FROM OIL TO RENEWABLES: CHINA'S ROLE IN GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL ENERGY TRANSITION

This study analyses China's evolving role in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states’ energy transition. While GCC states claim to pursue ambitious renewable energy targets, their economies continue to rely heavily on hydrocarbons. As the world’s largest energy consumer and a dominant force in renewable technology, China plays a dual role as a key importer of Gulf oil and gas and a leading investor in the region’s clean energy sector. The study will explore China’s investments in solar, wind, hydrogen, energy storage, electric vehicles, and carbon capture, highlighting the ways that financial and technological partnerships shape the GCC’s shift in energy use. Despite deepening cooperation, the study argues that the Sino-GCC energy relationship remains defined by pragmatism, balancing economic diversification with continued hydrocarbon dependence. While China’s engagement accelerates the region’s renewable energy development, long-term fossil fuel ties will persist, influencing the pace and trajectory of the GCC’s energy transition.