RIYADH: Gulf monarchs began arriving in Saudi Arabia for an annual summit on Wednesday, facing challenges including plunging oil revenues, the war in Yemen, pressure for peace in Syria and signs of regional divisions.

The kings and emirs, who will meet at a royal palace, are expected to voice support for a bid to unify Syria’s opposition ahead of potential talks with President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

The Syria meeting, bringing together representatives of political and armed opposition factions, began earlier on Wednesday at a luxury hotel in Riyadh.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit also comes days before Yemeni rivals are to gather in Switzerland to try to end a costly war that has drawn in Gulf nations.

The GCC brings together Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, whose leaders will hold two days of talks in the Saudi capital.

Despite the urgency of the challenges facing the six countries, analysts say the Gulf monarchs will struggle to find common ground.

“This summit comes as the Gulf is witnessing one of its most critical years,” said Farea al-Muslimi, a visiting scholar at the Carnegie Middle East Centre.

He sees “internal disagreement” among the Gulf states confronting complicated economic and security challenges.

These include greater worries about Iran after a July deal that will ease sanctions on the country, including its oil sector, in return for restrictions on its nuclear facilities.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are rivals for regional influence in Yemen, Syria and elsewhere.

“The main challenge facing the GCC summit is, as usual, trying to ensure a united front on the major strategic challenges in the region,” said Neil Partrick, author of a forthcoming book on Saudi foreign policy.The summit coincides with Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the Syrian talks it hopes could help ease out Assad. About 100 representatives from Syria’s fragmented political and armed opposition groups are in Riyadh in an unprecedented bid for unity ahead of potential negotiations with Assad’s regime.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2015