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Company news and financial news, analysis, viewpoint and statistics covering the 6 Gulf Corporation Council members Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Financial development across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is set to speed up in 2026, with the region projected to outshine its 2025 efficiency in spite of soft oil profits and continuous global uncertainties. According to a new Oxford Economics research study instruction, GCC GDP growth is anticipated to increase to 4.4 per cent in 2026, up from 4 per cent in 2025, reflecting a resilient nonenergy sector, strong consumer dynamics, and gradually enhancing oil output.

However the current forecasts recommend that Gulf economies are now wellpositioned to regain momentum, buoyed by enhancing domestic demand and a broadly stable international background. The report highlights GCC consumers as a major motorist of the region's financial performance heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing genuine disposable earnings are anticipated to fuel a rise in customer spending across the Gulf.

Credit development is likewise anticipated to remain raised as access to financial services broadens. With GCC reserve banks anticipated to follow awaited US Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the region's dollar pegs, obtaining costs are most likely to decrease, giving homes and businesses further impetus to spend and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the area's strength, the GCC's hydrocarbon outlook provides a mixed image.

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This could weigh on firsthalf development, particularly for economies more dependent on oil extraction. However, Oxford Economics predicts a rebound later on in 2026, with Opec+ members expected to resume raising production as inventories tighten and global need improves. Qatar, on the other hand, sticks out as a local outperformer, with considerable expansions in gas production and exports expected to lift its general economic performance.

Saudi Arabia's 2026 spending plan prepares for a 6 percent cut in capital expenditure as the kingdom aims to narrow its fiscal deficit by 2 percentage points. The report keeps in mind that these cuts may not materialise completely if countercyclical costs measures are triggered to support growth. By contrast, more varied economies such as the UAE and Qatar are expected to continue advancing their advancement agendas.

Despite shortterm dangers connected to oil costs and international demand, the GCC's 2026 economic outlook is specified by strength in fundamentals: durable consumers, robust nonenergy sectors, improving oil characteristics, and tactical fiscal preparation. With these factors lining up, the region is getting ready for one of its most well balanced periods of expansion in recent years anchored by a clear upward trajectory in GDP growth.

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RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council regional economies are anticipated to stay resistant in 2026, driven by strong domestic demand and a broadly steady global economy, according to an analysis. In its latest report, Oxford Economics highlighted that the real gross domestic product of the GCC region is expected to expand by 4.4 percent in 2026, up from the predicted 4 percent this year.

US trade policy under President Donald Trump has had no noteworthy influence on regional development, and non-energy sectors have sustained their robust momentum," stated Oxford Economics. It included: "On the other hand, oil production has actually gradually increased, offering a boost to the area's economies. 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 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 total GDP, up from 70.6 percent at the end of 2024, highlighting the area's continued progress toward diversity. According to Oxford Economics, GCC customers will be standout performers in 2026 and are expected to surpass their worldwide peers. Oxford Economics stated that low inflation has actually assisted protect development in genuine disposable earnings, which has also been supported by strong need and really low joblessness rates."We do not picture any let-up, as governments continue to push for higher foreign direct financial investment in their push to diversify their economies far from oil and gas," the report added.

In December, the IMF even more stated that headline inflation is expected to stay 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 monetary services is anticipated to grow and loaning is forecasted to be supported by more cuts in rates of interest."Owing to their currency pegs to the United States dollar, GCC reserve banks are anticipated to follow the US Federal Reserve by relieving monetary policy further, which in turn will lower financial obligation servicing expenses and enhance non reusable income and need," said the report.