Inside Story - What Will Happen When the Gulf Countries' Oil Runs Out?

The International Monetary Fund has some advice for countries in the Gulf: Diversify, and diversify fast. The oil, that’s made many Gulf countries extremely wealthy, is not going to last forever. And the IMF’s 2017 report is predicting the worst growth rate for the region since the global financial collapse several years ago.

Economies in the region have been suffering since oil prices fell dramatically in 2014. Attempts to curb oil production have only slightly raised revenue. And the Gulf Cooperation Council diplomatic crisis that began in June has only made the situation worse.

The IMF says Qatar and its blockading neighbours could have trouble finding investors if the crisis continues. So what are the alternatives?

Presenter: Jane Dutton | Guests: Jane Kinninmont, Deputy Head and Senior Research Fellow at the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House; Cornelia Meyer, oil-and-gas specialist; Khaled Al Khater, Specialist in Monetary Policy and Political Economy