Transformation of the Arab Gulf Economies into Knowledge Economies: Motivational Issues Related to the Tertiary Education Sector

Over the past ten years, Arab Gulf states have made it an explicit aim to transform their economies into Knowledge Economies.However, changing economic platforms is no easy task for a state, and the success of a Knowledge Economy rests on the intricate relationship between knowledge, entrepreneurship, motivation, enabling economic and institutional regimes, and a great deal of other factors. The most common mistake for those transitioning (or aiming to transition) into a Knowledge Economy is the belief that the education of a state’s population will be sufficient to make the switch. The successful realization of a Knowledge Economy means fostering a special mindset among target societies, a mindset that focuses on building, on winning opportunities, on visions, and on creating a vibrant home base for globally competitive business.The crux of the issue, and the focus of this paper, is on the individual as the key to this transition. Since the individual holds the key, any realization of a Knowledge Economy depends on the willingness of individuals to participate within it. Accordingly, this paper will analyze the challenges faced by the GCC states in transforming into Knowledge Economies.