster a more reliable information ecosystem.