In December 2012, the Supreme Council for the Environment was established in Bahrain. It consists of six ministers, who bring with them an expertise in various sectors. The Council’s declared aim is to protect Bahrain’s natural environment and to monitor potentially harmful industrial activity. The most important issues that the Council has to deal with are protecting marine life from urban sprawl and pollution and creating a balance between infrastructure growth and safeguarding natural resources. In addition, the Council is also responsible for the formulation of Bahrain’s 2020 environmental strategy. Thus, as of today, Saudi Arabia is the only Gulf country without a ministry of environment or a centralized governmental organ dealing with environmental issues.