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

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Economic growth throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is set to speed up in 2026, with the region forecasted to outperform its 2025 performance in spite of muted oil earnings and continuous international unpredictabilities. According to a new Oxford Economics research instruction, GCC GDP development is anticipated to rise to 4.4 per cent in 2026, up from 4 percent in 2025, showing a resilient nonenergy sector, strong customer characteristics, and slowly enhancing oil output.

The most current projections suggest that Gulf economies are now wellpositioned to regain momentum, buoyed by strengthening domestic demand and a broadly stable global backdrop. The report highlights GCC consumers as a significant driver of the region's financial performance heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing genuine non reusable incomes are expected to fuel a surge in customer spending across the Gulf.

Credit development is also anticipated to stay raised as access to financial services widens. With GCC reserve banks expected to follow expected US Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the region's dollar pegs, obtaining expenses are likely to decline, offering homes and businesses further motivation to invest and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the area's resilience, the GCC's hydrocarbon outlook presents a blended picture.

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This might weigh on firsthalf development, particularly for economies more depending on oil extraction. Oxford Economics forecasts a rebound later on in 2026, with Opec+ members expected to resume raising production as inventories tighten up and global demand enhances. Qatar, meanwhile, sticks out as a local outperformer, with considerable expansions in gas production and exports expected to raise its total economic efficiency.

Saudi Arabia's 2026 budget prepares for a 6 percent cut in capital expenditure as the kingdom intends to narrow its fiscal deficit by two portion points. The report keeps in mind that these cuts might not materialise completely if countercyclical costs steps are triggered to support development. By contrast, more varied economies such as the UAE and Qatar are expected to continue advancing their development programs.

In spite of shortterm threats connected to oil prices and international demand, the GCC's 2026 economic outlook is defined by strength in fundamentals: resistant customers, robust nonenergy sectors, improving oil characteristics, and strategic financial preparation. With these aspects lining up, the area is preparing for among its most balanced durations of growth in the last few years anchored by a clear upward trajectory in GDP growth.

Analysing 2026 Market Research for Strategic Insights

RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council local economies are anticipated to remain resilient in 2026, driven by strong domestic need and a broadly stable international economy, according to an analysis. In its newest report, Oxford Economics highlighted that the real gross domestic product of the GCC region is expected to broaden by 4.4 percent in 2026, up from the forecasted 4 percent this year.

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 financial growth 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 total GDP, up from 70.6 percent at the end of 2024, highlighting the region's continued development towards diversity. According to Oxford Economics, GCC customers will be standout performers in 2026 and are expected to outshine their worldwide peers. Oxford Economics stated that low inflation has actually helped secure growth in genuine disposable income, which has also been supported by strong demand and extremely low unemployment rates."We do not imagine any let-up, as federal governments continue to press for greater foreign direct investment in their push to diversify their economies away from oil and gas," the report included.

In December, the IMF even more stated that heading inflation is anticipated to stay below 2 percent in Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar, near 2 percent in the Kingdom and the UAE, and a little above 2 percent in Kuwait in 20252026. According to Oxford Economics, credit development is anticipated to stay elevated in the GCC region during 2026, as access to monetary services is expected to grow and lending is projected to be supported by more cuts in interest rates."Owing to their currency pegs to the US dollar, GCC central banks are expected to follow the United States Federal Reserve by relieving financial policy further, which in turn will decrease debt servicing costs and improve disposable income and demand," stated the report.