Leadership in Transition: Contextualizing Adaptive and Culturally Grounded Models in the Gulf Cooperation Council

This study explores evolving leadership models in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries amid rapid socio-economic transformation, globalization, and ambitious national development visions such as Saudi Vision 2030 and UAE Centennial 2071. Using qualitative thematic analysis of secondary data, the research identifies key leadership characteristics, including strategic foresight, cultural intelligence, adaptability, and inclusivity. Transformational and servant leadership styles are emerging as particularly effective, especially in public sector reform and innovation-driven sectors. However, persistent challenges such as institutional inertia, gender inequality, and symbolic policy implementation limit the impact of these efforts. The study proposes a hybrid leadership model that bridges global best practices with local cultural values, introducing the concept of “leadership as cultural translation.” The findings contribute to contextual, institutional, and strategic leadership theories and offer actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners aiming to foster sustainable, inclusive governance in the Gulf.