The discovery of oil brought enormous change to the Gulf. It transformed the simple fishing and grazing economies of the Gulf states into some of the wealthiest countries in the world. This book, first published in 1977, examines the impact of oil and oil wealth on the Gulf states. It describes the clash between traditional culture and Westernisation and explodes some of the Western myths about social and economic development in the area. It covers both economic change and progress in education, social welfare, urbanisation and industrial diversification. A unique collection of photographs accompanies the authoritative text.