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Company news and monetary news, analysis, viewpoint and stats covering the six 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 exceed its 2025 efficiency in spite of muted oil incomes and ongoing global unpredictabilities. According to a new Oxford Economics research study instruction, GCC GDP development is expected to increase to 4.4 percent in 2026, up from 4 per cent in 2025, reflecting a resilient nonenergy sector, strong consumer dynamics, and slowly enhancing oil output.

But the latest forecasts suggest that Gulf economies are now wellpositioned to restore momentum, buoyed by enhancing domestic demand and a broadly stable worldwide background. The report highlights GCC consumers as a significant driver of the area's financial performance heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing real disposable earnings are anticipated to fuel a rise in customer costs throughout the Gulf.

Credit growth is likewise anticipated to remain elevated as access to monetary services broadens. With GCC central banks expected to follow expected United States Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the area's dollar pegs, obtaining expenses are likely to decrease, offering homes and organizations even more motivation to invest and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the area's resilience, the GCC's hydrocarbon outlook provides a combined image.

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This might weigh on firsthalf growth, particularly for economies more based on oil extraction. Oxford Economics predicts a rebound later on in 2026, with Opec+ members anticipated to resume raising production as stocks tighten and international demand improves. Qatar, meanwhile, stands out as a local outperformer, with considerable expansions in gas production and exports anticipated to raise its overall financial performance.

Saudi Arabia's 2026 budget plan prepares for a 6 per cent cut in capital expenditure as the kingdom aims to narrow its financial deficit by two portion points. The report notes that these cuts might not materialise completely if countercyclical costs procedures are activated to support growth. By contrast, more diversified economies such as the UAE and Qatar are anticipated to continue advancing their advancement agendas.

Despite shortterm dangers connected to oil prices and global need, the GCC's 2026 financial outlook is defined by strength in fundamentals: resistant consumers, robust nonenergy sectors, improving oil dynamics, and strategic financial planning. With these elements aligning, the area is preparing for among its most well balanced durations of growth over the last few years anchored by a clear upward trajectory in GDP growth.

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RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council regional economies are anticipated to remain resilient in 2026, driven by strong domestic demand and a broadly stable global economy, according to an analysis. In its newest report, Oxford Economics highlighted that the genuine gross domestic product of the GCC area is anticipated to expand by 4.4 percent in 2026, up from the forecasted 4 percent this year.

We anticipate GCC growth will increase 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 accelerate 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 development towards diversity. According to Oxford Economics, GCC customers will be standout performers in 2026 and are anticipated to outshine their worldwide peers. Oxford Economics said that low inflation has actually assisted protect growth in genuine disposable earnings, which has likewise been supported by strong need and very low unemployment rates."We do not picture any let-up, as federal governments continue to promote greater foreign direct investment in their push to diversify their economies far from oil and gas," the report included.

In December, the IMF even more said that headline inflation is expected to remain listed 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 area throughout 2026, as access to financial services is anticipated to grow and lending is forecasted to be supported by additional cuts in rates of interest."Owing to their currency pegs to the United States dollar, GCC central banks are expected to follow the United States Federal Reserve by reducing financial policy further, which in turn will lower debt maintenance expenses and increase non reusable earnings and demand," said the report.