Furthermore, the GCC Citizens working in other GCC member States are benefiting from the insurance protection extension system covering the Council's citizens which was approved by the GCC summit in Manama in 2004 to be optional for a period of just one year with effect from January 2005, and to be mandatory as of January 2006. On the other hand, the statistics show the positive effects of the decision of the GCC Supreme Council on the provision of insurance protection for citizens working in other GCC member States where such statistics show that large numbers of them have benefited from the system of protection extension. --SPA 12:14 LOCAL TIME 09:14 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w