This title addresses some of the major problems related to population growth and to the development of the workforce in the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), I.E. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Population and labour statistics for nationals and expatriates are analysed, with special attention being paid to the situation of women. Important, but rarely studied, problems relating to foreign citizens, "stateless" residents and illegal workers are also discussed. Security concerns resulting from the numerical preponderance of foreigners are then presented, together with a description of relations between national and non-national populations. Issues of the influence of expatriates on the foreign policies of the country concerned, as well as the impact on the life and culture of nationals, are addressed in a more detailed way. Some theoretical deliberations focus on inter-group relations in such plural societies as exist in the Gulf. Finally, the population and labour migration policies of the GCC states are evaluated, with special attention devoted to attempts to substitute local citizens for foreigners in the workforce. In conclusion, the author comments on the possible future development of the GCC countries in terms of their populations and labour composition as well as state policies related to them.