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

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Financial development across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is set to speed up in 2026, with the area predicted to outshine its 2025 efficiency regardless of muted oil revenues and ongoing global uncertainties. According to a new Oxford Economics research study instruction, GCC GDP development is expected to increase to 4.4 per cent in 2026, up from 4 percent in 2025, reflecting a resilient nonenergy sector, strong customer characteristics, and slowly enhancing oil output.

The most current forecasts recommend that Gulf economies are now wellpositioned to restore momentum, buoyed by reinforcing domestic need and a broadly consistent international background. The report highlights GCC consumers as a major motorist of the region's economic efficiency heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing real disposable incomes are anticipated to fuel a surge in consumer costs across the Gulf.

Credit growth is also anticipated to remain elevated as access to financial services broadens. With GCC central banks expected to follow awaited US Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the region's dollar pegs, borrowing costs are most likely to decline, providing households and businesses even more incentive to spend and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the region's durability, the GCC's hydrocarbon outlook provides a mixed photo.

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This might weigh on firsthalf growth, particularly for economies more depending on oil extraction. However, Oxford Economics projects a rebound later on in 2026, with Opec+ members expected to resume raising production as inventories tighten and international need enhances. Qatar, on the other hand, stands out as a local outperformer, with substantial growths in gas production and exports anticipated to lift its general financial efficiency.

Saudi Arabia's 2026 budget plan expects a 6 per cent cut in capital investment as the kingdom intends to narrow its fiscal deficit by 2 portion points. Nevertheless, the report notes that these cuts might not materialise completely if countercyclical costs steps are triggered to support development. By contrast, more diversified economies such as the UAE and Qatar are expected to continue advancing their advancement programs.

Despite shortterm dangers tied to oil rates and international demand, the GCC's 2026 financial outlook is specified by strength in basics: durable customers, robust nonenergy sectors, enhancing oil characteristics, and strategic financial planning. With these aspects aligning, the area is getting ready for among its most well balanced periods of growth over the last few years anchored by a clear upward trajectory in GDP development.

How to Optimise GCC Operations in 2026

RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council regional economies are expected to stay resilient in 2026, driven by strong domestic demand and a broadly consistent worldwide economy, according to an analysis. In its newest report, Oxford Economics highlighted that the real gross domestic item of the GCC area is anticipated to broaden by 4.4 percent in 2026, up from the predicted 4 percent this year.

US trade policy under President Donald Trump has had no noteworthy impact on regional development, and non-energy sectors have sustained their robust momentum," said Oxford Economics. It added: "Meanwhile, oil production has actually 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 said that economic development in the region is set to speed up to 4.3 percent by 2027, driven by broadening 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 area's ongoing progress towards diversity. According to Oxford Economics, GCC consumers will be standout entertainers in 2026 and are anticipated to surpass their global peers. Oxford Economics stated that low inflation has actually assisted protect growth in genuine disposable income, which has actually likewise been supported by strong need and really low unemployment rates."We do not visualize any let-up, as governments continue to push for higher foreign direct financial investment in their push to diversify their economies far from oil and gas," the report added.

In December, the IMF further stated that headline inflation is anticipated to stay below 2 percent in Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar, near 2 percent in the Kingdom and the UAE, and somewhat above 2 percent in Kuwait in 20252026. According to Oxford Economics, credit development is anticipated to stay elevated in the GCC area throughout 2026, as access to monetary services is anticipated 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 reserve banks are anticipated to follow the United States Federal Reserve by relieving financial policy further, which in turn will reduce debt maintenance expenses and enhance non reusable earnings and need," said the report.