The international blue economy supports the livelihoods of over 3 billion people and feeds almost just as many. Where we rely heavily on food chains, cargo shipping, oil, and more, now we will use data, AI and, machine learning to transform into the new blue economy: a sustainable ecosystem and way of doing business that will not exasperate our resources in the short term, but will protect and elongate their continued use in the long term.
With the phase-out of fossil fuels and movements into EVs and renewables, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), consisting of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is eager to transition to sustainable development and the new blue economy, based on data collection and AI-driven strategies to gain a positive economic outcome.
In this article, we’ll discuss how the GCC’s workforce can prepare for the new blue economy, what the opportunities are, and what challenges they will face going forward.
One important consideration is whether people are interested in pursuing careers in the blue economy. With half of the workforce showing interest, the odds are favorable. This sector provides a promising alternative for those transitioning from fossil fuel industries such as the GCC, offering desirable new employment opportunities. According to the UN, "the ocean economy has an estimated turnover of between US$3 and 6 trillion," encompassing a wide range of activities from tourism to scientific research and beyond.
Employment in the emerging blue economy is essential for mitigating climate change and fostering a sustainable environment in the long term.
There are climate threats and opportunities in every region. As the GCC gears up to take a hold of the opportunities, we’ll see an increase in the sustainability and success of the new blue economy in the region. The span of the GCC countries to the sea includes the Gulf of Oman, the Gulf of Suez, the Gulf of Aqaba, the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and the Arabian Sea, which has a direct opening to the Indian Ocean.
With the decreasing demand for oil and its products amounting to $416 billion in 2022, the GCC’s most exported good, the shift towards a blue economy is a positive, sustainable transition into a more diversified workforce, and they are grabbing a hold of every opportunity.
This is a positive move for the workforce as the green job market is increasing around the world. While the GCC has many established blue economy sectors, challenges remain but they are optimistic about the outcomes. With proper carbon data collection techniques and AI-driven solutions, technology will be a driving force to promote the blue economy, providing stable jobs with a stable, scalable transition into those fields. The GCC has proven ready and willing to do the work.
The GCC has recognized the importance of the blue economy and has established several key sectors. These sectors leverage the region's extensive coastline, strategic maritime position, and rich marine resources. Below, we’ll cover the primary established blue economy sectors in the GCC. By focusing on these sectors, the GCC is working towards diversifying its economy, promoting sustainable use of marine resources, and enhancing economic resilience in line with the principles of the blue economy.
The GCC has invested significantly in cruise terminals and infrastructure, attracting major cruise lines to the region. Dubai and Oman are notable hubs. The coastal areas of the GCC offer various water sports, diving, and snorkeling opportunities, catering to tourists and locals. This will diversify industries, making preparing the workforce something different than before. Where tourism did exist, it wasn’t the primary focus as were oil and gas exports. Now, the diverse employment offers will vary, bringing more opportunities for employment to the GCC.
The GCC hosts some of the world's busiest ports, such as Jebel Ali in Dubai and King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. These ports are crucial for international trade and logistics. The UAE and Oman have developed significant shipbuilding and repair facilities to support the maritime industry. This will provide jobs in various roles such as engineering, mechanics, civil planning, dock working, and more.
The GCC's strategic location between major global trade routes makes marine transportation a vital sector. The region continues to enhance its shipping and logistics capabilities. Local ferry services connect various parts of the GCC, improving regional connectivity and supporting tourism. The workforce can experience more international capacities by connecting with other cultures in and out of the GCC region.
Fishing has been a part of the GCC's culture and economy for centuries. Governments are now focusing on sustainable practices to protect fish stocks. The GCC countries are investing in aquaculture to reduce overfishing and ensure food security. Saudi Arabia and Oman, in particular, have large-scale aquaculture projects. Training the workforce in this area will ensure that localized sustenance and that job opportunities in that field would be expanded.
While still in the nascent stages, there is potential for offshore wind energy projects, especially in areas with favorable wind conditions. GCC countries are exploring innovative solar energy projects on marine platforms, leveraging their abundant solar resources. As they have expanded their renewable energy in other areas in the last decade, it provided more workforce training in that field than ever before.
The GCC is also a global leader in desalination technology, essential for providing fresh water in this arid region. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait have significant desalination capacities. Innovations in water management, including recycling and conservation, are critical components of the blue economy.
Additionally, efforts to protect and restore coastal ecosystems, such as mangroves and coral reefs, are gaining importance in the GCC. Initiatives to combat marine pollution, including oil spill response and waste management, are being developed and implemented.
There is also a growing interest in marine biotechnology for developing new pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The rich biodiversity of the Gulf waters offers potential for bioprospecting.
