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Organization news and financial news, analysis, viewpoint and stats covering the six Gulf Corporation Council members Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Economic development throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is set to speed up in 2026, with the area forecasted to outshine its 2025 efficiency despite soft oil earnings and ongoing international unpredictabilities. According to a new Oxford Economics research briefing, GCC GDP growth is anticipated to rise to 4.4 per cent in 2026, up from 4 per cent in 2025, reflecting a resilient nonenergy sector, strong consumer characteristics, and slowly improving oil output.

But the most recent forecasts suggest that Gulf economies are now wellpositioned to regain momentum, buoyed by strengthening domestic need and a broadly constant international background. The report highlights GCC customers as a significant motorist of the area's economic efficiency heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing genuine non reusable earnings are expected to sustain a rise in customer spending across the Gulf.

Credit development is likewise forecast to remain raised as access to monetary services widens. With GCC reserve banks expected to follow expected United States Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the region's dollar pegs, borrowing costs are likely to decline, giving households and businesses further motivation to invest and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the region's resilience, the GCC's hydrocarbon outlook provides a mixed image.

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This could weigh on firsthalf growth, particularly for economies more dependent on oil extraction. Oxford Economics projects a rebound later in 2026, with Opec+ members anticipated to resume raising production as inventories tighten up and global need improves. Qatar, meanwhile, stands apart as a local outperformer, with substantial growths in gas production and exports anticipated to raise its total financial efficiency.

Saudi Arabia's 2026 budget plan anticipates a 6 per cent cut in capital expense as the kingdom aims to narrow its fiscal deficit by two portion points. Nevertheless, the report keeps in mind that these cuts might not materialise fully if countercyclical costs measures are activated to support development. By contrast, more varied economies such as the UAE and Qatar are anticipated to continue advancing their advancement programs.

Regardless of shortterm threats connected to oil costs and global need, the GCC's 2026 financial outlook is specified by strength in fundamentals: resilient customers, robust nonenergy sectors, improving oil dynamics, and strategic financial preparation. With these factors aligning, the region is preparing for among its most well balanced periods of growth recently anchored by a clear upward trajectory in GDP growth.

Emerging Future Trends Shaping the 2026 GCC Market

RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council local economies are anticipated to stay resilient in 2026, driven by strong domestic demand and a broadly steady international economy, according to an analysis. In its latest report, Oxford Economics highlighted that the genuine gross domestic item of the GCC area is anticipated to expand 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 financial development in the region is set to accelerate 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 area's ongoing progress towards diversification. According to Oxford Economics, GCC customers will be standout performers in 2026 and are anticipated to outperform their international peers. Oxford Economics said that low inflation has actually assisted protect growth in real non reusable earnings, which has also been supported by strong need and extremely low unemployment rates."We do not envision any let-up, as governments continue to promote greater foreign direct investment in their push to diversify their economies away from oil and gas," the report included.

In December, the IMF further said that headline inflation is anticipated to remain below 2 percent in Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar, near 2 percent in the Kingdom and the UAE, and somewhat above 2 percent in Kuwait in 20252026. According to Oxford Economics, credit development is expected to stay raised in the GCC area during 2026, as access to monetary services is expected to grow and lending is predicted to be supported by additional cuts in interest rates."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 reduce debt maintenance expenses and improve disposable earnings and demand," stated the report.