Bangladesh, Aug. 4 -- In todays narrative of rapid modernization and futuristic ambition, the Arabian Gulf is often portrayed as a region sprinting toward the horizon. From AI-driven cities and hyper-connected free zones to visions of post-oil prosperity, the discourse is one of relentless forward motion. Yet, this future-oriented enthusiasm, while admirable, risks overlooking a more subtle but equally vital truth: the Gulfs past contains the very ingredients necessary for its enduring success.

Before the rise of the modern nation-state and the drawing of rigid borders across the Arabian Peninsula and southern Iran, the Gulf was not defined by infrastructure or central planning. Instead, it was a thriving, fluid network of relationships,...