Water for Prosperity and Development : Risks and Opportunities for the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries

The aim of this note is twofold: (1) summarize emerging challenges and opportunities for the water sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries; and (2) suggest ways to respond to these challenges where the World Bank's Water Global Practice can provide support. Following a description of the GCC's water resources and water service delivery challenges, two sets of recommendations and related actions are discussed. The first set relates to managing a diverse set of conventional and nonconventional water resources for security and sustainability. The second set of recommendations is linked to delivering better water services with accountability and financial sustainability