Key Shifts in the 2026 GCC Economy

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

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

The IMF's World Economic Outlook (October 2025) projects global development alleviating to 3.1 percent in 2026, with innovative 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 put the region materially ahead of the world average and somewhat above (or broadly in line with) the emerging-market aggregate, enhancing the GCC's status as a relatively high-growth pocketprovided that local threat conditions stay included and reform momentum holds.

Information from the GCC Statistical Center show that non-oil sectors already account for more than 73 percent of total GDP, a share that has actually continued to increase as federal governments broaden financial investment in services, facilities, and technology. According to Oxford Economics, non-energy activity throughout the GCC is predicted to grow by around 4.1 percent in 2026, supported by strong labor markets, improving credit conditions, and rising investment in technology and AI-related facilities.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Public-sector investment and reform stay central to sustaining this pattern. Policy measures focused on attracting foreign direct financial investment, easing foreign ownership guidelines, broadening capital markets, and supporting private-sector involvement continue to underpin non-oil growth and minimize the region's direct exposure to oil cost volatility. While hydrocarbons no longer dominate the growth outlook, oil profits are expected to play a helpful role in 2026.