Persian Gulf States - Definition and Overview

The Persian Gulf States, frequently just called the Gulf States (which may cause a confusion with the Gulf States of the United States, which are those along the Gulf of Mexico), are the countries in Southwest Asia or the Middle East which border the Persian Gulf. These nations are Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Many people use the term "Persian Gulf States" or "Gulf States" to refer to the countries in the southern shores of the Persian Gulf, excluding Iran (which forms the northern part of the Persian Gulf) and Iraq (which has a short 58 km shore). These countries form the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf (previously known as Gulf Cooperation Council).