Navigating the 2026 Middle East Corporate Environment

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

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Economic growth across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is set to speed up in 2026, with the area projected to outshine its 2025 performance regardless of soft oil revenues and ongoing global uncertainties. According to a new Oxford Economics research study briefing, GCC GDP growth is anticipated to rise to 4.4 percent in 2026, up from 4 per cent in 2025, showing a resistant nonenergy sector, strong customer characteristics, and gradually improving oil output.

However the most current projections suggest that Gulf economies are now wellpositioned to regain momentum, buoyed by reinforcing domestic demand and a broadly stable international background. The report highlights GCC customers as a significant chauffeur of the region's economic efficiency heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing real non reusable earnings are expected to fuel a surge in consumer costs across the Gulf.

Credit development is also anticipated to stay elevated as access to financial services broadens. With GCC reserve banks expected to follow awaited US Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the area's dollar pegs, obtaining expenses are most likely to decline, offering families and businesses even more motivation to spend and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the area's durability, the GCC's hydrocarbon outlook provides a mixed image.

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This could weigh on firsthalf growth, particularly for economies more depending on oil extraction. However, Oxford Economics forecasts a rebound later in 2026, with Opec+ members expected to resume raising production as stocks tighten up and global demand improves. Qatar, meanwhile, stands out as a regional outperformer, with significant expansions in gas production and exports expected to lift its general financial performance.

Saudi Arabia's 2026 budget plan expects 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 may not materialise fully if countercyclical spending procedures are triggered to support growth. By contrast, more diversified economies such as the UAE and Qatar are expected to continue advancing their advancement programs.

Regardless of shortterm dangers tied to oil costs and international demand, the GCC's 2026 economic outlook is specified by strength in principles: durable consumers, robust nonenergy sectors, enhancing oil characteristics, and tactical fiscal planning. With these factors aligning, the region is getting ready for among its most balanced periods 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 stay resilient in 2026, driven by strong domestic need and a broadly stable worldwide economy, according to an analysis. In its newest report, Oxford Economics highlighted that the genuine gdp of the GCC area is expected to broaden by 4.4 percent in 2026, up from the forecasted 4 percent this year.

We expect GCC growth will increase 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 represented 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 anticipated to outshine their global peers. Oxford Economics said that low inflation has actually helped safeguard development in genuine non reusable earnings, which has also been supported by strong need and extremely low unemployment rates."We do not picture any let-up, as federal governments continue to press for greater foreign direct investment in their push to diversify their economies far from oil and gas," the report added.

In December, the IMF further said that heading inflation is anticipated to remain listed 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 growth is anticipated to remain elevated in the GCC area throughout 2026, as access to financial services is anticipated to grow and financing is forecasted to be supported by further cuts in rates of interest."Owing to their currency pegs to the United States dollar, GCC central banks are expected to follow the US Federal Reserve by relieving monetary policy even more, which in turn will reduce debt maintenance costs and enhance disposable income and need," stated the report.