Gas: The Pivot of Economic Development and Foreign Trade in the Persian Gulf

The rich gas resources found in the Persian Gulf countries have received vigorous attention, and huge investments have been made in this area. Such investments are intended to meet two main goals including these countries’ internal consumption and securing revenues through exporting gas to consumer countries. This makes gas one of the most important pivots of regional economic development and foreign trade in the near future. In the present article, after presenting an overview of the situation of the gas industry in the world and the Middle East, major consumption markets have been examined under three topics of regional, transregional and international markets. Also the plans made by the Persian Gulf countries for the exploration, exploitation, transportation, marketing and exportation of gas have been introduced. Given the fact that Iran wields one of the most significant gas resources in the world and is able to become one of the major exporters of gas, it is necessary to acquire awareness of the position of consumption markets and the plans made by rival countries for exports in the future years.