Gulf Cooperation Council Nations Research Articles

GENERIC DRUG REGISTRATION AND COUNTRY-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS IN SAUDI ARABIA, QATAR, BAHRAIN, AND OMAN

Objective: This research aims to examine the regulatory framework and prerequisites for generic drug registration in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with a specific focus on the countries that make up the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This will enable a deeper understanding of the procedures, records, schedules, and discrepancies related to registration. Methods: The study makes use of an extensive examination of the rules, regulations, and practices about the registration of generic drugs in the MENA. Official government sites, regulatory agencies, and respectable trade journals for the pharmaceutical sector were used as sources of information. The main procedures for registering generic drugs were explained and inspected, encompassing the submission of documents, dossier preparation, bioavailability/bioequivalence tests, and application filing. Results: There are substantial growth prospects for generics. Research highlights the sequential registration process for generic drugs, submitting documents electronically using the Common Technical Document (eCTD) method. For registration to be successful, specific records and data such as bioavailability/bioequivalence research data must be provided. Conclusion: The effective registration of generic medications in the MENA region, especially in the GCC nations, depends on understanding and abiding by nation-specific regulatory standards. The research offers a tactical guide that outlines the essential procedures, paperwork needs, and regional variances in the generic medicine registration process. The goal is to offer affordable healthcare solutions by navigating the regulatory landscape meticulously and streamlining the approval and market entry process for generic pharmaceuticals in the MENA region.

Instagram for audience engagement: an evaluation of CERC framework in the GCC nations for digital public health during the Covid-19 pandemic

BackgroundIn this study, we investigate the utilization of Instagram by public health ministries across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations to disseminate health-related information during the COVID-19 pandemic. With Instagram’s visual-centric approach and high user engagement, the research aims to investigate its critical yet complex role in information dissemination amid a health crisis.MethodsTo examine how Instagram communication strategies align with the CDC’s Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) framework, we employ the content analysis method. This approach helps to evaluate the effectiveness and challenges of employing Instagram for health communication within a region known for its significant social media usage.ResultsFindings indicate that Instagram serves as a vital platform for the rapid dissemination of health information in the GCC, leveraging its visual capabilities and wide reach. The GCC ministries of health utilized Instagram to demonstrate a consistent and strategic approach to communicate essential COVID-19 related information. Kuwait and Bahrain were the most active of all the assessed ministries with respect to the number of engagement metrics (likes and comments). Most of the posts, as per the CERC framework, were informational and related to vaccine infection and death cases. The second most salient theme in line with the CERC framework was about promoting actions, followed by Instagram posts about activities, events, and campaigns.ConclusionsThe research underscores Instagram’s potential as a powerful tool in enhancing public health resilience and responsiveness during health emergencies in the GCC. It suggests that leveraging social media, with careful consideration of its affordances, can contribute significantly to effective health communication strategies in times of crisis.

Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Capital Structure Dynamics: Evidence from GCC Economies

This study seeks to investigate the potential effects of the recent pandemic (COVID-19) on capital structure dynamics. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a fascinating topic for this study because of its distinct economic characteristics. The analysis draws upon a cross-country dataset covering 208 non-financial listed firms across five GCC countries, with data spanning the years 2010 to 2022. Capital structure is a dependent variable and is measured by total debt to equity, equity multiplier, and short-term debt ratios, while the COVID-19 pandemic, firm size growth, return on assets, tangibility, and growth were applied as independent variables. Using the generalized least squares (GLS) method, findings demonstrated that COVID-19 has a significant and positive influence on debt-to-equity and equity multiplier ratios but a negative one on short-term debt ratio. Thus, non-financial firms increased their debt financing and transferred debt from short-term to long-term funding. In addition, firm-specific factors, such as firm size, tangibility, and macroeconomic factors, such as GDP growth, positively and significantly impact capital financing. Conversely, profitability has a negative relationship with financial leverage. There is a lack of empirical research on how COVID-19 affects the financial structure of non-financial listed companies in GCC nations. Consequently, by filling the previously specified gaps, this study provides proof to support the idea of using debt financing to raise capital for economic recovery. GCC policymakers need to give priority to ensuring that firms have convenient access to inexpensive finance in light of the financial consequences caused by COVID-19. This will guarantee that companies have the resources necessary to bounce back and support economic growth.