These industries will attract more university educated leaders in the marine biology field, making the GCC a future hub for marine science innovation. Part of training the workforce for a new blue economy means starting in the educational sector to provide university students with the skills necessary to achieve bigger goals later on in their careers.
Therefore, establishing research centers dedicated to marine science and the blue economy is crucial for innovation and sustainable development. The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia is one example. Regional and international collaborations in marine research help address common challenges and explore new opportunities in the blue economy.
As in every country, the GCC region faces both opportunities and constraints in transitioning to a sustainable economy. The focus here is on leveraging opportunities across both established and emerging sectors. Encouraging workers to embrace these new opportunities is crucial. Providing appropriate education and training for jobs in the blue economy will help workers at any level transition smoothly, preparing them for upcoming challenges and available positions in emerging and more established markets. What challenges will the GCC face in certain sectors?
Marine Living Resources: Lack of plentiful water resources and limited soil productivity stifle the region. Locally grown produce and seafood can be a challenge.
Fisheries: Right now, the GCC uses VMS satellite monitoring for registering and data analytics but data tracking can now be done better using IoT sensors to monitor activities and production and providing strategic insights from AI-driven tools.
Aquaculture: Each member of the GCC has a unique government, leading to variations in investments and technologies for supporting aquaculture growth. Therefore, it is important for every nation to have access to AI-driven tools that can collect, analyze, and track data. This will enable fair comparisons of strategies and help build practical, profitable, and viable long-term insights leading to the best initiatives at the correct time. Institutional and legal constraints will also differ. Accurate data mapping to determine the most suitable locations for aquaculture will assist governments, scientists, and other organizations in planning sustainable aquaculture strategies.
Port Infrastructure: Competitors in the region are increasing. They are counting on foreign direct investments to grow port infrastructure for their post-oil economic strategy in port logistics.
Preparing the workforce in the GCC region for the new blue economy involves a multi-faceted approach that addresses education, training, policy, and industry collaboration. The blue economy encompasses sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems. We’ll share some aspects to consider below.
Integrating blue economy topics into school and university curricula, focusing on marine science, oceanography, and sustainable maritime practices will give an advantage to the marine biology workforce later on and will also attract students from abroad and locally to universities in the GCC region, further generating the economy. Providing the research and development technologies to be able to achieve this level of education is necessary to grow in the scientific sector.
Developing vocational training programs in collaboration with industry experts to equip new workers with the necessary skills for jobs in aquaculture, marine renewable energy, maritime logistics, tourism, and more, is important for workers that are transitioning from other industries like oil and gas and need to acquire new skills. It’s also important for workers currently in those industries to be able to stay up-to-date with the newest developments, technologies, equipment, and safety precautions in their fields.
Creating certification programs for specialized skills in the blue economy sectors, ensuring they meet international standards to enhance employability will encourage continuous professional development. This can be done through workshops, seminars, and online courses.
Additionally, fostering partnerships between educational institutions and blue economy industries to align training programs with industry needs and technological advancements will encourage new candidates in new fields. Establishing internship and apprenticeship programs that provide hands-on experience will also help establish the workforce in various industries.
Implementing policies that support the growth of the blue economy, such as subsidies for sustainable maritime projects and incentives for businesses investing in blue economy sectors will be key in advancing workforce training efforts. Establishing regulatory frameworks that ensure sustainable and responsible use of marine resources will also be necessary for the workforce to achieve its goals. Government support in this regard will encourage businesses, workers, and students to invest their time and energy into shifting into the blue economic fields.
This will also encourage collaboration among GCC countries to share best practices, resources, and technologies related to the blue economy. Developing regional strategies and action plans to address common challenges and leverage collective strengths will also expand the workforce and need for more advanced training.
Promoting the adoption of digital technologies such as AI, IoT, and blockchain in maritime operations to improve efficiency and sustainability is a key aspect of workforce development as we will be accelerating the use of these technologies in the next few years and the workforce must be prepared to utilize them in order to achieve sustainability and climate action goals.
Developing training sessions and workshops to use AI-first marine spatial planning tools and data management systems to support decision-making processes will lead strategies in the future and ensure that multiple players in value chains can get involved.
Establishing an environment that accelerates its focus on blue economy start-ups, providing mentorship, funding, and networking opportunities is going to foster the entrepreneurial side of innovation and leadership. Encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship in sustainable marine businesses through grants, competitions, and other support mechanisms ensures that the workforce at every level will be represented in the transition into the new blue economy. This also includes facilitating access to financing for blue economy ventures through dedicated funds, loans, and investment schemes.
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