Managing the 2026 GCC Business Environment for Executives

3.2 percent development in 2025, accelerating to 4.5 percent in 2026. Sees momentum improving, with GCC output growth projected to increase from 1.7 percent in 2024 to 3.3 percent on average in 2025, reflecting a shift toward more positive overall conditions.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

The IMF's World Economic Outlook (October 2025) projects international development easing to 3.1 percent in 2026, with sophisticated economies around 1.5 percent and emerging market and developing economies simply above 4 percent. On that comparison, a 4.44.5 percent GCC expansion would position the region materially ahead of the world average and a little above (or broadly in line with) the emerging-market aggregate, strengthening the GCC's status as a fairly high-growth pocketprovided that local risk conditions stay contained and reform momentum holds.

Information from the GCC Statistical Center reveal that non-oil sectors currently represent more than 73 percent of overall GDP, a share that has continued to increase as federal governments broaden investment in services, infrastructure, and technology. According to Oxford Economics, non-energy activity across the GCC is predicted to grow by around 4.1 percent in 2026, supported by strong labor markets, improving credit conditions, and increasing financial investment in innovation and AI-related facilities.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Public-sector investment and reform remain central to sustaining this trend. Policy procedures focused on attracting foreign direct investment, easing foreign ownership guidelines, broadening capital markets, and supporting private-sector involvement continue to underpin non-oil expansion and decrease the area's exposure to oil cost volatility. While hydrocarbons no longer control the growth outlook, oil revenues are anticipated to play an encouraging function in 2026.