1949. THE POLITICS OF REFORM- Habib Toumi, “Kuwait Joins GCC Countries in Raising Fuel Prices,” Gulf News,
August 31, 2016. - “Kuwait Water, Electricity Prices up by 500 Percent,” KUNA Kuwait News Agency,
Khaleej Times, August 23, 2017, https: //www .khaleejtimes .com /region /kuwait /kuwait- w a t e r - e l e c t r i c i t y - p r i c e s - u p - b y - 5 0 0 - p e r - c e n t.
- Santhosh V. Perumal, “Moody’s Says Qatar Could Hike Electricity Tariff,” Gulf Times,
M a r c h 2 2 , 2 0 1 6 , h t t p : / / w w w. g u l f - t i m e s. c o m / s t o r y / 4 8 5 6 0 0 / M o o d y - s - s a y s - Q a t a r - c o u l d- h i k e - e l e c t r i c i t y - t a r i ff.
- “Qatar’s Kahramaa Hikes Water, Electricity Tariffs,” NRICAFE, October 14, 2015,
h t t p : / / n r i c a f e. c o m / 2 0 1 5 / 1 0 / q a t a r s - k a h r a m a a - h i k e s - w a t e r - e l e c t r i c i t y - t a r i ff s /. - Qatar Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics, 2017.
- International Energy Agency, “Electricity Information and Natural Gas Information,”
h t t p : / / w d s. i e a. o r g / - Qatari nationals’ access to free electricity is not quite unlimited. A Qatari household
receives unlimited free electricity in its primary residence. If the family has another
home, perhaps a weekend retreat, it is technically required to pay for electricity at
the secondary residence. However, that limitation does not hold for Qatari men who
have multiple wives ensconced in separate households, each of which is eligible for
free electricity. Author discussion with Qatari executives at leadership forum, Octo-
ber 8, 2015, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Houston. - Government official in Qatar electricity sector, one of two cointerviewed by author
on condition of anonymity, Doha, April 4, 2012. - In 2005, Oman consumed 9,517 gigawatt- hours. In 2015, it consumed 28,912 GWh.
IEA Electricity Data, 2017. - Author interview with John Cunneen, executive director, Authority for Electricity
Regulation, Oman, Muscat, November 15, 2011. - Author interviews, Oman. See also James Worrall, “Oman: The ‘Forgotten’ Corner
of the Arab Spring,” Middle East Policy 19, no. 3 (2012): 98– 115; Abdulkhaleq Abdulla,
“Repercussions of the Arab Spring on GCC States” (Doha: Arab Center for Research
a n d P o l i c y S t u d i e s , 2 0 1 2 ) , h t t p : / / a i h r - r e s o u r c e s c e n t e r. o r g / a d m i n i s t r a t o r / u p l o a d / d o c u
ments /aka .pdf. For a broader explanation of scholarly surprise at the Arab uprisings,
see F. Gregory Gause III, “Why Middle East Studies Missed the Arab Spring: The Myth
of Authoritarian Stability,” Foreign Affairs 90, no. 4 (August 2011): 81– 90. - Protest demands included increased government jobs, marriage subsidies, and
increased freedoms of expression and of the press. Protesters demanded an end to
government corruption while expressing support for Sultan Qaboos. Worrall’s arti-
cle “Oman” provides a useful cataloging of events throughout the Omani uprising.
See also Thomas Fuller, “Rallies in Oman Steer Clear of Criticism of Its Leader,” New
Yo rk Tim e s, March 1, 2011, http: //www .nytimes .com /2011 /03 /02 /world /middleeast
/02oman .html. - From $0.007 to $0.009 (3 to 3.5 Omani baiza) per gallon. “Oman’s Public Authority
for Electricity and Water Announces Hike in Water Tariffs,” Times of Oman, March 15,
2 0 1 6 , h t t p : / / t i m e s o f o m a n. c o m / a r t i c l e / 7 9 5 2 0 / O m a n / G o v e r n m e n t / O m a n - a n n o u n c e s- h i k e - i n - w a t e r - t a r i ff s.