International variables and their impact on the flow of foreign direct investment in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

Abstract

Abstract:

The six Arab Gulf states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE) play a vital role, especially with its geographical location and natural  resources (oil and gas) as well as other cultural and civilizational elements, in achieving  global economic balance and more specifically global energy security, naturally  because of  these countries have a comparative advantage in the field of fossil energy (oil and gas), thus this sector becomes more attractive for local and international investments alike. Being  the energy sector a leader sector in the economic development process, and the basic factor to achieve savings and financial surpluses in these countries for several decades .

  Foreign direct investment has become principal reason to achieve growth and develop the ability for competiveness of many countries, even those possess mineral and natural resources, and achieving financial abundance and surpluses in public finances including the six Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC), which began  encouraging foreign investment and attempts for serious reforms in the economic, legal and administrative systems to improve the investment environment in the world as a whole, and managed some of these countries to find sectors attract foreign investment as a sector petrochemicals, construction, and the establishment of free zones to attract investment to these areas.

   This research focuses on international variables can play an influential role in increasing investment flows or reduce them, and these variables are different in origin and influence and try to focus in this paper on the effects of these variables and the strength of interdependence with the internal environment in those countries.