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Service 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 outperform its 2025 performance regardless of soft oil incomes and ongoing worldwide unpredictabilities. According to a brand-new Oxford Economics research instruction, GCC GDP development is anticipated to rise to 4.4 per cent in 2026, up from 4 percent in 2025, showing a resilient nonenergy sector, strong customer dynamics, and slowly enhancing oil output.

However the current projections suggest that Gulf economies are now wellpositioned to regain momentum, buoyed by enhancing domestic demand and a broadly steady global backdrop. The report highlights GCC consumers as a major motorist of the region's economic efficiency heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing real non reusable incomes are anticipated to fuel a surge in customer costs across the Gulf.

Credit growth is also forecast to remain elevated as access to financial services expands. With GCC central banks anticipated to follow awaited US Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the region's dollar pegs, borrowing expenses are most likely to decrease, providing families and companies even more motivation to invest and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the area's resilience, the GCC's hydrocarbon outlook presents a combined image.

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This could weigh on firsthalf development, particularly for economies more based on oil extraction. However, Oxford Economics predicts a rebound later in 2026, with Opec+ members anticipated to resume raising production as stocks tighten and global demand enhances. Qatar, on the other hand, sticks out as a local outperformer, with substantial growths in gas production and exports expected to raise its overall economic performance.

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

Regardless of shortterm threats connected to oil rates and worldwide demand, the GCC's 2026 financial outlook is defined by strength in basics: resistant customers, robust nonenergy sectors, improving oil characteristics, and strategic financial preparation. With these elements lining up, the region is preparing for among its most balanced durations of expansion over the last few years anchored by a clear upward trajectory in GDP growth.

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RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council local economies are anticipated to remain durable in 2026, driven by strong domestic demand and a broadly constant worldwide economy, according to an analysis. In its newest report, Oxford Economics highlighted that the genuine gdp of the GCC region is expected to broaden by 4.4 percent in 2026, up from the forecasted 4 percent this year.

US trade policy under President Donald Trump has had no noteworthy effect on regional growth, and non-energy sectors have actually sustained their robust momentum," said Oxford Economics. It included: "On the other hand, oil production has gradually increased, supplying a boost to the region's economies. 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 financial development in the region is set to speed up 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 ongoing development toward diversification. According to Oxford Economics, GCC customers will be standout performers in 2026 and are expected to outperform their international peers.

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 slightly above 2 percent in Kuwait in 20252026. According to Oxford Economics, credit growth is expected to remain raised in the GCC region throughout 2026, as access to monetary services is expected to grow and loaning is forecasted to be supported by additional cuts in rates of interest."Owing to their currency pegs to the United States dollar, GCC reserve banks are anticipated to follow the United States Federal Reserve by relieving financial policy even more, which in turn will reduce financial obligation maintenance expenses and enhance disposable earnings and need," said the report.