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Company news and financial news, analysis, opinion and statistics 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 speed up in 2026, with the area predicted to surpass its 2025 performance regardless of muted oil profits and ongoing worldwide unpredictabilities. According to a new Oxford Economics research rundown, GCC GDP growth is expected to rise to 4.4 percent in 2026, up from 4 per cent in 2025, showing a durable nonenergy sector, strong customer dynamics, and gradually improving oil output.

The newest forecasts suggest that Gulf economies are now wellpositioned to gain back momentum, buoyed by strengthening domestic demand and a broadly constant international background. The report highlights GCC consumers as a major chauffeur of the region's economic efficiency heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing genuine non reusable incomes are anticipated to fuel a surge in customer costs across the Gulf.

Credit growth is also forecast to stay elevated as access to financial services widens. With GCC reserve banks expected to follow expected United States Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the region's dollar pegs, obtaining costs are likely to decrease, offering homes and businesses even more inspiration to spend and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the region's resilience, the GCC's hydrocarbon outlook presents a combined photo.

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This might weigh on firsthalf development, particularly for economies more depending on oil extraction. Oxford Economics projects a rebound later in 2026, with Opec+ members anticipated to resume raising production as inventories tighten up and international demand enhances. Qatar, on the other hand, sticks out as a regional outperformer, with substantial expansions in gas production and exports anticipated to lift its total financial efficiency.

Saudi Arabia's 2026 spending plan expects a 6 per cent cut in capital investment as the kingdom intends to narrow its financial deficit by 2 percentage points. However, the report keeps in mind that these cuts may not materialise totally if countercyclical spending procedures are activated to support development. By contrast, more diversified economies such as the UAE and Qatar are expected to continue advancing their development agendas.

Regardless of shortterm risks tied to oil costs and worldwide demand, the GCC's 2026 financial outlook is specified by strength in basics: resilient consumers, robust nonenergy sectors, enhancing oil dynamics, and tactical financial planning. With these aspects aligning, the area is getting ready for one of 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 stay resilient in 2026, driven by strong domestic demand and a broadly constant global economy, according to an analysis. In its latest 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.

United States trade policy under President Donald Trump has actually had no noteworthy effect on local growth, and non-energy sectors have sustained their robust momentum," said Oxford Economics. It added: "On the other hand, oil production has slowly increased, offering 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 area 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 area's ongoing development towards diversification. According to Oxford Economics, GCC customers will be standout performers in 2026 and are anticipated to surpass their worldwide peers.

In December, the IMF further 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 stay elevated in the GCC area during 2026, as access to monetary services is anticipated to grow and lending is forecasted to be supported by additional cuts in rate of interest."Owing to their currency pegs to the United States dollar, GCC reserve banks are expected to follow the US Federal Reserve by alleviating monetary policy further, which in turn will reduce debt servicing expenses and boost non reusable earnings and need," said the report.