Quarterly Journal of West Asian Studies
(Faṣlnāmah-i Gharb-i Asiyā)

Quarterly Journal of West Asian Studies (Faṣlnāmah-i Gharb-i Asiyā)

The role of the Persian Gulf countries in the future of global energy governance

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Ph.D. student of Energy Governance, Faculty of Governance, University of Tehran
2 Professor of Energy Policy, Faculty of Energy Engineering, Sharif University of Technology
10.22034/wasj.2026.573431.1124
Abstract
The global energy transition landscape will be shaped by the twin forces of climate change and technological change. In this regard, global energy governance, which means the set of international rules, institutions, and norms regulating the production, distribution, and consumption of energy, is undergoing fundamental transformation. This shift challenges the traditional paradigm of the dominance of the Persian Gulf states, which rely solely on their vast hydrocarbon reserves. This paper seeks to answer the question of what the role of the Persian Gulf states will be in the future of global energy governance. In response to this question, it is hypothesized that the Persian Gulf states can play an effective role in the future of global energy governance by investing in and developing new energy technologies and diversifying their energy portfolio. The research methodology of this paper will be based on the theoretical framework of energy security and data collection based on library resources. The results of this study show that the Persian Gulf states are transitioning from exporting crude oil to exporting value-added petroleum products and investing heavily in renewable energies, with the aim of becoming key players in renewable energies. These countries want to become the industrial hubs of the future, but they face challenges such as the gap between plans and implementation, technological competition, and dependence on oil revenues. The success of this transition will determine their future influence in global energy governance. However, given current trends, it seems likely that the Persian Gulf states will retain their oil identity.
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Volume 3, Issue 2 - Serial Number 9
Winter 2026
Pages 65-107

  • Receive Date 01 February 2026
  • Revise Date 23 February 2026
  • Accept Date 23 February 2026
  • First Publish Date 23 February 2026
  • Publish Date 22 June 2025