The sustainable Blue Economy represents a crucial strategic opportunity for Yemen, the Gulf States, and the Red Sea littoral states. While Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries seek to diversify their economies away from oil dependence, the Blue Economy is a vital lifeline for livelihoods and food security in Yemen, and a key economic driver for the Red Sea littoral states. Youth in these regions possess immense potential to lead this transformation, driven by a growing awareness of sustainability issues and advanced digital skills. Entrepreneurship, in its broad sense, is the spark that ignites innovation and economic development. It enables the development of new business models that not only focus on nancial pro t but also contribute to achieving social justice and environmental preservation. Consequently, youth entrepreneurship becomes a practical and e ective mechanism for achieving comprehensive sustainable development. It o ers innovative solutions to complex challenges, enhances economic diversity, and contributes to building a more sustainable and prosperous future for all. The region is rich in opportunities for young entrepreneurs in the Blue Economy, in sectors such as sustainable sheries, aquaculture, marine ecotourism, marine renewable energy, marine biotechnology, robotics, and data analytics. Regional and international case studies, such as the "Aquaventure" tourism initiative in Oman, and youth-led innovation centers and robotics projects in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), demonstrate how technological innovation can drive sustainable solutions with dual economic, social, and environmental impact. Youth entrepreneurship in the Blue Economy in the region faces signi cant challenges, primarily centered on access to nance, relevant skills and training, supportive infrastructure, and inclusive decision-making platforms. A common denominator among the target regions is that the essential elements for successful entrepreneurship are often missing or di cult to access. These challenges are rooted in the broader economic and social environment; the con ict in Yemen has led to fragmented public institutions and a lack of national strategies and budgets, exacerbating economic instability and skill shortages. In the GCC countries and Red Sea littoral states, major challenges include a funding gap for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), a lack of specialized expertise in advanced technical elds, and regulatory uncertainty. Banking sector preferences for large corporations, high collateral requirements, and traditional risk assessment models also hinder the growth of innovative youth-led SMEs. Conversely, shared environmental challenges provide a strong impetus for regional cooperation. Marine ecosystems know no boundaries, and their degradation in one area can a ect neighboring areas. This interdependence necessitates a collective approach to environmental conservation, pollution control, and sustainable resource management, which can support collective stability and prosperity. This paper is an in-depth study on ways to promote entrepreneurship and youth engagement in the Blue Economy. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the theoretical literature on the Blue Economy, aiming to understand its complexities and importance, as well as international, regional, and local contributions to its development. It provides a detailed analysis of the current status of youth entrepreneurship and youth participation in Blue Economy activities within selected regions, highlighting the most important speci c and common challenges, as well as opportunities that
