Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Persian Gulf emirates are the seven independent Arab monarchies lining the southern coast of the Persian Gulf. All are major hydrocarbon exporters; most have diversified into finance, logistics, tourism, and tech.
| State | Capital | Population (2023 est.) | Key Economic Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bahrain | Manama | 1.5M | Finance, aluminum, tourism |
| Kuwait | Kuwait City | 4.3M (70% expat) | Oil (90% revenue), sovereign wealth fund |
| Oman | Muscat | 4.6M | Oil, gas, logistics (Duqm), tourism |
| Qatar | Doha | 2.7M (88% expat) | LNG (world's largest exporter), finance |
| Saudi Arabia (Eastern Province) | Riyadh | 36M | Oil (Aramco), Vision 2030 diversification |
| United Arab Emirates (Federation of 7) | Abu Dhabi | 9.5M (89% expat) | Oil, finance, tourism, real estate, tech |
"Emirate" = principality ruled by an emir. Saudi Arabia is a kingdom, not an emirate, but its Eastern Province functions as a Gulf emirate economically. Iran & Iraq (north coast) are non-Arab, non-emirate littoral states.