The Internet of Things (IoT) has become essential for business. The adoption rate of IoT has dropped recently and this could be due to security, privacy, and trust issues. Blockchain (BC) has the potential to mitigate the risk of security, privacy, and trust. However, few studies examined the integration between IoT and BC in the context of developing countries. The purpose of this study is to examine the predictors of IoT adoption by telecommunication companies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). In addition, the study aims to examine the moderating role of BC as well as the effect of using IoT and BC on the competitive advantage of companies. Based on technology acceptance model, social exchange theory, and resource-based view, the study proposed that security, privacy, trust, communication quality, perceived ease of use (PEOU), and perceived usefulness (PU) affect positively the adoption of IoT. BC is proposed as a moderating variable and expected with IoT to affect the competitive advantage of companies. The population includes all the telecommunication companies in GCC. Data was collected using purposive sampling from IT professionals. The results of data analysis using SmartPLS showed that security, privacy, trust, PU, and PEOU positively affected the adoption of IoT. BC and IoT adoption have a positive effect on competitive advantage. Further, BC moderated only the effect of security and privacy on the adoption of IoT. Services providers must enhance the security, privacy, and trust of IoT services by deploying BC technology. Effective integration of IoT and BC will lead to the achievement of competitive advantages.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries economy is one of the biggest economies in the world with high per-capita income and high purchasing power. Although the member countries exhibit similarity in production, the GCC takes many steps to facilitate the intra-trade. The objective of this study is to analyze the intra-trade of the GCC during the period 1995-2018 and elaborate the impacts of the main three stages in the intra trade agreements be-tween the GCC countries by considering the main sages in facilitating the intra trade among GCC members. The result of the study shows that Bahrain is the biggest importer and exporter from the GCCC followed by Oman, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait. Still the trade GCC intra trade consists very small proportion from the total trade of the GCCC, with increasing trends over years of the study period, however the analysis shows that there is no impact of the trade arrangements between the GCCC in the case of the stage of the GCC customs union during 2003-2008 and the stage of common market after 2008 on the progress of the intra trade.

Financial development market (FMD) may have positive or negative environmental consequences. This research investigated the effects of FMD and income on CO2 emissions in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries during 1980-2018. We found that income had positive effect but FMD had insignificant impact on emissions in GCC panel. Then, we tested these effects in the individual country time series and found that income had positive impact in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman and had insignificant effect in other GCC countries in long run. Effect of FMD was positive in Oman, was negative in UAE and was insignificant in rest of GCC countries. Effect of income was positive in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and was insignificant for other countries in short run. The effect of FMD was positive in Kuwait and was negative in UAE. We recommend UAE to expand the financial market and suggest Oman and Kuwait to have a check on the financially supported pollution-oriented activities.