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Business 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+

Financial development throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is set to speed up in 2026, with the area projected to outperform its 2025 performance regardless of soft oil earnings and ongoing global unpredictabilities. According to a new Oxford Economics research briefing, GCC GDP development is anticipated to increase to 4.4 per cent in 2026, up from 4 percent in 2025, showing a resilient nonenergy sector, strong customer dynamics, and gradually 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 stable international backdrop. The report highlights GCC customers as a major driver of the region's financial efficiency heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing genuine non reusable earnings are expected to sustain a surge in customer spending across the Gulf.

Credit development is likewise anticipated to remain elevated as access to financial services broadens. With GCC reserve banks expected to follow awaited United States Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the region's dollar pegs, borrowing costs are likely to decrease, providing households and services further impetus to spend and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the region's durability, the GCC's hydrocarbon outlook provides a mixed picture.

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This might weigh on firsthalf growth, especially for economies more based on oil extraction. Oxford Economics predicts a rebound later in 2026, with Opec+ members expected to resume raising production as inventories tighten and worldwide demand improves. Qatar, on the other hand, sticks out as a local outperformer, with significant expansions in gas production and exports expected to lift its general financial performance.

Saudi Arabia's 2026 budget plan prepares for a 6 per cent 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 activated to support development. By contrast, more diversified economies such as the UAE and Qatar are expected to continue advancing their advancement agendas.

Despite shortterm threats tied to oil prices and global need, the GCC's 2026 economic outlook is specified by strength in principles: resilient customers, robust nonenergy sectors, enhancing oil characteristics, and tactical financial planning. With these factors lining up, the area is getting ready for among its most balanced durations of expansion over the last few years anchored by a clear upward trajectory in GDP development.

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RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council regional economies are expected to remain durable in 2026, driven by strong domestic demand and a broadly steady worldwide economy, according to an analysis. In its latest report, Oxford Economics highlighted that the genuine gdp of the GCC region is expected to broaden by 4.4 percent in 2026, up from the projected 4 percent this year.

We expect GCC development will increase to 4.4 percent in 2026, from 4 percent this year."In November, the GCC Statistical Center said that financial development 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 area's continued progress towards diversity. According to Oxford Economics, GCC customers will be standout entertainers in 2026 and are anticipated to outperform their international peers.

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