How will they create enough well-paying jobs for the Gulfs fast-growing population of young people?
Widespread unemployment would pose risks to the stability of the region. To keep up with growing populations, we calculate the Gulf states will need to create more than 4 million new jobs for its citizens over the next decadea tall order for a region in which just 4.8 million citizens are employed today. And though the government has been the primary employer of Gulf nationals, the private sector will need to become the chief job creator. • How will they ensure the Gulf States’ investment decisions do not shake global financial markets? Sovereign investors, not only from the GCC but also from Asia and other regions, have now become so big that their actions have ripple effects for markets around the world. So far, sovereign wealth funds have been prudent, sophisticated investors. But as Gulf funds shift from being passive investors to a more active approacha trend we are already seeinganxieties about their actions are likely to intensify. As worldscale players, they have a responsibili
