Gulf Cooperation Council States Research Articles

Monitoring land use and land cover changes in the mountainous cities of Oman using GIS and CA-Markov modelling techniques

As a result of the socioeconomic transformation, the rapid urban expansion of cities and towns in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states has predominately led to tremendous pressure on the limited natural resources and loss of productive lands. Indeed, the spatial patterns of urbanisation and their impacts on mountain resources and environment have received little attention, particularly in Oman. Predicting urban growth in the mountainous cities has the potential to better understand the interaction between the spatial growth patterns and the mountain topography. This study aims to analyse spatiotemporal dynamics of land use/land cover (LULC) (2008–2018) and simulate urban expansion (2008–2038) in Nizwa city, Al Dakhliyah governorate, Oman. Cellular Automata (CA)-Markov and geospatial techniques were utilised to assess and project urban growth and land cover changes. The analysis was based on three maps of LULC at equal intervals derived from satellite imageries: Landsat TM for 1998, 2008 and 2018, along with topographic spatial layers (elevation, aspects, and terrain slopes) derived from the ASTER digital elevation model. In addition, other spatial parameters (population density, proximity to urban centres, and proximity to major roads,) were incorporated in the simulation process. The findings revealed that the actual LULC change during 2008–2018 was 12,014 ha of net urban growth (418.5 % change), while the simulated change was expected to be 14,985 ha by 2028, with a total of 37,465 ha increase in the built-up area and urban growth by 2038. Although the topographic variability will control LULC changes, the urban expansion overly will occupy the arable land across the valleys along with the flat areas. During the next two decades, the built-up areas will dominant, with a large percentage of vacant land (net loss 12,813 ha) and vegetation cover (net loss 35 ha) will be gradually converted into residential land use. The output of the simulations in this research could serve not only as spatial guidelines for monitoring future trends of LULC dynamics, but also address the threats and deteriorates of urban sustainability in the Omani mountainous cities. Furthermore, identifying bare soils and vegetation areas that are susceptible to urbanisation is of value for the national strategy of future urban planning in Oman.

Competitiveness of Arabian gulf ports from shipping lines’ perspectives: Case of Sohar port in Oman

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to investigate the factors that encourage shipping lines to use port of Sohar, in Oman. Some selected factors were used to assess to what extent it affects the port choice from shipping lines companies’ perspective. These factors include infrastructure, hinterland, connectivity and port’s dues.Design/methodology/approach: for this study both quantitative and qualitative methodologies were used. Self-administered questionnaire used for collecting quantitative data while interviews were used to collect qualitative data. Secondary data was collected by reviewing academic literature and recent relevant articles and reports.Findings: Port of Sohar has a better opportunity to be the gateway of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States and all Cargo could have dropped in the port and transferred to other GCC States by road, rail and other transportation modes. This opportunity is gained by the strategic location of Sohar Port outside of the Strait of Hormuz. It can be concluded that port competitiveness can be improved through strategic location, improved hinterland conditions, port facilities, services cost, volume of cargo, connectivity to other ports and dwell time factor.Research limitations: The research was limited mainly by conducting it only at the port of Sohar because surrounding ports are too far away and it should involve more ports to gain comparative results. Limited number of stakeholders as Port Authority, Oman International Container Terminal (OICT) and shipping lines companies and agents is another limitation.Practical implications: The port can improve its competitive advantages and focus on the investigated factors. The government can also continue in working in the three big infrastructural projects; the new express roads, Sohar Airport and rail network connections with other GCC networks.Originality/value: the study used specific factors that expected to contribute to the shipping lines companies’ selection of ports in the gulf region. This could help the port to identify their competitive advantage and how they can use these competencies to improve their competitiveness in relation to other ports in the region.

