• Encouragement of cooperation and exchange of expertise among Arab towns.
• Raising the standard of municipal services and utilities of Arab towns.
• Preservation of the character and heritage of Arab towns.
• Adoption of comprehensive planning that will ensure that Town's activities, services and development emanate from their social, economic, environmental and cultural features.
• Development and modernization of municipal and local government institutions and legislations.
• Providing financial loans for member towns to assist them in implementing their developmental projects.
  

Gulf Research Center (GRC)

The Gulf Research Center (GRC) is an independent research institute located in Dubai , United Arab Emirates (UAE). The GRC was founded in July 2000 by Mr. Abdulaziz Sager, a Saudi businessman, who realized that in a world of rapid political, social and economic change, it is important to pursue politically neutral and academically sound research about the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and disseminate the knowledge obtained as widely as possible. The GRC seeks to provide a better understanding of the challenges and prospects of the GCC countries.

Vision:
Knowledge for all.

Objectives:
GRC was established to achieve the following main objectives:

1. Conducting objective and scholarly research bearing on political, economic, social and security issues, as they relate to the GCC states in particular and the Gulf region in general.
2. Promoting communication and cooperation among GCC citizens, along with propagating information about the GCC states and the Gulf region through a series of conferences and workshops the GRC holds and hosts.
3. Publishing and disseminating relevant and useful information and data on the GCC states within and outside the region.
4. Interacting with and answering the needs and requirements of individuals and/or corporate organizations, including GCC nationals and expatriates living in the GCC countries, university students, academics, the press community, businessmen, and decision-makers.  businessmen, and decision-makers.
   

The Global Compact (GC)

The Global Compact is a framework for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption . As the world's largest, global corporate citizenship initiative, the Global Compact is first and foremost concerned with exhibiting and building the social legitimacy of business and markets.

Business, trade and investment are essential pillars for prosperity and peace. But in many areas, business is too often linked with serious dilemmas - for example, exploitative practices, corruption, income equality, and barriers that discourage innovation and entrepreneurship. Responsible business practices can in many ways build trust and social capital, contributing to broad-based development and sustainable markets. 

The Global Compact is a purely voluntary initiative with two objectives:

1- Mainstream the ten principles in business activities around the world
2- Catalyse actions in support of broader UN goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Website: http://www.unglobalcompact.org/