Gulf oil ministers are due to meet this week in Qatar for an annual meeting, in the first gathering by the heavyweight crude producers since the latest slide in oil prices. But while the price drop is not on the agenda for the scheduled meeting of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, it will be a chance for oil ministers to air views on the market. Comments by Saudi Arabia Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi, in particular, will be closely scrutinized. The oil minister of the world’s top crude exporter has made no public comment on prices since June 18, when the oil price was above $63 and he said he was optimistic about the market in coming months.