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Although its contributions to global science date from 1980, Qatar embarked on an ambitious plan in 2009 to position itself as an important hub for global research production. This paper assesses Qatar’s contribution over the past three decades to global research output and science productivity in STEM+ fields, as measured by scientific journal article production.

The core of the analysis is based on a specially coded dataset of all peer-reviewed journal articles in the STEM+ disciplines with at least one author whose primary affiliation was a Qatar-based research organization. The original data source is Thomson Reuters’ Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE). Analyzing trends between 1980 (the first year in which a paper with a Qatar-based author appeared in these selected leading journals) and 2011, the chapter documents how scientific journal article production in Qatar has developed over three decades.

Between 1980 and 2002, rates of journal article production were relatively low. From 2003, reflecting considerable investments in higher education and research, the annual number of journal article publications increased dramatically. Most publications were authored by university-based scientists (58%) and scientists based at research hospitals or other medical research facilities (30%). By 2011, over 83% of scientific journal articles published with at least one Qatar-based author were the result of collaboration with international partners. European, North American, and Middle Eastern research scientists and organizations were the most common international collaborators.

This is the first comprehensive empirical study of Qatar’s contributions to global scientific production in the STEM+ disciplines.

This case study of the State of Qatar examines government educational policy and economic development in Qatar’s strategy to diversify its oil and gas-based economy into knowledge production. Qatar presents a particularly interesting case since its substantial investments in the past decade in education, Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), research and development (R&D), and coastal development and tourism are all highly intertwined both in practice and from a national policy perspective. Armed with billions of dollars of sovereign wealth funds (SWF) from its gas and oil industries, the government of Qatar has embarked on both domestic and overseas investment campaigns including education, sports, internet and telecommunications, healthcare, overseas land purchases (food security), cultural institutions and museums, increased desalinated water capacity, and coastal development and tourism projects. Education and research, most notably Qatar Foundation’s Education City, Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), and the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), stand at the heart of Qatar’s investment in human development and long-term economic and social sustainability. Despite large outlays in knowledge economy initiatives, the country, however, is facing significant challenges in rapid population growth, reliance on expatriate labor for its skilled labor needs, an underdeveloped education system, and an undiversified economy which revolves around hydrocarbon rents.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the current state of the knowledge-based economy in two distinctive case studies in the Arab World: Qatar and Lebanon. Based on five aspects of the knowledge-based economy namely: ICT, human capital and education; innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic and institutional regime, we provide a careful view of the obstacles and challenges that Qatar and Lebanon are facing and how this is hindering their transformation to a knowledge-based economy.

The methodology of this research is based on a literature review and information collected through semi-structured interviews with the different stakeholders of the knowledge-based economy in Qatar and Lebanon.

The research reveals that numerous factors shape the knowledge-based economy in Qatar and Lebanon. In Qatar, the main strength of the knowledge-based economy is the determination of the Qatari government to diversify the economy and the main weaknesses are the shortage of qualified human resources, the fear of failure and the low performance of the innovation system. In Lebanon, the knowledge-based economy is driven by the education system and the entrepreneurship culture, nevertheless the political instability of the country and the weak ICT infrastructure impede its development.

These findings contribute to the clarification and critical analysis of the current state of the knowledge-based economy in Qatar and Lebanon, which would have several policy implications.

This paper seeks to provide an overview of the concept of “localization” of human resources in Qatar. Relative to the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCCCs), economic development began late in Qatar due to political and economic factors such as the influx of an immigrant labour force and changes in the education system. Now, with one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and the highest per capita income, Qatar has vigorously embraced rapid economic expansion. However, in a small country awash with natural resources, and with a population engulfed by expatriates, the issue of “localization” is a pressing economic and social issue.

This paper reviews the national human resource situation in this atypical context, and seeks to determine the factors that impact on “localization” in this small, yet important Gulf nation.

There are some common barriers to “localization” throughout the GCCCs. These can be summarized as: an inefficient quota system; a culture that is focused more on prestige than performance; strict cultural practices concerning women in the workforce; education systems that are not market driven; and an inequitable social contract and distribution of oil and natural gas wealth in the GCCCs.

While much attention has been directed to the concept of “localization” in developing countries, “Qatarization” has received no attention in the scholarly literature, despite the resounding political and economic role that Qatar has in the GCCCs.

This research examines the role of women in shaping sustainable urban development in Gulf cities. It focuses on heritage preservation and urban regeneration, examining projects commissioned by women in Qatar and Bahrain, which are revitalizing heritage, creating gender-sensitive public spaces and implementing sustainable development. Furthermore, it questions the role of these projects to inspire the next generation of female designers and cultural influencers, while also introducing innovative approaches to sustainable design and heritage regeneration.

Presented at the Gulf Research Meeting in Cambridge as part of a workshop entitled “Women in the GCC Socio-economic Contributions to the Urbanisation of Gulf Countries” the paper proposes the framework of SDG11 (sustainable cities and communities) and the SDG5 (equity integration of women into the workforce) to discuss the status, challenges and aspirations for integrated future urbanization of desert cultures in the GCC and to achieve the desired net-zero urbanization in deserts and drylands that are part of Gulf countries’ strategic development plans. The methodology uses case studies in Qatar and Bahrain and examines them through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals indicators (SDG 5–SDG 11). It begins by looking at the National context to examine how the SDGs 5 and 11 are being achieved, what indicators are being used and how both countries are scoring.

