CThe influx of expatriate workfbrce into the six Culf Cooperation Council (CCC) countries over the
last l'our dccacles is now oausing social, cnltural, and economic problems" 'lb rcrlucc dependence on
the foreign workforce, the goveruments of the Arabian Gulf Region have jntroduced the localization
policy with the sole purpose of preparing skilled indigenous workfbrce through education and training,
inclucling continuing education (CE). A number ol CE programs in all major subject fields, including
Library and Intbrtnation Science (LlS) are in place in the region. The purpose of this study is to review
these programs and to see their potentitrl {or contributing towards the common goal of localization in
the GCC countries. The protrlems, whicli inhibit maximizing the benefits of CE programs ancl making
them ett'ective and result oriented in developing human resources in the Arabian Gulf Region, are also
discussed. The results of this stucly reveal that the LIS CE programs in the Arabian Gulf Region have
potential lor prcparing nationals as part of the localization initiatives of the GCC countrios.