Driving Regional Corporate Growth through Strategy

Company news and monetary 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+

Economic growth throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is set to speed up in 2026, with the region predicted to outperform its 2025 performance regardless of muted oil incomes and ongoing global uncertainties. According to a new Oxford Economics research rundown, GCC GDP growth is anticipated to rise to 4.4 percent in 2026, up from 4 per cent in 2025, showing a durable nonenergy sector, strong customer characteristics, and slowly improving oil output.

The newest forecasts suggest that Gulf economies are now wellpositioned to gain back momentum, buoyed by reinforcing domestic need and a broadly consistent global backdrop. The report highlights GCC customers as a significant driver of the region's financial performance heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing real non reusable incomes are expected to sustain a surge in customer costs throughout the Gulf.

Credit growth is also anticipated to stay raised as access to monetary services expands. With GCC main banks anticipated to follow awaited United States Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the region's dollar pegs, borrowing expenses are likely to decrease, providing households and services even more motivation to spend and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the region's durability, the GCC's hydrocarbon outlook presents a combined photo.

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This might weigh on firsthalf development, particularly for economies more based on oil extraction. However, Oxford Economics projects a rebound later in 2026, with Opec+ members expected to resume raising production as inventories tighten up and worldwide need enhances. Qatar, meanwhile, stands out as a local outperformer, with significant expansions in gas production and exports anticipated to lift its general economic efficiency.

Saudi Arabia's 2026 budget plan prepares for a 6 percent cut in capital investment as the kingdom intends to narrow its financial deficit by two portion points. Nevertheless, the report notes that these cuts may not materialise completely 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 programs.

In spite of shortterm threats connected to oil rates and international need, the GCC's 2026 economic outlook is specified by strength in fundamentals: resistant customers, robust nonenergy sectors, enhancing oil characteristics, and tactical financial preparation. With these elements lining up, the area is getting ready for among its most well balanced periods of expansion recently anchored by a clear upward trajectory in GDP growth.

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RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council local economies are expected to remain resistant in 2026, driven by strong domestic need and a broadly constant global economy, according to an analysis. In its most current report, Oxford Economics highlighted that the real gdp of the GCC area is anticipated to broaden by 4.4 percent in 2026, up from the projected 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 stated 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 region's continued progress towards diversification. According to Oxford Economics, GCC customers will be standout entertainers in 2026 and are expected to exceed their international peers. Oxford Economics said that low inflation has helped secure development in genuine disposable earnings, which has likewise been supported by strong demand and really 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 away from oil and gas," the report added.

In December, the IMF even more stated that headline inflation is expected to stay 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 growth is anticipated to stay raised in the GCC region during 2026, as access to financial services is anticipated to grow and financing is predicted to be supported by additional cuts in rate of interest."Owing to their currency pegs to the US dollar, GCC reserve banks are expected to follow the United States Federal Reserve by easing financial policy further, which in turn will decrease financial obligation maintenance expenses and enhance disposable earnings and need," said the report.