Chapter 27. The Economics of Migration in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries

The GCC countries are among the top destinations for foreign workers from neighboring Arab and Asian countries. The Gulf region is also the top remitter in the world. This chapter discusses the reasons that placed the GCC countries at the heart of the migration debate. To better understand the movements of people, the chapter presents a brief history of migration to the region with an analysis of labor market data. The chapter also examines the consequences of migration on the local and regional economies. The current challenges to the region are also discussed.