المظلّة الأمنية الامريكية على دول الخليج العربي "بين صدقية الضمانات ونجاعة الحلول"

The Gulf security dilemma is represented by the existence of internal and external threats that have failed to find fundamental solutions to them, and that the fact that the Gulf Cooperation Council states depend on the outside to ensure their security has become a reality after all Gulf efforts to secure a credible and self-reliant security umbrella have failed, despite the huge arsenal of weapons available. On these countries, especially Saudi Arabia. And that the United States intends to be the main actor in the details of the interactions of the Gulf security environment by building a network of different relationships that are its focus. And that the current regional security system is managed by it, and the most prominent of its mechanisms may be the strategic alliance for the Middle East, the renewal of the relationship with the allies, and a set of agreements on security arrangements and security control between the states that make up the Gulf regional system, as it entails a wide number of obligations. Keywords: Security, The Arab Gulf, The US presence, Threats, Stability.

The Implications of Global English for Language Endangerment and Linguistic Identity: The Case of Arabic in the GCC States

Numerous sociolinguistic studies have been concerned with investigating the factors that pose challenges to the position of Arabic in the Arab Gulf countries including the demographic structure, migrant labor, bilingual education, and the unique diaglossic nature of Arabic. However, thus far, there has been no conceptual framework for addressing the implications of the increasing use of English for the position and future of Arabic in these countries. A number of studies concluded that English has superseded Gulf Arabic and dominated the linguistic identity of its native speakers without providing empirical evidence for such claims. In the face of this limitation, this study adopts a sociolinguistic framework using language planning and language policy (LPP) methods in order to investigate the effects and implications of the use of English as a global language and lingua franca in the Arab Gulf states and propose workable, reliable and effective language policies that can help in maintaining Arabic as the first language in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and addressing problems of language endangerment and death. Results indicate that the disappearance of a language and the loss of its status cannot be solely attributed to the widespread of global English. Global English, on the contrary, should not be considered as a threat to the linguistic and national identity in the GCC countries. The real threat that Arabic faces is the failure to meet the increasing needs of its users and speakers which has its implications for the status and future of Arabic. It is suggested then that more descriptive approaches should be adopted in the analysis and teaching of Arabic. Linguistic changes of Arabic should be considered inevitable and not be resisted in order for Arabic to address the changing needs of its users. Arabic should also be more involved in today’s globalised world. Finally, the sense of linguistic identity should be promoted among citizens and students.

Looking West: India’s Energy Policy In West Asia.

Energy security, of course, is a key ingredient of India’s interest in West Asia. It is dependent on imports for 80% of its oil needs, of which roughly 55% is sourced from the Persian Gulf region. The ratio could decline slowly as New Delhi diversifies with an increased focus on African producers. But the rate at which India’s energy demand is growing—it is currently the world’s fourth biggest oil consumer with import dependence projected to increase to 90% by 2031—offsets this in absolute terms. India’s increasingly multidimensional relations with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states buttress these energy security efforts. The Indian diaspora in the Arab states is seven million strong—a valuable connection and responsible for some $40 billion in remittances annually. And the possibilities for investment go beyond the energy sector. The UAE has agreed to invest $75 billion in Indian infrastructure, Bahrain is looking to invest in financial services and high value-added manufacturing among other areas, and countries like Kuwait have sovereign funds ripe for targeting. Security and geopolitical considerations are, naturally, threaded through these economic engagements. Since Atal Bihari Vajpayee revitalized ties with GCC states, New Delhi has shown an admirable pragmatism, juggling its relationships with competing power centres like Riyadh and Tehran—even in light of the witches’ cauldron of proxy struggles and sectarian conflicts that is currently West Asia. This is the hallmark of mature diplomacy. The pay-off has been visible, from Saudi Arabia extraditing terror suspects to India to Qatari aid when Indian nationals have been endangered by the Islamic State and in Afghanistan. Factor in India’s potential role as a maritime net security provider for the Gulf States, reliant as they are on energy shipping through the Indian Ocean Region. According to the Indian Navy’s Maritime Security Strategy released last year, the Persian Gulf is a primary area of interest. The possibilities for cooperation are significant. In the period to 2040, India will overtake China as the largest source of rising demand for oil. The time to begin securing its interests in West Asia is now when it holds the advantage.

