Turan Research Center

In recent years, particularly since the outbreak of the recent conflicts in Gaza and Iran, the Middle East has seen a resurgence of connectivity projects. While some economic “corridors” appear more realistic than others, all are ambitious in scale, with the participating countries striving to elevate their respective geopolitical positions.

Yet this supposed revolution in Middle East connectivity may not be as transformative as it first appeared. Behind the surface, these projects face implementation issues and may exacerbate structural deficiencies in Middle East industry. The success of these projects will ultimately depend on more than political ambition or infrastructure investment. Without greater industrial integration and economic complementarities, many of these corridors risk becoming pathways for trade rather than catalysts for much deeper transformation.

Read the full article on The Gulf International Forum.

Emil Avdaliani is a Research Fellow at the Turan Research Center.