Edited by Jalal Qanas, Assistant Professor of Economics, Department of Finance and Economics, Qatar University, Qatar and Malcolm C. Sawyer, Emeritus Professor of Economics, University of Leeds, UK

• ContentsPreface ix1 The role of entrepreneurial state in GCC economies inbuilding a long-term sustainable development 1Jalal Qanas and Malcolm Sawyer2 Economic diversification trends in the Gulf CooperationCouncil (GCC) countries: opportunities and challenges 18Nazar Hilal3 Determinants of economic diversification in GCC countries:Empirical study for the period (2000-2022) 41Adnan Aljawareen4 Catalysts of change: the role of strategic sovereign wealthfunds in the structural transformation of the GCC economies 66Duncan Mayall5 Economic diversification and sustainability in GCC countries:the role of information technology 89Umara Noreen, Attayah Shafique and Zaheer Ahmed6 Encouraging the growth of innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as a pivotal strategy for diversifyingresource-rich economies 108Husam Arman, Ahmad Alawadhi and Shaikha Al-Fulaij7 Green credit lines in the Gulf Cooperation Council:evaluating opportunities, overcoming challenges, andassessing the impact on energy transition in Qatar 133Islam Mohamed Mahmoud and Quosay Awad Ahmed8 Beyond rentierism: economic diversification, nation brandingand public diplomacy in the United Arab Emirates 165Omar Bortolazzi9 Hunger, stability and alliances diversification: the foodsecurity in the Gulf and opportunities to cooperate withArgentina 194Joel Foyth10 Leveraging cultural and creative industries for sustainableeconomic diversification in Qatar 216Maha Alshebani and Zariyah Zein

‘What a remarkable book about a region that many of us know just very little about. But given its growing geopolitical influence, we should definitely learn more about it. This book does that wonderfully. Edited by well-know heterodox economists, the book contains 10 well-written chapters that explore various themes, like sustainability and Wealth funds, among others, related to the Gulf countries. The editors assembled a remarkable list of authors that tackle familiar problems in a completely different context. Well done indeed. This book is a must read for those wanting to expand their knowledge of the economics of the Gulf countries or want to take a first step.’