The dynamic nexus between economic factors, socioeconomic factors, green growth factors, and ecological footprint: evidence from GCC economies

<p>Industrialization, financial activities, and intensive human activities have reduced continuous habitats to smaller patches, threatening the safety of the ecosystem. However, as technological innovation and digitization increase, this negative impact will be somewhat neutralized. To address this issue, the current study examined the role of economic, socioeconomic, and green indicators on the ecological footprint in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). By using data from 1990–2019, we have applied multiple panel tests to determine the long-run and short-run relationships among the variables. The findings show that economic growth increases the long-term ecological footprint in the GCC. The human development index and financial inclusion coefficients are also positively and significantly linked with the ecological footprint. The socioeconomic index, however, reveals a negative relationship between ecological footprint and GCC. Similarly, digitalization and environmental technologies have a negative and major impact on the ecological footprint. It indicates that green growth factors contribute to long-term improvements in environmental quality. So, GCC nations should emphasize investing in green growth factors and enact strict environmental regulations to safeguard their country from environmental problems.</p>

The influence of unemployment and labor force participation rates on economic development in GCC countries: A cointegration approach

This study explores the relationship between GDP growth, unemployment rate, and labor force participation rate in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries from 1990 to 2018. Furthermore, the study incorporates control factors such as government spending, trade openness, and energy use into the regression equation. We used panel dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) and Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) estimators to investigate the relationships between variables in this investigation. The econometric technique accounts for nonstationary, endogeneity bias and cross-sectional dependencies between country-year observations. Cointegration was found among GDP growth, unemployment rate, and labor force participation. Long-term, the unemployment rate has a statistically significant negative effect on economic growth in the GCC nations. Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate significantly influences economic expansion in the long term. The expansion of government expenditures and international trade reduces economic growth. Alternatively, it is discovered that energy consumption has a substantial and positive effect on economic expansion. Okun’s rule and the unidirectional causality from economic growth to unemployment indicate that the primary cause of unemployment in GCC nations is a failure to adequately expand their economies. When developing economic strategies to reduce unemployment, policymakers are particularly interested in determining whether or not economic development and the unemployment rate are cointegrated.

Intimate Partner Violence in Khaliji Women: A Review of the Frequency and Related Factors.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), locally known as Khaliji, is a group of six Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health concern in the aforementioned region, but research that synthesises this trend has remained scarce. The present narrative review examines existing research on the prevalence and frequency of IPV among Khaliji women who inhabit the GCC nations. This review synthesised studies on physical and sexual violence, emotional abuse, and controlling behaviours perpetrated by an intimate partner. The prevalence rates of IPV among Khaliji women were observed to be high: women reported facing different types of abuse from their partners, namely physical (7-71%), sexual (3.7-81%), financial (21.3-26%), and psychological (7.5-89%), which is a culmination of controlling behaviour (36.8%), emotional violence (22-69%), and social violence (34%). Existing studies in the GCC region suggest that the most endorsed IPV was psychological abuse (89%), followed by sexual violence (81%). Qualitative analysis of the content of associated factors resulted in four significant descriptors, such as victim demographics, sociocultural factors, socioeconomic factors, and perpetrator-related issues. Research on IPV is still in its nascent stages, with very few studies emanating from the GCC region. The way forward will require developing culturally appropriate interventions that address the unique risk factors for IPV among the Khaliji population, strengthening institutional responses, and increasing awareness and social support for victims of IPV.

EPH207 Factors Associated with COVID-19 Infections and Deaths in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries: A Time Series Cross-Section Analysis

COVID19 pandemic has caused significant health and economic burden globally. Compared with high-income nations, prevalence of COVID19 infections and mortality has been lower in GCC countries, but it was higher than MENA region average. There is limited evidence in the literature on pattern and factors associated with COVID19 infections and deaths, especially for six GCC countries. The study aims to investigate this trend and associations. We used world-o-meter online global database for COVID19 infections and deaths, and other databases to capture country-level socio-economic, demographic, and interventional factors linked with COVID19. Trends in monthly COVID19 data were reported via graphs and a negative binomial regression was estimated to determine the association between factors and monthly COVID19 infections and deaths per million population during March 2020 to October 2021. An increasing trend observed in monthly COVID19 cases and deaths up to month 8, followed by a drop and then further increasing trend from month 12 to month 18. For COVID19 infections, negative binomial regression estimates incidence rate ratio (IRR) for ‘stringency index’ as 1.04 (p˂0.001), GDP per capita, IRR=0.99 (p˂0.001), CVD death rate, IRR= 0.99 (p<0.001), diabetes prevalence, IRR= 2.26 (p=0.001), hospital beds per 1,000 population, IRR= 0.002 (p=0.010) and containment health index, IRR= 0.88 (p=0.037). These factors also appeared to be statistically significantly associated with monthly COVID19 deaths per million population. The study contributes to current evidence-base on factors which are potentially associated with COVID19 infections and mortality in six GCC nations. Healthcare policy makers in the region can lessen their COVID19 related health burden by taking appropriate preventing and mitigating measures in relation to factors that have significant associations with the infection and severe disease.

