Evaluating Legacy Systems and 2026 Economic Strategies

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

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Financial growth throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is set to speed up in 2026, with the area projected to exceed its 2025 performance despite soft oil profits and ongoing global uncertainties. According to a new Oxford Economics research rundown, GCC GDP growth is anticipated to rise to 4.4 per cent in 2026, up from 4 percent in 2025, reflecting a resilient nonenergy sector, strong consumer dynamics, and slowly improving oil output.

But the most recent projections recommend that Gulf economies are now wellpositioned to restore momentum, buoyed by enhancing domestic need and a broadly consistent international backdrop. The report highlights GCC consumers as a significant driver of the region's economic efficiency heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing real disposable earnings are expected to fuel a surge in consumer spending throughout the Gulf.

Credit development is also anticipated to remain elevated as access to monetary services expands. With GCC central banks anticipated to follow awaited US Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the area's dollar pegs, borrowing costs are likely to decrease, giving homes and companies even more impetus to invest and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the region's durability, the GCC's hydrocarbon outlook provides a combined image.

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This could weigh on firsthalf development, particularly for economies more reliant on oil extraction. Oxford Economics projects a rebound later on in 2026, with Opec+ members expected to resume raising production as inventories tighten and worldwide demand enhances. Qatar, meanwhile, sticks out as a regional outperformer, with substantial expansions in gas production and exports expected to raise its overall financial performance.

Saudi Arabia's 2026 budget prepares for a 6 per cent cut in capital investment as the kingdom aims to narrow its fiscal deficit by two percentage points. However, the report keeps in mind that these cuts might not materialise totally if countercyclical spending steps are activated to support growth. By contrast, more varied economies such as the UAE and Qatar are anticipated to continue advancing their advancement agendas.

Despite shortterm dangers connected to oil rates and international need, the GCC's 2026 financial outlook is defined by strength in fundamentals: resistant customers, robust nonenergy sectors, enhancing oil characteristics, and tactical fiscal planning. With these aspects aligning, the area is preparing for one of its most well balanced durations of expansion over the last few years anchored by a clear upward trajectory in GDP growth.

Operational Excellence: a Strategic Driver for Regional Growth

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

We expect GCC growth 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 area 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 region's ongoing development toward diversification. According to Oxford Economics, GCC customers will be standout performers in 2026 and are anticipated to outperform their global peers.

In December, the IMF even more said that headline inflation is anticipated to remain below 2 percent in Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar, close to 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 expected to remain elevated in the GCC region during 2026, as access to financial services is expected to grow and loaning is predicted to be supported by more cuts in rate of interest."Owing to their currency pegs to the United States dollar, GCC central banks are anticipated to follow the US Federal Reserve by alleviating financial policy further, which in turn will reduce debt servicing expenses and increase non reusable earnings and demand," stated the report.