oa Knowledge management in the GCC countries: The new challenge for governments and markets

The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, it highlights the strategic challange and importance of managing knowledge resources in the Gulf. Second, it presents the factors that influence the GCC countries' ability to better transfer, manage and utilize knowledge within the peculiar context of large expatriate workforce. A set of recommendations are addressed to both policy makers and the heads of KM departments in the region. There are numerous lessons to be drawn from this study, which may be taken as guidelines for future initiatives or programs targeted to the development and employment of national human capital. The study confirms that it is pivotal to focus on not only knowledge development but also knowledge management.