The Rise of the Gulf

Since the 70s, the Persian Gulf States have known an unprecedented rise in the Arab world. For the first time, this documentary tells the incredible tale of the metamorphosis of the Gulf’s emirates over the course of the last century.

Once villages, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai have quickly hoisted themselves into the highest ranks of international finance, culture, education and diplomacy, and have become the Middle East’s most dynamic centres. Their vision of the post-oil era has been shaped by a previous, difficult transition – the collapse of pearl trade, for centuries the main source of prosperity. But the discovery of oil opened up a whole new era, and with economic growth came political independence.

A new generation of rulers appeared, with a vision for the Gulf’s future. Their ambition is to achieve sustainable growth without relying only on hydrocarbon reserves – and they have considered the post-oil era more thoughtfully than most of their foreign customers.