This book presents analyses and discussions of public policies in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates, the countries of the GCC. We probably ought to make clear right at the outset what we mean by “public policy.” We take the view that it is about government making purposeful choices that are intended to bring about solutions to problems or to bring into existence more desirable futures for society. We understand public policy processes to involve policy design and policy implementation. In this chapter we emphasize the shift from older types of policy making process to strategic policy making. We explore how the GCC countries are quite distinctive in their use of long-term strategic visions to steer policy and in turn national social and economic development. We note the normative foresight of the six countries and the challenges they face.