The asymmetric effect of ICT on CO2 emissions in the context of an EKC framework in GCC countries: the role of energy consumption, energy intensity, trade, and financial development.

This study examines how "information and communication technology (ICT)" affects carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations asymmetrically, controlling energy consumption, its intensity, trade, and financial development following an environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) approach. It employs panel data covering 1995-2019, 2nd generation unit root, Westerlund cointegration tests, nonlinear pooled mean group (PMG) estimate, and Dumitrescu-Hurlin causality check. The Westerlund test validates a long-run association among variables. The study confirms the EKC proposition for the GCC countries. It reveals that a decrease in CO2 emissions is associated with both positive and negative parts of ICT and the expansion of financial development. While per capita GDP increases pollution, squared GDP per capita reduces it; energy consumption, intensity, and trade amplify carbon emissions. D-H causality check yields several bidirectional and one-way causalities and verifies the robustness of PMG outcomes. Our findings suggest that promoting ICT becomes one of the critical techniques to decrease CO2 emissions in GCC nations due to its significant negative influence on CO2 emissions.

Economic Development and Environmental Sustainability in the GCC Countries: New Insights Based on the Economic Complexity

The economic development and environmental sustainability nexus have long been a fiercely debated issue. Researchers have widely acknowledged the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis when evaluating this relationship. Recently, an emerging strand of research examined the EKC through the lens of the Economic Complexity Index (ECoI) as a broader measure of economic development. However, empirical evidence of the index’s environmental impact is still limited. Despite its growing prominence, no prior research has been conducted in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) using the ECoI, particularly in the EKC context. Furthermore, research comparing the ECoI differentiated impacts on Ecological Footprint and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions is largely lacking. Extending on this line of research, our investigation intends to ascertain the influence of ECoI, income, globalization as well as non-renewable energy consumption on two dominant environmental pressure metrics: CO2 emissions and ecological footprint per capita (EFpc) within the EKC hypothesis context in six GCC countries during 1995–2018. To this end, Pedroni’s cointegration approach was conducted to examine the long-term association between variables; cointegration coefficients were analyzed using Dynamic and Fully modified OLS. Our investigation indicates the emergence of an inverted U-shaped link between ECoI and environmental sustainability in the GCC region for both CO2 emissions and EFpc. Furthermore, according to the individual country analysis, our findings demonstrate that the EKC hypothesis is sensitive to both the environmental degradation indicator used and the country analyzed; such that the quadratic link incorporating ECoI is confirmed for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait when EFpc is employed. In comparison, it holds for Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar when CO2 emissions are used. Moreover, the findings show that income per capita and non-renewables consumption significantly harm environmental sustainability, however, in terms of EFpc only. In contrast, through its three sub-dimensions, globalization contributes to the environmental burden by increasing both EFpc and CO2 emissions. These conclusions emphasize the economic complexity’s dominant role in mitigating environmental pollution in GCC beyond a certain threshold. Finally, the paper reaches a concise set of implications. Among the foremost, the GCC nations could enhance their environmental sustainability by diversifying their energy sources and increasing reliance on renewable sources, encouraging investment in carbon-reduction technologies, converting their economy from energy-intensive to technology-intensive, as well as imposing strict environmental laws to enable globalization to improve environmental quality.

The Challenges in Diagnosis and Management of Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Consensus Report from Three Gulf Countries.

Acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP) is a rare hematological emergency characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, fever, and multiorgan failure due to autoimmune-mediated deficiency in ADAMTS-13 activity. Currently, plasma exchange, with or without steroids, is the frontline option for the management of aTTP. The treatment should be started promptly once the disorder is clinically suspected. Besides, immunomodulators were studied in patients with aTTP to achieve stable remission and reduce the risk of relapse in patients with suboptimal response to plasma exchange; however, clinical trials showed equivocal results. Published data on early diagnosis, referral, and treatment patterns of aTTP patients in the member nations of the Arabian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are still lacking. Therefore, the present consensus report aimed to present an overview of aTTP situation in GCC by bringing together a panel of experts from three GCC nations, to share their views on current trends and practices regarding aTTP. The experts discussed challenges including the lack of reliable data regarding the incidence of aTTP in GCC and delayed results of ADAMTS-13 activity testing. Limited patient access to tertiary centers and low level of awareness about the aTTP clinical spectrum among general practitioners are other challenges. The experts agreed that there is a need for national and regional consensus regarding the diagnosis and treatment of aTTP in the Gulf region.

The asymmetric relationship between foreign direct investment, oil prices and carbon emissions: evidence from Gulf Cooperative Council economies

We investigate the asymmetric nonlinear link between foreign direct investment, oil prices, and CO2 emissions for the Gulf Cooperation Council nations, using foreign direct investment and oil price data. As foreign direct investment is positively associated with carbon emissions in the long run and oil prices have positive, significant effects on CO2 emissions, our findings support the pollution-haven hypothesis. Furthermore, these variables have an asymmetric nonlinear relationship, which corresponds to the theoretical expectations of the pollution-haven hypothesis. We also find that negative changes in foreign direct investment have positive, significant impacts on carbon emissions in the short run, implying that foreign enterprises utilize green technologies in their manufacturing processes in the short run. In the long run, however, negative changes in oil prices are positively associated with carbon emissions. These findings should help Gulf Cooperation Council economies focus on policies that encourage foreign direct investment in green rather than dirty industries in order to ensure environmental sustainability.

Impact of Globalization on Banks Performance and Standard of Living in GCC Countries: Macro Evidence Based on GMM Approach

This research intends to present empirical evidence on the impact of globalization on the banking sector's performance and the standard of living in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The present study accounts for the several characteristics of globalization. The authors have utilized data of commercial banks in the Gulf Countries (GC) from 1996 and 2017. The return on assets and equity are used to assess the performance of the banks by using the technique of Generalized Method of Moments. It is found that bank profitability is negatively impacted by greater economic, social, and political globalization. However, globalization has a positive impact on GDP per capita in GCC nations, indicating that globalization is beneficial from a living standard point of view. The current research has used population and government effectiveness as control variables, and the findings show that growing population benefits bank’s returns while government effectiveness has no influence on banking performance.

The dermatological presentation of COVID-19 among GCC population: a perception study

Background: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is an RNA SARS virus that has become an emerging global threat. Since its initial appearance within December 2019, many issues related to the topic have been investigated. It proved to affect many-body systems. However, dermatological complication still pauses an enigma as a clinical presentation for this disease. COVID-19 dermatological manifestations could be helpful to early indicators of detecting the disease. The present study was aimed at assessing the dermatological presentation of COVID-19 among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) population Methods: An anonymous questionnaire-based study was performed; the questionnaire was distributed through an online google sheet and was carried out in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Qatar (GCC countries). Results: One thousand and eight hundred forty-eight participants responded to the study. The majority of the participants were females 1,246 (67.3%), in contrast to males 602 (32.7%), with a ratio of &amp;#8776;2:1. Saudi nationals constitute more than half of the respondents 942 (50.9%), followed by other GCC nationals 906 (49.1%). The majority of the volunteers were highly educated. Most of the participants, 1,412 (76.3%), believed that COVID- 19 to be a life-threatening condition. Conclusion: Our study confirms the results of several local studies that the general awareness toward the newly emerging virus (COVID-19) is sufficient among the populations of GCC countries. However, the perception and awareness about the cutaneous and dermatological presentations of COVID-19 still pause an obstacle for most of the representative sample. Therefore, further studies are required to investigate the actual deficient in the educational programs provided by the GCC ministries of health.

