According to a report by universitymagazine.ca, Qatar ranks as the wealthiest Muslim-majority nation. With a modest population of around 1.7 million people, Qatar boasted a GDP per capita of approximately $88,919 in 2011, showcasing one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. This prosperity is largely attributed to its vast exports of natural gas, oil, and petrochemicals.
Kuwait follows closely, with a population of 3.5 million and a GDP per capita of $54,664 in 2011. The country’s economic strength is built on its significant crude oil reserves, which amount to about 104 million barrels, along with robust financial services and a thriving shipping industry.
Brunei Darussalam, in third place, had a GDP per capita of $50,506 in 2010. The wealth of this small nation stems from its rich oil and natural gas fields, which have been active for over eight decades. Brunei also stands out as a major exporter of hydrogen resources and liquefied natural gas.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) ranks fourth among the wealthiest Muslim-majority countries, with a GDP per capita of $48,222 in 2011. The UAE’s economy is heavily supported by its oil and gas industry, contributing significantly through petroleum and natural gas exports.
Oman is the fifth wealthiest, with oil reserves of 5.5 billion barrels and a GDP per capita of $28,880 in 2011. Apart from oil, Oman boasts substantial gas reserves and mineral resources such as copper, gold, zinc, and iron.
Saudi Arabia, the sixth richest, had a GDP per capita of $24,434 in 2011. As the second-largest oil producer in the world, Saudi Arabia’s wealth is deeply rooted in its extensive oil industry.
Bahrain ranks seventh, with a GDP per capita of $23,690 in 2011. The kingdom’s rapidly expanding economy is bolstered by its exports of aluminum, petroleum, and construction materials.
It is a damning indictment of the wealthy Muslim-majority nations that, despite their vast fortunes and economic prowess, they have failed to provide meaningful assistance to their suffering Muslim brethren in Gaza. For the past nine months, Gaza has endured a relentless onslaught tantamount to genocide, where access to basic necessities like food, medicine, and even a simple bottle of water has been cruelly denied.
It is nothing short of a disgrace that the abundant wealth of these oil-rich and resource-laden countries has not been mobilized to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinians. These nations have a moral and religious duty to act, yet they stand idle while their fellow Muslims are massacred and deprived of their fundamental human rights. The time for empty words and symbolic gestures is over. These wealthy states must use their substantial resources and influence not just to safeguard their own prosperity, but to take bold and decisive action to end the ongoing atrocity in Gaza. Anything less is a betrayal of their faith and a gross abdication of their responsibility.