Food Security in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: Challenges and Prospects

Food insecurity concerns are as old as humanity. Food security exists when all population, at all times, has access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. It is built on four pillars, namely food availability, food access, food utilisation, and stability. While it is widely admitted that food security increases with economic development, also rich countries in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region, such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, face specific challenges. Therefore, this review paper analyses the state, determinants and perspectives of food security in GCC region. Historically, food security was not an issue for the GCC states. In fact, GCC states are capital rich and have no foreign exchange limitation for food import. Consequently, due to their robust fiscal position resulting in high buying power, these countries, have been less vulnerable to price risk than other food importers; and able to bridge the shortfall in domestic production. As a result, in 2018, the six GCC members have been ranked as the most food secure in the Arab world and among the most food secure countries in the world. However, in the wake of the 2007–2008 global food crisis, food security became an ongoing challenge. The crisis exposed the high dependence of GCC countries on imports, limits of import-based food policies and the need to increase the local production. However, agriculture is limited by several natural conditions, such as scarce water resources and poor soils, and aquifers have been heavily exploited above the average natural recharge. Further, potentially, more critical to GCC food security is availability risk, which arises when an import-dependent country is not able to obtain food, even if it has sufficient funds to purchase it. The paper makes the case for promoting a productive and sustainable agriculture, with high resources use efficiency, to increase food security in the GCC.

Uptake of breast and cervical cancer screening in four Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

In Gulf Cooperation Council States, there is limited information on national levels of mammography and Pap smear screening uptake. The aim of this study is to provide a baseline for national estimates for mammography and Pap smear screening and to explore associations between screening uptake and socioeconomic factors. The nationally representative World Health Survey Plus, implemented in 2008/2009 in Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE), was used. Uptake of mammography and Pap smear was estimated for each country, followed by the examination of associations between screening and a range of socioeconomic variables. Levels of breast and cervical cancer screening uptake within recommended intervals in all countries were low. The percentages of women aged 40-75 years who had a mammogram were 4.9% in Saudi Arabia, 8.9% in Oman, 13.9% in the UAE and 14.6% in Kuwait. The percentages of women aged 25-49 years who had a Pap smear test were 7.6% in Saudi Arabia, 10.6% in Oman, 17.7% in Kuwait and 28.0% in the UAE. Marital status, wealth, education, nationality and place of residence are associated with screening uptake, with the lower educated, poor and unmarried having the lowest percentages of uptake. The four Gulf Cooperation Council countries need to set clear targets and increase the proportion of women who have regular breast and cervical cancer screening examinations. Health education campaigns and awareness programmes that are fully integrated into the health system are required to ensure women use services that are available to prevent breast and cervical cancers.

Analysis of the association between economic growth, environmental quality and health standards in the Gulf Cooperation Council during 1980-2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the validity of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) between gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and environmental indicators in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Additionally, this paper also explores the relationship between health and income levels in the GCC to identify whether higher incomes necessarily affect overall health metrics.Design/methodology/approachThe first part of this paper studies the relationship between GDP per capita and the greenhouse gases (GHGs) – carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) (all per capita data). The second part of this paper explores the relationship between GDP per capita and the following health variables: life expectancy, infant mortality and child mortality – for GCC countries during 1980–2012. Unit root tests were conducted, followed by cointegration analysis, leading to Granger causality test and vector error correction model.FindingsGCC states are highly dependent on fossil fuel production and hence depend on hydrocarbons for GDP growth. Most of the GCC states demonstrate lack of the EKC curve. However, there is evidence of U-shaped relationship between environmental pollutants and GDP per capita in kingdoms like Bahrain and Saudi Arabia (KSA). United Arab Emirates (UAE), on the other hand, demonstrates EKC, though not significantly. The study then explores the existence of potential relationship between health and GDP in the GCC, where it has been found that higher incomes have driven a better standard of living resulting in improved health metrics and higher life expectancy rates. Thus, growing incomes have played a positive role by improving health parameters and by offsetting some of the negative impacts from lack of environmental improvement as demonstrated by the absence of EKC in general in GCC.Originality/valueGHG emissions data are individually and empirically examined for each country in the GCC. Furthermore, the study delves into the environmental problems that lead to health issues, which were initially caused by pollution. The results of the empirical analysis provide strong evidence that GCC countries need to rely less on fossil fuels, as lower productivity due to higher pollution reduces income and economic growth in most countries.