An empirical study of the factors that motivate Sri Lankan professionals to migrate to Qatar

ABSTRACT Traditionally, countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have been the most preferred destination for professional migrants from Sri Lanka. However, with the boom in the petroleum industry of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in the 1970s, the Gulf has increasingly become an appealing destination for Sri Lankan professional migrants. Among Gulf countries, Qatar is the most common destination. A combination of various factors motivates highly-skilled Sri Lankan workers to migrate to the GCC in general and Qatar in particular. The primary objective of this paper is to analyse these factors. The study is based on primary data gathered via in-depth interviews with 12 key informants and an online survey of 125 professionals. The sample for the questionnaire was selected using a combination of non-probability methods and the data gathered was analysed using a mixed methodology. The study identifies that among the numerous factors that influence Sri Lankan professionals to migrate to the GCC, the tax-free salary which the respondents believe to be higher than the disposable income they can earn in OECD countries is the primary reason for migrating to a Gulf country over OECD countries. The study also identifies that whereas quality-of-life-related factors play a key role in the migration decision to OECD countries, income-related factors are the most crucial in migrating to GCC nations.

Greater and More Focused Measures Are Needed to Tackle Diabetes and Obesity Epidemics in the Nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Beyond the suffering of the affected subjects, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity epidemics gripping the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are expected to seriously jeopardize these nations' economies and development due to productivity losses. Available data show that healthcare budgets in GCC nations are under tremendous pressure because of diabetes- and obesity-linked comorbidities. Furthermore, T2D, once an over-forties disease, risks becoming a whole-adult-life condition because of obesity-associated early-onset T2D and prediabetes. The incidence of T2D is set to worsen unless efficient actions are taken to fight obesity and prevent the conversion of prediabetes to T2D. There is a consensus that the concomitant increase in obesity rates drives T2D rates upward. Fighting obesity at all levels should, therefore, take center stage for the GCC nations. The battle against obesity and T2D is a long-term and complex one. Therefore, only through concerted efforts between several public and private actors, including health, economic, and urbanization agencies, food producers and retailers, schools, families, youth organizations, sports clubs, and voluntary organizations, can this battle be won. The present review tries to assess the current status of diabetes and obesity epidemics in the GCC context and take stock of some of the policies and initiatives that have been, or need to be, implemented to address their growing burden.

Policy borrowing and developing knowledge economies in GCC countries: a critique from a Human Capital Theory perspective

Globalization presents Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries with opportunities for economic growth and transformation, as many of these nations face economic challenges such as the need for a diversified knowledge-based economy because of the finite resource of hydrocarbons. This requires the development of human capital providing workers with new and advanced skills and competencies. Education has become increasingly important on national agendas in the GCC, leading to an increase in transferring educational reforms often founded on Human Capital Theory (HCT). This article examines how HCT is embedded in the development of knowledge economies and reforms in many GCC countries and identifies the possible differences between western understandings of Human Capital Development (HCD) and GCC nations. In particular, the article addresses cultural preservation, specifically identity and language, against the backdrop of HCD in the GCC nations. Discussion centers on HCD from a local perspective raising concerns about HCT as a guiding educational theory in the GCC. This is followed by several suggestions for policymakers to consider when developing an education system that includes the skills deemed necessary for economic development while simultaneously preserving national identity and the Arabic language.

Do Shariah Indices converge Evidence from Gulf Cooperation Council countries

S&P Dow Jones Indices are celebrating the 10th anniversary in Dubai with the expansion of single and multi factor index series in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. This current set of indices covers low volatility, momentum, enhance value, and equality factors. The objective of the study is to understand the dynamic relationship between domestic Shariah Indices of GCC nations which is important for investors to mitigate their risk and for governments to take precautionary action to avoid the possible financial downturn in their respective countries. The study has uni-directional Granger causality between Bahrain to Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and UAE and bi-directional Granger causality between Saudi Arabia to Kuwait and Oman. This study will not only be advantageous for the Muslim investors, but also the other investors too. This important information enables the investors to adjust their financial portfolio, and also helps the respective market regulator.

Bibliometric analysis of road traffic injuries research in the Gulf Cooperation Council region.

