The Gulf States: Geographic Unity and Political Fragmentation

... Iran is likewise a major and indigenous Gulf state. If, however, the term is intended to refer exclusively to Arab countries, then Iraq also has access to the Gulf, albeit through a relatively short coastline. In practical usage, however, the term “Gulf states” refers only to the six Arab countries of Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain. This is geographically valid insofar as all six possess coastlines on the Gulf, yet it remains only a partial truth, because the term is more political than geographic. It reflects ...