Gulf capital and Egypt's corporate food system: a region in the third food regime

ABSTRACT How can we define the emergence of new spaces in the global corporate food system? This article argues that regions in food regime theory have been overlooked, both geographically and socially. As an example of the significance of the regional level, it examines the case of the relationship between Egypt and the Gulf states. In addition to Western capital, Egypt's corporate food system has been determined by regional capital from the Gulf. Gulf investment is one of the largest foreign capitals in Egypt's agribusiness sector and it owns companies that have controlling market shares of corporate food. It will argue that this has been concomitant with the political power of a class hierarchy that extends from Egypt into the Gulf Cooperation Council states.

Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Among Men in the Middle East: A Retrospective Study.

The rising prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is a serious global health concern. The world is experiencing type 2 diabetes epidemics and prevalence differs by gender, regions, and level of socioeconomic development. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in men increased at a faster rate and numbers are continuing to rise in some regions of the world. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of T2DM among men in the Middle East countries. Seventy-four research articles were identified through search engines including Web of Science, Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Ovid databases by using keywords “epidemiology,” “prevalence,” “diabetes mellitus,” and individual names of the Middle East states. Finally, 17 studies were included for the assessment of prevalence of T2DM among men in the Middle East. In the Middle East, high prevalence of T2DM among men was identified in Bahrain (33.60%), Saudi Arabia (29.10%), United Arab Emirates (UAE; 25.83%), and Kuwait (25.40%), whereas low prevalence was reported in Iran (9.90%) and Yemen (9.80%). The random pooled prevalence in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states was (24.0%) compared to non-GCC states (16.0%), and in both GCC and non-GCC countries combined, it was 19%. The prevalence was significantly associated with the gross domestic product of these states (p = .0005). Despite different socioeconomic and cultural settings in the Middle East, the rising T2DM prevalence among men was identified in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait. These states must incorporate future diabetes defensive strategies targeting the Middle East population to minimize the burden of DM from the region.

Potential of electronic waste recycling in Gulf Cooperation Council states: an environmental and economic analysis.

This paper for the first time aims to valorize the environmental and economic values of electronic waste recycling for member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) from the year 2018 up to 2040. GCC countries have a unique situation due to the significant economic growth with the resulting urbanization and population growth accompanied by high standards of living that in turn increase all types of waste. A direct link among the living standards and quantity of electronic waste production is observed in the GCC states. The annual growth of electronic waste in GCC is 3-5% while the current estimated electronic waste generation exceeds 52.2 million metric tonnes (Mt). In 2018, GCC states generated 857 kilotonnes (kt) electronic waste that would be 1.094 Mt by 2040. KSA, among the GCC states, generated the highest amount of electronic waste (533 kt) in 2018 that would be 675 kt by 2040. GCC countries are on the right track of developing policies and regulations for managing electronic waste. However, more efforts are required to ensure the implementation of these regulations. The findings of this study would be a base for the future studies in the electronic waste sector in the GCC region and a novel initiative for GCC to develop a unified free zone for the electronic waste recycling that will meet the local, regional, and international standards and regulations. This unified GCC initiative has substantial economic and environmental benefits for the region.

Other sources of FDIs in Sub-Saharan Africa: The case of Gulf Cooperation Council states

Academic research on Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) from emerging economies (EE) in Africa, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), has focused primarily on Chinese investments at the exclusion of investment activities from other emerging economies such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. This leaves unanswered questions of whether investment activities in SSA from other emerging economies such as the GCC states have the same or similar drivers as China's. To answer this question and close the research gap, this paper uses the traditional institutional theory as well as the institutional open access theory, the institutional fragility theory, and the OLI (Ownership, Location, and Internationalization) model to examine GCC states' investments in Sub-Saharan Africa, and compares them with Chinese FDIs in the region. The results of the analyses reveal interesting similarities and differences in the approaches taken by the GCC states and China.

