The Syrian civil war in 2011 caused a massive refugee crisis, with millions of Syrians fleeing their homes. The response of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to Syrian refugees has been a topic of intense academic and political debate. Despite providing significant humanitarian financial support during the Syrian civil war, GCC countries were criticized in 2015 for not actively accepting Syrian refugees. This study aims to demonstrate the factors that GCC countries limit in accepting Syrian refugees. A case study approach using qualitative research methods was employed, with data collected from structured interviews and secondary research. The structured interviews aimed to prospect refugee policies in GCC countries. GCC countries have a long history of accepting refugees since the 1950s, and foreign workers' migration has emerged as a significant social phenomenon. The factors that influence refugee policies in GCC countries were analyzed by considering the experiences of refugee and labor migration in the region. Most refugees in the Middle East are caused by civil wars or war and possess political characteristics. The study identified two factors influencing the GCC countries' refugee policies. The first is the long-standing competition and conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran in the region, which GCC states view as a threat. Second, the high proportion of foreign migrant workers in GCC societies has become a social problem, and policymakers do not want to increase this proportion by accepting refugees. The study suggests that GCC countries will continue to provide financial contributions to refugees in foreign countries and will not change their policies to accommodate refugees in the short term. However, they are expected to actively participate in humanitarian aid and national reconstruction for Syria once the civil war ends.