Doctrinal Intent Versus Institutional Reality: The Gulf Countries' Antitrust Objectives [Prepritnt]

Nora Memeti, Kuwait International Law SchoolFollow

ORCID

Keywords

Antitrust, Objectives, Enforcement, the Gulf Countries

Abstract

This paper examines the intriguing contrast between the ambitious goals of antitrust laws in the Gulf countries and the reality of their enforcement. While this region seeks to protect competition and curb monopolistic practices, only Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) have made significant strides in achieving these ideals.

Through a comparative legal analysis, this paper examines how the statutory objectives of competition law in Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and the UAE often remain more rhetorical than substantive, with enforcement primarily symbolic. In contrast, Saudi Arabia demonstrates some enforcement activity, although its alignment with legislative objectives remains uncertain. Kuwait's recent constitutional challenges reveal the inherent fragility of its enforcement framework.

By addressing a critical gap in existing literature, the study illuminates the challenges of translating antitrust goals into tangible outcomes. The paper concludes by offering recommendations to enhance transparency and ensure greater consistency between legal texts and enforcement practices.

Acknowledgements

Funding

This article received no funding.

Declaration of Conflict of Interests

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and publication of this article.

Declaration about the scope of AI utilisation

The author did not use AI in the preparation of this article.

Recommended Citation

Memeti, N. (2025). Doctrinal Intent Versus Institutional Reality: The Gulf Countries' Antitrust Objectives [Prepritnt]. Yearbook of Antitrust and Regulatory Studies, 19(33). https://doi.org/10.7172/1689-9024.YARS.2025.19.33.3