Over the last 10 years, the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) region, which comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has expanded its GDP by approximately 65% according to a report published by the Economist Intelligence Unit entitled "The GCC in 2020".

The King of Saudi Arabia announced sweeping changes in government that surprised many observers. The reshuffle affects top positions in education, the courts, the armed forces, the central bank, the religious police and the Shura Council.