ABSTRACT
Building on the basis of the Koranic school system, Kuwait and Bahrain started to introduce modern education as early as the 1920s, and publishing and newspaper production started around the same time. People were thus already prepared for the great wave of economic and social development made possible by oil revenues. The oil states have channelled a substantial proportion of their oil revenues into building up a welfare state to enable all citizens to benefit from their national wealth. The welfare system includes free education and health, cheap power, water and fuel, free or subsidised housing and a host of incentives to promote the citizens’ economic activities. The programme of subsidies in the Gulf is designed not only to alleviate the economic burdens of rapid development on residents, but also to stimulate their participation in the development process. Co-operation between the Gulf States is gaining momentum in a number of spheres—political, economic and cultural.
