In this critical work, researcher Omar Al-Shehabi dissects the concept of citizenship within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. The book traces the formation of the modern rentier state and its unique social contract, which defines rights and obligations based on oil wealth. Al-Shehabi examines the various intellectual and political 'currents'—from liberal to nationalist and Islamist—and their competing visions for political participation, identity, and the future of the nation-state. It offers a deep dive into the tensions between state-led identity and popular demands for greater inclusion and rights in a rapidly changing region.