The Gulf Labour Markets, Migration and Population (GLMM) programme has developed in phases.

• In the preliminary phase (2011-2013), it concentrated on the organization of workshops and panels and laying the institutional and organizational groundwork for the second phase.
• In the second phase (2013-2014), it focused on data collection, research and publishing on Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, concentrating on the demographic and legal dimensions.
• In the third phase (2014-2015), it expanded its geographical focus to include Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Furthermore, it included in its focus the economic, social and political dimensions of migration. It also included additional types of data and documents to its database. It focused on key transversal themes such as irregular migration, analysing trends and policies of various countries of origin of migrants and all six GCC countries.
• In the fourth phase (2016-2018), it focused on more in depth analyses using various methodologies (including Focus Group Discussions, Stakeholder Interviews) as well as demographic studies (in particular fertility in the Gulf). It continued to update the database and to provide regional comparative data and analyses.
• In the fourth phase (2019-2020), it completed major research projects on fertility in Kuwait and Qatar and continued to update the database.
• In the fifth phase (2021-2023), it expanded (also in partnership with the ILO) gathering, analysing and republishing of labour migration, population and labour markets in the GCC countries and seeking to include also Iraq and Yemen into its focus. It also launched a new publication, Factsheets, and relaunched another one, Policy Briefs as well as Webinars
• In the sixth phase (2024-2025), it has been focussing on two projects, the Future of Migration in Saudi Arabia and Highly Skilled Migration to the Gulf, continuing data collection; publication of factsheets, policy briefs, and research reports as well as special issues of journals and volumes; and organization of workshops and webinars.