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Company news and financial news, analysis, viewpoint and data covering the 6 Gulf Corporation Council members Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Economic development across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is set to accelerate in 2026, with the region projected to outshine its 2025 performance regardless of muted oil profits and continuous global uncertainties. According to a brand-new Oxford Economics research study briefing, GCC GDP growth is expected to rise to 4.4 percent in 2026, up from 4 percent in 2025, showing a durable nonenergy sector, strong customer characteristics, and gradually improving oil output.

The most current projections recommend that Gulf economies are now wellpositioned to restore momentum, buoyed by enhancing domestic demand and a broadly consistent international background. The report highlights GCC customers as a major driver of the area's economic efficiency heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing genuine disposable incomes are expected to sustain a rise in customer spending throughout the Gulf.

Credit growth is also anticipated to remain raised as access to monetary services widens. With GCC main banks anticipated to follow expected US Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the area's dollar pegs, borrowing expenses are most likely to decrease, providing households and services even more incentive to invest and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the area's strength, the GCC's hydrocarbon outlook provides a blended image.

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This could weigh on firsthalf development, especially for economies more based on oil extraction. However, Oxford Economics projects a rebound later in 2026, with Opec+ members anticipated to resume raising production as stocks tighten up and international demand enhances. Qatar, on the other hand, stands apart as a local outperformer, with significant growths in gas production and exports anticipated to lift its general economic efficiency.

Saudi Arabia's 2026 spending plan anticipates a 6 per cent cut in capital expense as the kingdom intends to narrow its fiscal deficit by 2 percentage points. However, the report keeps in mind that these cuts may not materialise fully if countercyclical spending procedures are triggered to support development. By contrast, more varied economies such as the UAE and Qatar are anticipated to continue advancing their advancement agendas.

Regardless of shortterm threats tied to oil costs and international need, the GCC's 2026 financial outlook is defined by strength in principles: resistant consumers, robust nonenergy sectors, enhancing oil characteristics, and tactical financial planning. With these aspects lining up, the area is getting ready for among its most balanced durations of growth recently anchored by a clear upward trajectory in GDP development.

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RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council local economies are expected to remain resistant in 2026, driven by strong domestic demand and a broadly stable worldwide economy, according to an analysis. In its most current report, Oxford Economics highlighted that the genuine gdp of the GCC area is anticipated to expand by 4.4 percent in 2026, up from the predicted 4 percent this year.

United States trade policy under President Donald Trump has had no noteworthy effect on local growth, and non-energy sectors have sustained their robust momentum," said Oxford Economics. It included: "Meanwhile, oil production has slowly increased, providing an increase to the region's economies. We anticipate GCC development will rise to 4.4 percent in 2026, from 4 percent this year."In November, the GCC Statistical Center stated that economic growth in the region is set to speed up to 4.3 percent by 2027, driven by expanding non-oil sectors.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Non-oil activities accounted for 73.2 percent of overall GDP, up from 70.6 percent at the end of 2024, highlighting the region's ongoing development toward diversification. According to Oxford Economics, GCC customers will be standout entertainers in 2026 and are expected to outshine their international peers. Oxford Economics stated that low inflation has helped secure growth in genuine disposable earnings, which has likewise been supported by strong demand and extremely low unemployment rates."We do not picture any let-up, as governments continue to press for higher foreign direct investment in their push to diversify their economies away from oil and gas," the report added.

In December, the IMF even more stated that heading inflation is expected to stay listed below 2 percent in Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar, near 2 percent in the Kingdom and the UAE, and slightly above 2 percent in Kuwait in 20252026. According to Oxford Economics, credit development is expected to remain elevated in the GCC region throughout 2026, as access to financial services is expected to grow and lending is predicted to be supported by more cuts in rate of interest."Owing to their currency pegs to the United States dollar, GCC main banks are anticipated to follow the US Federal Reserve by reducing financial policy further, which in turn will decrease financial obligation servicing expenses and boost disposable earnings and need," stated the report.