Independent Intelligence on the Gulf’s Economic Transformation

Economic Vision 2030 is an independent intelligence platform providing rigorous, data-driven analysis of the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 — two national economic transformation programmes that share a name, a deadline, and almost nothing else.

This platform exists because no other publication conducts sustained, comparative analysis of these two economies at the level of depth they warrant. The financial press treats Abu Dhabi as a subset of the UAE and Bahrain as a footnote to the GCC. Both framings are analytically inadequate. Abu Dhabi operates its own sovereign wealth funds, national oil company, international financial centre, and economic development agencies. Bahrain is an independent kingdom with its own central bank, regulatory framework, and reform trajectory. Each economy deserves analysis on its own terms.

Editorial Independence

Economic Vision 2030 is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or funded by any government, sovereign wealth fund, national oil company, or development agency in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, or any other jurisdiction. The platform receives no government funding, maintains no consulting relationships with government entities, and accepts no editorial direction from any institution it covers.

Analysis is based on publicly available data, official government documents, international datasets, and independent research. Conclusions are drawn from evidence. Where data is incomplete or contested, this is stated explicitly.

What We Cover

The platform provides institutional profiles of the sovereign wealth funds, national companies, regulators, and development agencies executing both visions. Head-to-head comparisons examine the two economies across every dimension relevant to Vision 2030 delivery — GDP, diversification, financial services, energy, tourism, real estate, human capital, technology, and fiscal sustainability. Sector analysis tracks performance in priority industries. The encyclopedia provides neutral reference entries on the institutions, policies, and concepts that define the Gulf’s economic landscape.

Methodology

Our analysis combines four categories of source material: official government documents (vision statements, budget publications, statistical authority data), government statistics (SCAD, CBB, EDB), international data sources (IMF Article IV consultations, World Bank indicators, WEF competitiveness reports, credit rating agency assessments), and primary research (corporate filings, annual reports, regulatory disclosures). Full methodological detail is available on our dedicated methodology page.

Part of The Vanderbilt Portfolio

Economic Vision 2030 is published as part of The Vanderbilt Portfolio, a collection of independent research and analysis platforms covering national economic visions across the Gulf region. The editorial and analytical standards applied to this platform are consistent across the portfolio.

The Author

Economic Vision 2030 is written and edited by Donovan Vanderbilt. All analysis, unless otherwise attributed, represents the author’s independent assessment based on available evidence.