In this critical study, Omar Al-Shehabi dissects the complex and evolving concept of citizenship within the Gulf states. The book moves beyond formal legal definitions to explore how the rentier economy, oil wealth, and state policies have shaped the relationship between rulers and citizens. Al-Shehabi examines the various 'currents' influencing citizenship, including sectarian divisions, the status of migrant labor under the Kafala system, and the emergence of new forms of political and social consciousness, offering a crucial analysis of belonging and rights in the region.