Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), fully geared up on Saturday for a key Gulf Arab summit due to start here on Sunday.

National flags and portraits of leaders of the six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) lined up the main streets of Abu Dhabi and military police in camouflage uniform patrolled around, toting rifles.

Strict security measures were imposed on both the Hilton Hotel which houses the information center and the Emirates Palace where foreign ministers of the GCC members met on Saturday to finalize the agenda of the bloc's summit.

The Emirates Palace is also the venue of the two-day meeting.

Checkpoints were set up at entrances of both hotels with screening machines installed. Body search was required for all correspondents.

The annual year-end GCC summit, set to be attended by leaders from its six member states, is due to be kicked off here on Sunday and will last till Monday.

The GCC groups Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar.

Established in May 1981, the alliance is trying to enhance political, economic and social cooperation among its member states.

The UAE government is on high alert to ensure safety during the summit since the Gulf Arab states are fighting a tough battle against terrorism and Islamic extremism.

Saudi Arabia, a regional heavy weight and the most powerful member of the GCC, has seen several deadly attacks on Westerners during the past few years and has been battling the al-Qaida terror network headed by Saudi-born Osama bin Laden.

Bloody attacks have also hit Qatar and Kuwait which witnessed fierce clashes between security forces and Islamic militants.

GCC countries have kept close ties with the United States, many of them staunch Washington allies.

Source: Xinhua