Blockade? A Legal Assessment of the Maritime Interdiction of Yemen’s Ports

In January 2015, the government of Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi was ousted from power by Houthi rebels based in the northern highlands of Yemen. Initially forced to flee the country, Hadi soon returned, establishing a new government in the southern city of Aden. His return marked the commencement of the latest phase of Yemen’s perpetual civil war. In what has often been referred to as the ‘Saudi-led blockade’, a coalition naval force, made up primarily of vessels from Gulf Cooperation Council states, has been enforcing a closure of Yemen’s waters and most of its ports. Yemen requires food imports to feed its population, and fuel imports to generate the electricity that it needs to keep its water plants operating. As a result of the naval interdiction operations, the civilian population of Yemen is in crisis. Approximately 20 million people require humanitarian assistance, and the country continues to struggle under the largest cholera epidemic in history. This paper examines the legal bases for the current interdiction operations, both from the perspective of the law of naval warfare and the law of the sea. Finally it assesses the role that Security Council resolutions have played in the continuation of the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the role that the Security Council can play in supporting the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need.

Prevalence of obesity among school-age children and adolescents in the Gulf cooperation council (GCC) states: a systematic review

BackgroundThe Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have among the highest prevalence of adult obesity and type 2 diabetes in the world. This study aimed to estimate the recent prevalence of obesity among school-age children and adolescents in the GCC States.MethodsThe literature search for obesity prevalence data was carried out in July 2017 in Google Scholar, Physical education index, Medline, SCOPUS, WHO, 2007–2017, and updated in November 2018.In addition, 22 experts from the GCC were contacted to check the search results, and to suggest studies or grey literature which had been missed. Eligible studies were assessed for quality by using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tool for prevalence studies. Conduct of the systematic review followed the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews Tool (AMSTAR) guidance. A narrative synthesis was conducted.ResultsOut of 392 studies identified, 41 full-text reports were screened for eligibility; 11 of which were eligible and so were included, from 3 of the 6 GCC countries (United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia). Surveillance seems good in Kuwait in compared to other countries, with one recent national survey of prevalence. Quality of the eligible studies was generally low-moderate according to the JNBI tool: representative samples were rare; participation rates low; power calculations were mentioned by only 3/11 studies and confidence intervals around prevalence estimates provided by only 3/11 eligible studies; none of the studies acknowledged that prevalence estimates were conservative (being based on BMI-for-age). There was generally a very high prevalence of obesity (at least one quarter-one third of study or survey participants obese according to BMI-for-age), prevalence increased with age, and was consistently higher in boys than girls.ConclusionsThe prevalence of obesity among school-age children and adolescents appears to have reached alarming levels in the GCC, but there are a number of major gaps and limitations in obesity surveillance in the GCC states. More national surveys of child and adolescent obesity prevalence are required for the GCC states.Trial registrationPROSPERO registration number CRD42017073692.

The Contribution of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on Future Acid Rain in States of Gulf Cooperation Council: Measures to Adopt

Air pollution is one of the serious problems facing the world. This is mainly due to production and consumption of fossil fuels. Sulphur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions could affect human health and destroy vegetation through acid deposition and cause transboundary air pollution. Currently, there are no regional ambient SO2 and NOx regulations and control measures of many developing countries including GCC countries. This paper reviewed the experiences of the past acid rain pollution problems in United States, Canada, Europe, Japan and China. In addition, the plausible control measures through application of air pollution abatement technologies, market based regulations were discussed. The study recommended that suitable and locally based measures could be adopted by GCC states to prevent future occurrence of acid rain within the region and beyond.

