Tarek Sultan

“The Gulf has become a major centre of global trade, capital and, increasingly, technology. Over the past three decades, sustained investment in ports, airports, logistics infrastructure and connectivity has transformed the region’s role in the global economy. The greatest opportunity is for the Gulf to build on its position as a global trade hub and become the world’s most integrated, technology-enabled and resilient trade corridor, connecting Asia, Africa and Europe. The current Iran conflict has reinforced the urgency of that investment. Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has demonstrated the value of alternative routes and additional capacity. The region has already laid important foundations: Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline provides access to the Red Sea; its planned Landbridge railway will connect the Gulf coast with Jeddah; the UAE exports oil through Fujairah and is expanding port capacity on its eastern coast; and Oman’s ports provide direct access to the Indian Ocean. Greater integration across the GCC would allow goods, energy and data to move through multiple routes, making the region both a more competitive trade platform and a more resilient one.”