Durham Middle East Papers THE GULF BEYOND THE ‘ARCHETYPAL’: EXPLORING INTERCONNECTIONS AS WELL AS DISTINCTIVENESS A return journey from the UAE to Oman1 James Page Durham Middle East Paper No. 98 Durham Middle East Papers Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Durham University Al-Qasimi Building Elvet Hill Road Durham THE GULF BEYOND THE ‘ARCHETYPAL’: Durham Middle East Papers No. 98 DH1 3TU ISSN 1476-4830 Tel: +44 (0)191 3345680 September 2019 EXPLORING INTERCONNECTIONS AS WELL AS DISTINCTIVENESS A return journey from the UAE to Oman1 The Durham Middle East Papers series covers all aspects of the economy, politics, social science, history, literature and languages of the Middle East. Authors are invited to submit papers to the Editorial Board for consideration for publication. James Page The views expressed in this paper are the author(s) alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or IMEIS. All Rights Reserved. This paper cannot James Page is an Honorary Fellow, School of Government and International Affairs, be photocopied or reproduced without prior permission. University of Durham, UK, where he is currently completing his PhD. © James Page and Durham University, 2019 Durham Middle East Paper No. 98 All photos © JM Page About The Institute Editorial Board The Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (IMEIS), within the Professor Anoush Ehteshami Dr Colin Turner School of Government & International Affairs, is a Social Science-focused Exofficio member Reader in Islamic Thought in academic institute of excellence, research-led in ethos, with a track-record of Professor of International Relations the School of Government and internationally acclaimed research outputs across all sub-areas of its activity. in the School of Government and International Affairs Success in this respect obtains largely from the interdisciplinary nature of International Affairs the Institute’s activities and the fruitful interaction of political economists, Dr Carly Beckerman political scientists, historians and Islamicists, as well as with colleagues from Professor Clive Jones Art editor Professor of Regional Security in Assistant Professor in the Anthropology, Arabic, Archaeology, Geography, Business – all linked together the School of Government and International Relations of the Middle by their collective focus on the study of the Middle East and the Muslim world International Affairs, Durham East in the School of Government and in the widest sense. University International Affairs Dr May Darwich Assistant Professor in the About the Papers International Relations of the Middle East in the School of Government and Established in the early 1970s the multidisciplinary series includes topics on International Affairs all aspects of the social sciences and arts in the Middle East, written by leading and emerging scholars in their respective fields. Advisory Board Professor Rory Miller Professor James Piscatori Georgetown University, Doha Australian National University Professor Beverly Milton-Edwards Sir Harold Walker, KCMG Queen’s University, Belfast Member, Luce Foundation Mr Richard Muir, CMG Chair, Luce Committee 4 5 This article proceeds in three main parts, firstly, ‘archetypal’ these also ‘Gulf State’ claims are examined “... demonstrating the usefulness of interrogating such claims, raise significant and in consequence revealing the contrasting or even juxtaposed case of Oman in questions about INTRODUCTION comparison to claims about the UAE. Secondly, the case of Oman is further examined issues of current Claims of an ‘archetypal’ ‘Gulf State’, or ‘the’ ‘archetypal’ ‘Gulf State’ appear to detailing commonalities, be growing. This article asserts that this has implications for understanding interconnections and such states, past, current and future in terms of international relations broadly distinctiveness among claims and prospective conceived. Furthermore, although such claims are immediately satisfying in view of ‘archetypal’ ‘Gulf-States’ of current and readily identifiable trends, upon closer examination – such as in and in comparison with the the case of the UAE and also in comparison with Oman – they prove difficult to UAE (with which it has close importance to substantiate as well as sustain. Nonetheless, exploration of such claims can and links). Subsequently, Oman’s does reveal important continuities, change and distinctiveness through which increasing significance in pertinent understanding of the region the region and ‘Globally’/ the Gulf...” and relations in and between states and internationally is set out, as “Claims of an others can be informed. This comes is the increasing pressure for it to economically diversify, with economic and amid rapid political