OIL, MONEY & MAYHEM
This 6-country alliance was founded in 1981 and now punches far above its weight in global energy
What is the GCC?
Using sports to distract from controversies is known by this freshly polished term.
What is sportswashing?
This labor “sponsorship” system ties migrant workers to employers like a real-life video game lock.
What is the Kafala system?
This capital city hosted the founding of the GCC — and is now the center of many massive transformation projects.
What is Riyadh?
This country hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup — along with global debates about worker rights.
What is Qatar?
This GCC country has some of the world’s highest execution rates and was linked to the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.
What is Saudi Arabia?
This natural resource made the GCC rich enough to build ski resorts in the desert.
What is oil?
Saudi Arabia’s PIF bought this Premier League club, turning sports into a PR superweapon.
What is Newcastle United?
Despite harsh conditions, millions still migrate to the GCC because wages here are dramatically higher. (which factor)
What are pull factors?
This Gulf nation has a jaw-dropping 92% migrant-worker population — basically “Expat City.”
What is the UAE?
This mega-star footballer was signed to help Saudi Arabia’s global image — and maybe score a few goals.
Who is Cristiano Ronaldo?
This type of violation includes confiscated passports, withheld wages, and dangerous conditions on megaprojects like NEOM.
What is migrant worker exploitation / forced labor?
This new initiative lets travelers move freely between all six GCC states
What is the Unified Tourist Visa?
The GCC spends the most money on this high-speed, high-adrenaline sport.
What is motorsports (Formula One)?
Critics say the GCC model promotes “economic freedom without political freedom,” a phrase also known as this 3-word critique
What is authoritarian capitalism?