#Saudi-Russia Oil Price War Heralds End to Gulf Luxury Lifestyle - Bloomberg

Saudi-Russia Oil Price War Heralds End to Gulf Luxury Lifestyle - Bloomberg:

For much of the world, oil wealth is a curse. Endowed with ample reserves of hydrocarbons, the likes of Nigeria, Angola, Kazakhstan, Mexico and Venezuela frittered the benefits away.

Only in the Persian Gulf has oil been a nation-building blessing. The discoveries of petroleum in the mid-20th century turned an anarchic, desperately poor region into one of the most affluent places on the planet. Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates are all richer than Switzerland. Even Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman are on a par with Japan or the U.K. 

The transformation has been so complete that it’s easy to believe the wealth derives from some eternal law of nature. That’s not true, though. The current price war in oil markets will only hasten the moment when the unsustainable nature of Gulf economies faces a brutal reckoning.

Right now, all six monarchies are joining with Russia in opening the taps to flood the crude market and flush out higher-cost producers. While the planned 2.5 million barrels per day increase from Saudi Arabia is by far the biggest wave in this tsunami, its neighbors aren’t holding back. The U.A.E. will daily add about 200,000 barrels or more, according to consultancy Rystad Energy, while Kuwait will lift output by 110,000 barrels. Russia will raise daily production by 200,000 barrels.