and economic political implications. Tourism features prominently in such diversification ‘archetypal’ ‘Gulf change in the region, and continuing efforts, dimensions of which are explored with prominent claims considered prospects for this. Indeed, it is argued prior to and during a return journey from the UAE to Oman. Other related here that this is particularly evident international relations issues are also considered concomitantly, as appropriate. State’, or ‘the’ in the case of Oman, a state with deep In conclusion, it’s found that the circumstances, situation and issues involved ties to the UAE but also increasing are more complex than prominent claims or related theory provide for. Yet, ‘archetypal’ ‘Gulf distinctiveness, which appears not these also raise significant questions about issues of current and prospective to be as well understood as it might, importance to the Gulf – and Oman in particular – as Gulf States experience given contemporary developments continuities, change, and challenges in a rapidly changing region. State’ appear to and appropriate context. In turn, Oman’s diversification efforts are ‘Archetypal’ ‘Gulf State Claims be growing...” addressed and in particular the priority of tourism, given its rapidly reducing The UAE sees prominent claims by some that it constitutes an ‘archetypal’, hydrocarbon reserves (and as compared with the UAE). This is done via the and perhaps ‘the’ ‘archetypal’, ‘Gulf State’ with regard to the economic social aforementioned claim aspects and prominent claims pertinent to this area, and political hubs located, supported and developed by it, which stand out 2 3 4 which are subsequently explored. The latter specifically relate to claims of what in the region. Such claims see considerable, if not predominant, focus is an ‘authentic’ ‘Gulf State’ and what is ‘old Arabia’, which are also employed upon largely urban aspects where many hub-related activities are evident, 5 6 7 as heuristics in order to shed further light on significant political, economic for example, in high profile initiatives, events, visits, and facilities in the 8 9 and cultural matters in the region with particular focus on Oman. Historically metropoles of ‘Global’ Dubai and the capital Abu Dhabi. Whilst apparently limited access to Oman and limited literature on this increasingly important increasingly distant from oil and gas (hydrocarbons), income derived from intersection of issues provides key rationales for this enquiry and approach. these remains highly important to the UAE, underpinning its economic and 6 7 political rise,10 and to which these hubs are inextricably linked. Indeed, this aforementioned ‘archetypal’ claims in the world’s transportation systems places the aforementioned ‘archetypal’ claims in important context, as wealth and their implications. For Oman, –34 and the on-going importance of derived from hydrocarbons has often been cited as a ‘typical feature’11 of Gulf although not as prominent in the hydrocarbons to the world’s economic States, for whom a substantial proportion of their nominal GDP comes from region as the UAE has become, and activity, investment, and growth.35 these sources.12 More significantly, and amid the aforementioned ‘archetypal’ despite considerable challenges, is a The Gulf and Oman thus have claims, the UAE of all Gulf States, is arguably one of the least likely to experience locus of relative calm, discretion, and influential situations in international a dramatic change in wealth derived from hydrocarbons in the coming couple particular capacities in the Gulf.27 relations broadly conceived, and as of decades, yet it also does not have the largest such reserves.13 This is even It is also uniquely quite literally economic and trade-related matters as it very publicly endeavours to: diversify economically; alter its economic situated at the forefront of major are often referred to in the context and political posture; and, develop its place in the region and more broadly, economic (and associated political) of the global36 and of ‘globalization’.37 as well impressions of it.14 15 As such, it becomes evident that ‘archetypal’ developments in the region. This is Indeed, in terms of international ‘Gulf State’ claims regarding the UAE may be substantially challenged on such given that it uniquely adjoins four trade (increasingly referred to in grounds, and upon closer examination an ‘archetypal’ ‘Gulf State’ appears increasingly critical geo-political28 recent decades as ‘global’):38 “[e] less, or even far from clear-cut. Yet, such claims also indicate and draw out and geo-strategic29 stretches of nergy imports from the Middle East, aspects, developments and issues of interest among and between Gulf States water, namely: