Reference Guide to the Gulf’s Economic Transformation

This encyclopedia provides neutral, factual reference entries on the institutions, policies, infrastructure projects, and economic concepts that shape Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and Bahrain Economic Vision 2030. Each entry is written as a standalone reference — concise enough for quick consultation, detailed enough for substantive understanding.

The entries span both economies and cover the full institutional architecture of Gulf economic transformation: sovereign wealth funds that deploy hundreds of billions in capital, national oil companies that generate the revenues funding diversification, financial regulators building competing international centres, workforce nationalisation policies reshaping labour markets, and infrastructure projects connecting these economies to global trade flows.

How to Use This Encyclopedia

Entries are organised alphabetically and cross-referenced where relevant. Each covers the essential facts — founding date, mandate, scale, and significance within the Vision 2030 framework. For deeper institutional analysis, the corresponding sections of this platform provide extended profiles and comparative assessments.

Scope

The encyclopedia covers three categories of subject matter. Institutions include sovereign wealth funds, national companies, regulators, development agencies, banks, exchanges, airlines, and defence conglomerates. Policies and frameworks encompass workforce nationalisation programmes, tax regimes, visa policies, trade agreements, and regulatory architectures. Infrastructure and projects range from nuclear power plants and petrochemical complexes to cultural landmarks and motorsport circuits.

Coverage focuses on Abu Dhabi and Bahrain but includes regional entities and international frameworks — the Gulf Cooperation Council, OPEC+, AAOIFI, and the Abraham Accords — where these directly shape the operating environment for Vision 2030 delivery.