FROM COOPERATION TO INTEGRATION: A LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR ADVANCING GCC MARITIME GOVERNANCE TOWARD SUPRANATIONAL REGULATORY CONVERGENCE IN ARABIAN GULF LOGISTICS
Abstract
The Arabian Gulf’s critical position in global maritime trade—particularly as a strategic energy corridor—has placed increasing pressure on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to strengthen regional maritime governance. Despite individual advancements in port infrastructure, digital transformation, and national maritime legislation, GCC maritime policies remain fragmented, lacking a unified regulatory or institutional framework. This paper investigates the legal and operational implications of this fragmentation and explores potential pathways toward supranational regulatory convergence. Drawing on doctrinal legal analysis and comparative insights from the European Union's maritime governance model, the study assesses the feasibility of phased legal integration across the Gulf region.
Key thematic areas include: (1) the Gulf’s geopolitical and trade significance; (2) inter-state port competition and its impact on logistics coordination; (3) the absence of binding regional legal instruments; (4) inconsistent digital governance initiatives; and (5) the need for a unified, enforceable maritime legal framework. The paper concludes by proposing a staged legal integration roadmap aligned with regional realities, emphasizing institutional development, digital harmonization, and shared regulatory enforcement. This research fills a critical gap in applied legal studies on maritime integration in the GCC and offers a foundation for future policy alignment.
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DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21622/MARLOG.2026.15.1.71
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The International Maritime Transport and Logistics Journal (MARLOG)
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