What political systems have been common among states of the Arabian Peninsula?

The states of the Arabian Peninsula, particularly the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council—Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman—are characterized by hereditary monarchies.12

In these systems, executive authority is typically centralized within ruling families, who occupy key positions in government, defense, and economic administration. Political parties are generally restricted or absent, and legislative bodies, where they exist, often function as advisory institutions with limited authority.12

Governance across these states frequently operates within a "rentier state" framework, where significant national revenue is derived from the export of oil and natural gas rather than domestic taxation. This fiscal structure allows ruling families to act as the primary allocators of resources, reinforcing their central role in political and economic life. While all are monarchies, specific institutional arrangements vary:1

• Consultative Monarchies: Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar utilize consultative councils that advise the ruler but do not constrain executive power.1
• Constitutional Monarchies: Kuwait and Bahrain feature elected legislatures, though the extent of their authority varies.1
• Federal Monarchy: The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates governed by a Federal Supreme Council.31