Document Type : Research Articles

Author

• Zaid Ali Al-Fadhil

Political Researcher and Director of the Cultural Program at the Gulf Research Center

Abstract

This study explores the evolution of the concept of identity among the peoples of the Arabian Peninsula, who historically lived in a relatively homogenous environment in terms of intellectual, political, and even economic determinants. The research investigates how the defining features of identity have shifted over time, influenced by various political contexts across historical periods. It raises critical questions such as: How have these determinants changed with the advent of Islam as a religion? What has been the impact of the emergence of the modern nation-state on the concept of identity? These and other related issues are addressed throughout the paper, with the goal of understanding the nature and structure of contemporary identity in the states of the Arabian Peninsula. The study further examines the local and pan-Arab elements that have contributed to the formation of modern national identities in the region. Special attention is given to the role of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as a political entity in fostering a shared, collective identity that has endured for decades, even as many other sub-identities in the Arab world have faded or weakened. This focus reflects a key contribution of the study, especially in light of the extensive scholarly attention given to identity in other parts of the Arab world, while relatively little has been devoted to the identity dynamics within the Arabian Peninsula and the GCC countries. To address these questions, the researcher employs a historical inductive approach to trace the development of identity from the pre-Islamic era, through various Islamic periods, and into the contemporary era. The study also utilizes discourse analysis tools to uncover the foundational elements and driving forces behind the formation of Gulf identity. It highlights the fusion of diverse populations—not traditionally considered part of the Gulf coastal demographic, such as inhabitants from central (Najd), western (Hijaz), northern, and southern Saudi Arabia, as well as western regions of the Sultanate of Oman—who have all coalesced into a unified understanding of Gulf identity, both in its semantic construction and its strategic dimension.

Keywords

• Identity
• Gulf Identity
• Shared Identity
• Arabian Peninsula
• Intellectual, Political, and Economic Determinants