From Comparative Advantage to Regional Competitiveness: A Spatial Integration Framework for Qaryat Al-Ulya

This study examines how peripheral agricultural territories can transition from reliance on comparative advantage toward integrated regional competitiveness through spatial and institutional coordination. Using Qaryat Al-Ulya Governorate as a case study, the paper develops a framework that links agricultural production, poultry and livestock activities, agro-industrial processing, logistics, and complementary rural functions within a coherent territorial system. Rather than treating these sectors as isolated activities, the analysis conceptualizes competitiveness as a cumulative outcome of value-chain upgrading, spatial clustering, and network embedding. The findings highlight that agricultural specialization can serve as a platform for industrial deepening rather than a barrier to modernization. While grounded in the specific context of Qaryat Al-Ulya, the framework offers transferable insights for semi-arid regions seeking to reposition themselves within regional production networks. Ultimately, the study emphasizes that regional competitiveness emerges through the redesign of relationships among sectors, spaces, and institutions, rather than through expansion of output alone. By addressing a documented scarcity of planning-oriented research on Qaryat Al-Ulya, the study provides a foundational framework for future empirical work and policy design.