The Changing Nature of Information Behavior and the Information Environment: Challenges for LIS in the Arab Gulf States

Background

In 1981, the six Arab Gulf countries of Saudi Arabia--Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and the UAE--formed the Gulf Co-operation Council, with the objective of facilitating “coordination, integration and inter-connection between them in all fields” (The Cooperation Council for The Arab States of the Gulf, 1981). Collectively, these countries cover around 3 million sq. kilometers and have a total population of about 30 million, 27 million of whom live in the largest of the GCC states, Saudi Arabia. (Al-Mulhim, 2012) These oil rich countries have experienced rapid development since the Gulf oil boom of the early 1970s and have encouraged high levels of labor in-migration to meet the demands of their growing economies. There is high population growth across the region from natural increase as well as immigration: the total population has been forecast to increase to 53 million in 2020, with the majority under 25 years of age (Economist Intelligence Unit, 2009).

The oil reserves on which these countries have built their economies are projected to run out in the near future, and policymakers are now turning their attention to the pressing need to diversify economies to reduce their dependency on oil (Business Monitor International, 2010). Already, between 60 and 70% of GDP in the UAE and Bahrain is accounted for by sectors other than the oil industry (Samba Financial Group, 2011).