Use of an analytical hierarchy process for the selection of adequate desalination technologies for Spain and the Gulf Cooperation Council

Various countries worldwide are known to face water scarcity problems. Seawater desalination is one of the solutions used to solve water scarcity issues in Spain and the Gulf Cooperation Council (CCC) states. These countries use three main water desalination technologies, namely, multi-effect distillation, multi-stage flash (MSF) and reverse osmosis (RO) desalination. Several factors must be considered to choose the most appropriate desalination technology for each country. In this paper, the analytical hierarchy process was employed to select adequate desalination technologies for Spain and the GCC countries by considering results obtained from a survey of experts in the field. This study found that the most suitable technologies for Spain and the GCC countries are RO and MSF, respectively.

Cursed No More? The Resource Curse, Gender, and Labor Nationalization Policies in the GCC

Recent scholarship posits that the resource curse has gendered as well as economic effects on oil-rich economies, like those in the Middle East and North Africa, entrenching paternalistic relationships that disadvantage women’s entry into the labor force. Upon closer examination, however, it appears that oil may not be the most compelling argument to explain Arab women’s low presence in the workforce –– especially since women’s labor-force participation within the oil rich Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states is generally higher than the regional average. We contend that this is, in part, a byproduct of the countries’ labor nationalization policies. Our analysis suggests that oil-driven development can in fact boost female labor force participation, revealing that rentierism as experienced in the GCC can actually have positive externalities for women.

The Diplomatic Strategy of GCC States: A Case Study of Saudi Arabia’s Recent Changing Diplomacy

As an important regional organization in the Middle East, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) faces many challenges in its current development. Today, trapped in intensified internal and external problems, as well as caught in increasingly crises, the GCC is standing at a difficult crossroad. The diplomatic strategies of the GCC in general since its establishment have always been looking towards the West, especially towards the United States (the US). All member states of the GCC maintain close ties with the US and their diplomatic strategies are heavily dependent on it. However, in recent years, the drastic changes in the Middle East and of the international political patterns have posed severe challenges to the GCC states' diplomatic strategies, which have also brought some opportunities with which the GCC states begin to change their diplomatic strategies significantly. Under the new circumstances, the GCC states, especially Saudi Arabia, are extricating themselves from the diplomatic tradition of looking westwards while beginning to make remarkable changes towards looking and going eastwards instead, gradually showing their trend of diversification and autonomy in diplomacy and trying to balance their diplomacy among regional and world powers, also between the East and the West. Therefore, any development on diplomatic orientation of the GCC states, especially Saudi Arabia, along with the accompanying impact on the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, deserves sustained attention. Indeed, it is really a problem for the GCC states to go eastwards or go westwards.

Strategic Development of Sino-GCC Relations: Visions of Arabian Gulf Economic Development and the Belt and Road Initiative

China’s relationship with the Gulf Cooperation Council states is relatively young, however, both sides are making up for lost time. Some of the GCC states are leveraging their own domestic development strategy with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as mechanisms to further cooperation. The BRI’s success hinges on cooperation with the GCC states to meet China’s energy needs and secure sea routes of the Arabian Peninsula that is vital for global trade. Following the 2011 Arab Upheavals, the GCC states are recalibrating their strategic outlook that is evolving the region’s traditional security architecture. The Gulf states are adamant in diversifying strategic partners, and have identified China as a potential candidate. However, as Beijing’s Middle Eastern engagement deepens, so too will its management of regional affairs.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: Structure and Dynamics, and the Role of Gulf States

This article seeks to convey an accurate view of the nature, dynamics, activities and potential of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, so that Gulf States can make a realistic assessment of what they would have to gain by associating themselves with the body, as well as taking account of possible drawbacks. Data is presented on the population size of the member states, and also relevant material on the economies, the flows of trade, and defence capabilities. Emphasis is placed on the changing conceptual frameworks underpinning the organisation, with a steady broadening out from the strategic objectives which initially brought the states together, towards broader concerns which comprise a wide range of economic, social and cultural cooperation. It is suggested that the Gulf Cooperation Council states have much to gain from engaging with the organisation, given that it constitutes a key element in the emerging global economic and political order.