The political mutual trust，progress in people-to-people exchanges between China and Gulf Arab states，constitutes basic prerequisites for long-term and stable cooperative relationship between the two sides，thus has further promoted the overall cooperation between China and Islamic countries at subregional，regional and cross-regional levels. The two sides carry out cultural exchanges with a parallel path，taking both governmental and non-governmental approaches. According to the top-level design and overall planning drawn，the official agencies undertake tasks of promoting institutionalization of intergovernmental cultural cooperation，building cultural exchange brands，deepening exchange of ideas and dialogue，and exploring new paths for people-to-people communication. Multiple non-governmental actors are more inclusive and flexible in participating in people-to-people exchanges. An emerging trend of increased flourishing youth exchanges，growing global popularity of Chinese learning，joint archaeological fieldwork to revive civilizations along the ancient Silk Road，and the digital transformation of cultural exchanges driven by digital economy，is shaping the new future of cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between China and Gulf Arab states. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic，building China-Arab Community of Health and mapping a Health Silk Road are injecting new impetus into people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between China and Gulf Arab states.