The Non-petroleum large scale industries in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC)

Abstract

Since the early 1970s, the GCC countries have adopted the industrial development strategy as a way to achieve the economic diversification instead of depending on the oil and gas exporting; the main source of their revenues. The most known large scaled industries in the region are the petroleum linked industries such as refineries, petrochemicals and fertilizer. However, the industrial map of the six countries shows now that the non-petroleum industries have been established in all GCC countries. These include very heavy industries such as iron and steel, aluminum, cement industries and others. This research paper presents a picture of the status of the non-petroleum industries in the region. Also, the paper will discuss the encouraged factors, the policies and the sequences of the non-petroleum industries. These all will direct us to measure the importance ratio of this group comparing to other main existed industries.