Study On The Economic Free Zones Of GCC Countries(1971-2019)

Economic free zone is a "commercial enclave" formed by a country temporarily giving up part of the rights of a specific territory to develop its economy in the era of globalization.It is a result of the interaction of a country's economic system and the international system,and in practice each has its own features.Under the guidance of Globalisation theory(Neoliberalism)and International Public Goods theory,this paper aims to comb,integrate and summarize the history,features and establishment reasons of the economic free zones in GCC member countries by combining status quo description and historical review,comparative study and integral analysis,internal cause and external pressure.Then,based on this work above,the paper explores and extends the significance of the establishment of economic free zones at the regional and international levels.The second,third and fourth chapters of the article have combed,integrated and summarized the economic free zone development of GCC countries.The development process of the economic free zones of the GCC countries can be divided into three stages through the review of history in the second chapter: the exploration phase initiated by the UAE but was influenced by Britain(1971-1990);the period of prosperity when economic free zones were built in all countries after the cold war(1991-2010);and the innovation stage since the upheavals in the Middle East(2011-2019).In the third charpter,based on the above analysis,the paper explores the main reasons for GCC countries to actively establish economic free zones:the necessity to adjust an oil-dominated industrial structure and to enhance the competitiveness of economy,as well as the pressure brought by the development of new energy and the "shale revolution".Then,in the fourth charpter,the features which conforms to globalization are summarized:the UAE always takes the lead in terms of development;the concurrence of comprehensive free zones and specialized free zones;the fiercely competition due to the similartaxis.The fifth chapter studies the significance of economic free zones of GCC countries.In the process of participating in globalization,the GCC economic free zones,in addition to being important carriers for the implementation of the "Visions" of GCC countries,have the following significance:at the regional level,economic free zones have enhanced the economic dependence among countries and played the role of political glue,which has become an important driving force for the integrateddevelopment of GCC;at the international level,characterized by international public goods,economic free zones serve as important platforms for relevant economic subjects to realize their interests,which improved international welfare.After the above research,the conclusion part of the paper puts forward some suggestions on the China-GCC cooperation.As the largest developing country in the world,China can actively take advantage of the characteristics of the economic free zones and carry out targeted economic cooperations with GCC countries to achieve common development.