From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Arab states of the Persian Gulf
Arab states of the Persian Gulf
Culture and politics
Main article: Culture of the Arab States of the Persian
Gulf
The Persian Gulf Arab states share a regional culture that
is sometimes referred to as "khaleeji (gulf) culture". They
all speak the Gulf Arabic and share similar music styles
(sawt, fijiri, ardha, liwa etc.), cuisine, dress, etc. Most
Arabs living near the Persian Gulf also trace their ances-
try back to Arab tribes of either Najd (in what is now cen-
tral Saudi Arabia) or Yemen. Iraq has a culture which is
unique and distinct from the Gulf states, which is the rea-
son why it is not considered a Gulf state.
All six of these states are hereditary monarchies with
limited political representation. Only Bahrain (Majlis al-
Nuwab) and Kuwait (National Assembly) have legisla-
tures with popularly elected members.
The Sultanate of Oman also has an advisory council
Arab states of the Persian Gulf
(Majlis ash-Shura) that is popularly elected. In the UAE -
which is a federation of seven monarchical emirates - the
"Arab states of the Persian Gulf" or "Arab Persian Gulf
Federal National Council also functions only as an advi-
states" or "Persian Gulf Arab states" or "Arabic Persian
sory body, and now has a portion of its members elect-
Gulf",
Gulf states" or "Arab States of The Gulf" are terms that
ed from a small electoral college nominated by the seven
refer to the six Arab states of Saudi Arabia, United Arab
Rulers. In Qatar, an elected national parliament has been
Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, bordering
mooted and is written into the new constitution, but no
the Persian Gulf. These six nations are part of the Gulf
elections have yet been held.[1]
Cooperation Council (GCC). Although Iraq is considered
an Arab state and shares a small border with the Persian
Gulf, it is not usually included in the designation. See also
• Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), aka Cooperation
Economy Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (CCASG)
• Arab League
All of the Arab states of the Persian Gulf have significant
• Iran-Arab relations for information on Iran’s relations
revenues from oil and gas and, with the exception of Sau-
with Arab countries
di Arabia, have small local populations. This has raised
their per capita incomes to higher than those of their
neighbors. To meet the labor shortages they host large References
numbers of temporary non-citizen economic migrants [1] Gerd Nonneman, ’Political Reform in the Gulf
from South Asia (mostly India) and Southeast Asia (most- Monarchies: Fom Liberalisation to
ly the Philippines and Indonesia). In the past there were Democratisation? A Comparative Perspective’, in
also significant numbers of immigrants from Jordan, Syr- Anoushiravan Ehteshami and Steven Wright
ia, Lebanon, Yemen and Egypt. (eds.)(2007), Reform in the Middle East Oil Monarchies,
In addition, pearl diving and the pearl industry was ISBN 978-0863723230, pp. 3-45.
the main economic activity of many of these countries
(particularly Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and
Kuwait). The pearling industry collapsed in the 1930s af- Further reading
ter the development of cultured pearl methods, especial- • Hichem Karoui: U.S. Foreign Policy In The Gulf After
ly in Japan. September 11
• Historical Dictionary of the Gulf Arab States
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Arab states of the Persian Gulf
• J. E. Peterson (1998), The Arab Gulf States: Steps Toward • Global Trends in Gulf and Middle East Population
Political Participation, ISBN 0-275-92881-0 Evolution
• Anoushiravan Ehteshami and Steven Wright • Popular Culture and Political Identity in the Arab
(eds.)(2007), Reform in the Middle East Oil Monarchies, Gulf States, eds. Alanoud Alsharekh, Robert
ISBN 978-0863723230 Springborg, Saqi Books, 2008
• F. Gregory, III Gause (1994), Oil Monarchies: Domestic
and Security Challenges in the Arab Gulf States, ISBN
0-87609-151-6
External links
• Atif A. Kubursi (1984), Oil, Industrialization and • Gulf Research Center
Development in the Arab Gulf States, ISBN 0-7099-1566-7 • Gulf2000
• Gordon Robison (1996), Lonely Planet: Arab Gulf States,
ISBN 0-86442-390-X
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_states_of_the_Persian_Gulf&oldid=469043693"
Categories:
• Persian Gulf countries
• Arabian Peninsula
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