The preliminary research findings reveal that both Qatar and Bahrain are reporting on these SDGs that relate to Women and Urbanization, and that the two cases studies demonstrate that certain indicators on women’s empowerment and sustainability can be fulfilled and highlighted through these female led urban projects – Msheireb Downtown and the Muharraq Pearling Path. The projects also contribute to the education and training of young female architects through commissions, internships and seminars.

This is an exploratory research in an emerging field and can lead to further and deeper enquiries into how the SDGs 5 and 11 are being implemented and reported on in Gulf countries, as well as how women in leadership, urban policy and design can contribute to more sustainable, inclusive and female friendly cities, as well to gender mainstreaming in urban design.

This study aims to evaluate the impact of Law No. 11 of 2018 on Islamic Financial Institutions in Aceh, Indonesia. It also aims to understand the balance between the economic rights of individuals under Shariah law and the broader concept of God’s rights, as interpreted by this legislation. In addition, the research argues that the implementation of Law No. 11 of 2018 is untimely, with a focus on examining its influence on the cumulative abnormal return (CAR) of Shariah banks and its slight contribution to the direct economic impact.

This study adopts a mixed-methods approach that integrates qualitative and quantitative analyses. The qualitative aspect uses a black-letter law approach for legislative scrutiny, whereas the quantitative aspect assesses economic indicators and firm performance using an event study analysis. The study also includes a two-tailed assessment to test hypotheses related to the law’s direct impact on institutional performance.

The study reveals that Law No. 11 of 2018 had minimal impact on national-scale corporate performance and a notable increase in poverty indices in Aceh, indicating a potential misalignment between the law’s intention and its economic consequences. The results also show the law’s ineffectiveness in significantly influencing the CAR of Islamic banks, highlighting a clash of norms and a lack of substantial economic substance in the implementation of Shariah compliance.

This research is geographically and legally focused on Aceh, Indonesia, with a short-term analysis that may not fully capture the long-term impacts. It primarily considers the stock price performance of specific institutions for quantitative analysis and identifies potential clashes and disharmony-in-law implementation from a qualitative perspective.

The findings suggest the need for legal frameworks that better comply Shariah principles with economic realities. Regional governments should consider modifying policies to balance religious values and economic objectives.

This research highlights the importance of balancing religious obligations with economic rights, indicating that strict interpretations of religious law can lead to adverse socioeconomic effects.

This study is unique in its comprehensive analysis of the convergence between religious law and economic rights, offering insights into the challenges faced in implementing Shariah-based economic policies in diverse economies, such as Indonesia.

This study aims to examine the potential influence of Nonfungible Tokens (NFTs) and the Metaverse on the Halal tourism industry, with a particular emphasis on Halal brands and hotel booking platforms. This study also purpose to uncover the opportunities and challenges associated with the adoption of these technologies in the sector.

A qualitative research approach is employed, encompassing a comprehensive literature review of the halal tourism industry, NFTs and the Metaverse. Furthermore, this study utilizes case studies of brands and hotel-booking platforms that have experimented with or integrated these technologies. This study aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the implications of digital technologies in the context of the halal tourism industry.

The study uncovered several opportunities provided by NFTs and the Metaverse for the Halal tourism industry, such as enhanced authentication and traceability of halal products and immersive experiences tailored to Muslim travelers. However, it also identifies challenges including compliance with Islamic principles, data privacy, cybersecurity and equitable access to technology.

While the study has several significant implications, it acknowledges potential limitations related to the nascent nature of NFTs and the Metaverse. Future research should delve deeper into ethical, legal and socioeconomic issues surrounding the application of these technologies in the halal tourism industry.

The findings of this study have practical implications for halal brands, hotel-booking platforms and regulators. This study provides a roadmap for harnessing the transformative power of NFTs and the Metaverse while addressing potential challenges.

This research underlines the necessity for collaboration among industry stakeholders, technology providers and regulators to ensure equitable access and adherence to Islamic principles. This study preserves a more inclusive and ethically compliant use of these technologies, potentially shaping the future of the halal tourism industry.

This study focuses on the intersection of NFTs, the Metaverse and the Halal tourism industry. It provides fresh insights into the transformative potential of these technologies, aiding halal brands and hotel booking platforms in creating distinctive value propositions and experiences.

This paper reflects on recent events in the global football landscape and their implications for the Middle East, especially in their ambitious aspiration to be the future destination of the sport.

By drawing on a mixture of interviews, personal observation and a documentary analysis of scholarly papers on sports marketing in general and comparable “small-time” football leagues in England, the study takes on a qualitative approach.

Even though the tiny Gulf state of Qatar has “controversially” won the hosting rights of the greatest football event in the world (i.e. FIFA 2022), the FIFA world ranking of the State puts it just within the top 100 global footballing nations (ranked no. 95 as at November 2011). Its sibling, the UAE, fares even worse. However both countries have made the most investments in the sport of football in recent years.

This paper does not place emphasis on futures studies per se, but does, in any case, suggest how the Middle East may be shaping their future in football along the six-pillars identified in the literature, which could also become a potential area for future research enquiry.

Countries with established leagues, including Australia, England and the USA recently lost the FIFA World Cup hosting rights to Russia for 2018 and “little known” (in football terms) Qatar for 2022. All these have implications for the future of football in the Middle East, and this paper investigates the sustainability of the discourse and its implication for the global sport, not the least in the Middle East.

With recent developments in global football, it is useful to understand how West Asia in particular has responded to the challenges and/or concerns of their legitimacy. This discussion is scant in the literature and this study draws attention to this trend considering the millions of dollars that have been spent by governments to improve their world ranking. Whether these investments confer on the Middle East the title of “future football destination” is a matter open to debate. This is exactly where the pioneering effort of this paper lies.