Can Market Analytics Drive Middle East Corporate Growth?

Business news and financial news, analysis, opinion and data covering the 6 Gulf Corporation Council members Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Economic growth across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is set to accelerate in 2026, with the area projected to surpass its 2025 efficiency in spite of muted oil earnings and continuous global uncertainties. 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, showing a resilient nonenergy sector, strong consumer dynamics, and gradually improving oil output.

But the most recent forecasts suggest that Gulf economies are now wellpositioned to gain back momentum, buoyed by strengthening domestic need and a broadly consistent global background. The report highlights GCC consumers as a major chauffeur of the region's financial efficiency heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing genuine non reusable earnings are anticipated to fuel a rise in consumer costs throughout the Gulf.

Credit development is also forecast to stay raised as access to monetary services widens. With GCC main banks anticipated to follow expected United States Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the region's dollar pegs, borrowing costs are most likely to decline, giving households and services further incentive to invest and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the area's strength, the GCC's hydrocarbon outlook presents a combined photo.

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This could weigh on firsthalf growth, particularly for economies more based on oil extraction. Oxford Economics projects a rebound later on in 2026, with Opec+ members anticipated to resume raising production as stocks tighten and worldwide need improves. Qatar, on the other hand, stands out as a regional outperformer, with substantial expansions in gas production and exports expected to lift its overall financial efficiency.

Saudi Arabia's 2026 budget plan expects a 6 per cent cut in capital expense as the kingdom intends to narrow its fiscal deficit by 2 percentage points. Nevertheless, the report notes that these cuts may not materialise completely if countercyclical spending measures are triggered to support growth. By contrast, more varied economies such as the UAE and Qatar are anticipated to continue advancing their advancement programs.

Despite shortterm threats tied to oil costs and worldwide need, the GCC's 2026 financial outlook is defined by strength in fundamentals: durable customers, robust nonenergy sectors, enhancing oil characteristics, and strategic fiscal planning. With these elements lining up, the area is getting ready for among its most balanced durations of growth in recent years anchored by a clear upward trajectory in GDP growth.

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RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council local economies are anticipated to remain resilient 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 anticipated to broaden by 4.4 percent in 2026, up from the projected 4 percent this year.

We expect GCC growth will rise to 4.4 percent in 2026, from 4 percent this year."In November, the GCC Statistical Center stated that economic growth 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 ongoing development toward diversification. According to Oxford Economics, GCC consumers will be standout entertainers in 2026 and are anticipated to outperform their international peers.

In December, the IMF even more said that headline inflation is expected to stay below 2 percent in Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar, near to 2 percent in the Kingdom and the UAE, and slightly 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 financing is forecasted 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 United States Federal Reserve by relieving monetary policy further, which in turn will reduce financial obligation servicing expenses and enhance non reusable earnings and need," said the report.