A Political Economy of Free Zones in Gulf Arab States

This is the first book-length empirical study of free zones (FZs) in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The volume systematically illustrates the development processes behind FZs in Gulf Arab states and assesses the impact of these commercial entities on regional integration, global trade and investment trends, and the Gulf’s foreign relations. In the process, the work maps how economic strategies involving FZs evolve alongside varying levels of resource availability and state capacity on a local level while also revealing how development paths in Gulf Arab states are linked to regional and global accumulation circuits. FZ development is an under-examined topic in the wider literature on the Gulf. The empirical findings and theoretical implications of the work therefore offer an original contribution to prevailing political economy discussions concerning the Gulf region.

"An insightful and original contribution that fills a gap in the GCC political economy literature on the prevalence and practices in Gulf Arab free zones.  Based on meticulous on the ground research and vast interviews, Mogielnicki draws on the history and future prospects of these zones while shedding light on the multiple government, private and individual actors invested in these projects.  This book is essential reading for anyone seeking more nuanced understanding of the political economy of the Arab Gulf states." (-Dr Sanam Vakil: Deputy Director  Senior Research Fellow, Middle East North Africa Programme, Chatham House.)

“Free zones are a key, understudied aspect of the rentier state in the Gulf – a key workaround that facilitate international business operations while preserving domestic patronage structures. Robert Mogielnicki provides a wide-ranging, theoretically nuanced analysis of the phenomenon, reflecting a deep understanding of boththe economic and political context of free zones.” (-Dr Steffen Hertog: Associate Professor in Comparative Politics, The London School of Economics and Political Science.)

“At last a comprehensive presentation and analysis of the Gulf’s Free Zones!  We learn all about the business of the zones, but more importantly we get a detailed view of the politics and social engineering that undergird the creation and management of the free zones.  This monograph is a must for all who study the Arab Gulf.” (-Jean-François Seznec: Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Energy of the Atlantic Council  Scholar at the Middle East Institute.)

"Robert Mogielnicki makes a highly original and valuable contribution to the studies of the political economy of the Gulf region. Mogielnicki uses the analysis of free zones – a subject that has long been neglected in the literature on the Gulf region – as a lens to explain how local elites extract and distribute rent.By illuminating the political and institutional mechanisms that shape the functioning of the free zones, Mogielnicki provides a conceptually innovative take on previously unexplored nonhydrocarbon economic structures. His extensive original data and high-quality field research help the book in convincingly unpacking the comparative variations in outcomes of free zone projects across the region. This analysis will only become more important in the future as Gulf countries move to reform and diversify their economies. In refining our theoretical understanding of rentier state theory, the book’s relevance goes far beyond the Gulf region." (-Prof. Luigi Narbone: Director, Middle East Directions Programme, European University Institute.)

Dr. Robert Mogielnicki is a Resident Scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington DC, USA.