Background: Despite governmental interventions, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region continues to experience higher road traffic crash and fatality rates relative to Western nations. This trend suggests a potential disconnect between Road Traffic Injuries (RTI) research and the mitigation measures put in place. Method: Here, we present an in-depth bibliometric analysis to obtain a comprehensive understanding of RTI research in the GCC region. The Web of Science database was used to search and retrieve the relevant articles during the period of 1981-2019. Results: The volume of RTI research increased from 2015-2019, suggesting an increased focus on traffic safety in the GCC region. Saudi Arabia had the highest RTI research productivity level (126 publications); Bahrain had the lowest (7 publications). Inconsistent with its low publication volume, Hammad Medical Corps of Qatar had the highest citation impact score of 16.33. Global collaboration for RTI research was highest between Saudi Arabia and the United States. The most prevalent publication journal for the region was Accident Analysis and Prevention. The most common keywords were " road traffic accidents" and " road traffic injuries"; terms such as " mobile phones", " pedestrian safety", " pedestrians", and " distracted driving" were least common. In the five most productive GCC nations with respect to RTI research (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman), researchers tended to publish works related to road traffic safety in traffic safety-oriented journals. Conclusions: The quantity and quality of RTI publications in GCC is insufficient to meet the increasing related public health and economic burden in the region. The trends among publication volumes, citations, and impact were inconsistent. There is a lack of research collaboration among the institutions. Most of the research related to RTI is being conducted by researchers with a medical background. Research focusing on pedestrians, cyclists and road user behavior is also inadequate.

Bibliometric analysis of road traffic injuries research in the Gulf Cooperation Council region

Background: Despite governmental interventions, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region continues to experience higher road traffic crash and fatality rates relative to Western nations. This trend suggests a potential disconnect between Road Traffic Injuries (RTI) research and the mitigation measures put in place. Method: Here, we present an in-depth bibliometric analysis to obtain a comprehensive understanding of RTI research in the GCC region. The Web of Science database was used to search and retrieve the relevant articles during the period of 1981-2019. Results: The volume of RTI research increased from 2015–2019, suggesting an increased focus on traffic safety in the GCC region. Saudi Arabia had the highest RTI research productivity level (126 publications); Bahrain had the lowest (7 publications). Inconsistent with its low publication volume, Hammad Medical Corps of Qatar had the highest citation impact score of 16.33. Global collaboration for RTI research was highest between Saudi Arabia and the United States. The most prevalent publication journal for the region was Accident Analysis and Prevention. The most common keywords were “ road traffic accidents” and “ road traffic injuries”; terms such as “ mobile phones”, “ pedestrian safety”, “ pedestrians”, and “ distracted driving” were least common. In the five most productive GCC nations with respect to RTI research (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman), researchers tended to publish works related to road traffic safety in traffic safety-oriented journals. Conclusions: The quantity and quality of RTI publications in GCC is insufficient to meet the increasing related public health and economic burden in the region. The trends among publication volumes, citations, and impact were inconsistent. There is a lack of research collaboration among the institutions. Most of the research related to RTI is being conducted by researchers with a medical background. Research focusing on pedestrians, cyclists and road user behavior is also inadequate.

Bibliometric analysis of road traffic injuries research in the Gulf Cooperation Council region.

Background: Despite governmental interventions, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region continues to experience higher road traffic crash and fatality rates relative to Western nations. This trend suggests a potential disconnect between Road Traffic Injuries (RTI) research and the mitigation measures put in place. Method: Here, we present an in-depth bibliometric analysis to obtain a comprehensive understanding of RTI research in the GCC region. The Web of Science database was used to search and retrieve the relevant articles during the period of 1981-2019. Results: The volume of RTI research increased from 2015-2019, suggesting an increased focus on traffic safety in the GCC region. Saudi Arabia had the highest RTI research productivity level (126 publications); Bahrain had the lowest (7 publications). Inconsistent with its low publication volume, Hammad Medical Corps of Qatar had the highest citation impact score of 16.33. Global collaboration for RTI research was highest between Saudi Arabia and the United States. The most prevalent publication journal for the region was Accident Analysis and Prevention. The most common keywords were " road traffic accidents" and " road traffic injuries"; terms such as " mobile phones", " pedestrian safety", " pedestrians", and " distracted driving" were least common. In the five most productive GCC nations with respect to RTI research (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman), researchers tended to publish works related to road traffic safety in traffic safety-oriented journals. Conclusions: The quantity and quality of RTI publications in GCC is insufficient to meet the increasing related public health and economic burden in the region. The trends among publication volumes, citations, and impact were inconsistent. There is a lack of research collaboration among the institutions. Most of the research related to RTI is being conducted by researchers with a medical background. Research focusing on pedestrians, cyclists and road user behavior is also inadequate.