Abstract

The term “Gulf Cooperation Council” (or GCC) describes the special union of six neighboring countries in the Arabian Peninsula which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. These countries share a high degree of historical, economic, political and cultural affinity. Together, they represent some of the fastest growing economies in the world, hold a significant portion of the world’s oil reserves, and have generous social welfare systems for their citizens. In addition, they maintain key partnerships with Singapore, providing it with significant levels of hydrocarbon resources. However, the GCC is about much more than just oil and gas. This talk will introduce some of the shared elements between GCC countries while also examining some of their individual characteristics.