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Service 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 across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is set to accelerate in 2026, with the region forecasted to surpass its 2025 performance in spite of soft oil incomes and continuous worldwide uncertainties. According to a new Oxford Economics research instruction, GCC GDP growth is anticipated to increase to 4.4 percent in 2026, up from 4 per cent in 2025, reflecting a resilient nonenergy sector, strong consumer dynamics, and slowly improving oil output.

The newest projections recommend that Gulf economies are now wellpositioned to regain momentum, buoyed by reinforcing domestic demand and a broadly steady international backdrop. The report highlights GCC consumers as a significant driver of the area's economic performance heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing real disposable earnings are anticipated to sustain a rise in consumer spending throughout the Gulf.

Credit development is likewise anticipated to remain raised as access to financial services expands. With GCC central banks anticipated to follow anticipated United States Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the area's dollar pegs, obtaining expenses are most likely to decrease, providing homes and businesses further motivation to spend and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the region'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 projects a rebound later on in 2026, with Opec+ members anticipated to resume raising production as stocks tighten and international demand enhances. Qatar, meanwhile, stands apart as a regional outperformer, with considerable growths in gas production and exports expected to lift its overall financial performance.

Saudi Arabia's 2026 spending plan anticipates a 6 percent cut in capital investment as the kingdom aims to narrow its financial deficit by 2 portion points. However, the report notes that these cuts may not materialise totally if countercyclical costs measures are triggered to support growth. By contrast, more diversified economies such as the UAE and Qatar are anticipated to continue advancing their advancement agendas.

In spite of shortterm threats connected to oil rates and international demand, the GCC's 2026 economic outlook is specified by strength in basics: resistant consumers, robust nonenergy sectors, improving oil dynamics, and strategic financial planning. With these aspects aligning, the region is getting ready for one of its most well balanced periods of expansion recently anchored by a clear upward trajectory in GDP development.

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RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council regional economies are anticipated to remain durable in 2026, driven by strong domestic need and a broadly stable international economy, according to an analysis. In its newest report, Oxford Economics highlighted that the real gdp of the GCC area is anticipated to expand by 4.4 percent in 2026, up from the predicted 4 percent this year.

US trade policy under President Donald Trump has actually had no significant effect on regional development, and non-energy sectors have sustained their robust momentum," stated Oxford Economics. It added: "On the other hand, oil production has slowly increased, supplying a boost to the area's economies. We anticipate GCC development 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 accounted for 73.2 percent of total GDP, up from 70.6 percent at the end of 2024, highlighting the area's continued progress toward diversification. According to Oxford Economics, GCC consumers will be standout performers in 2026 and are anticipated to exceed their worldwide peers.

In December, the IMF even more said that headline inflation is expected to stay 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 development is expected to remain raised in the GCC region during 2026, as access to financial services is expected to grow and loaning is predicted to be supported by further cuts in rates of interest."Owing to their currency pegs to the United States dollar, GCC reserve banks are expected to follow the US Federal Reserve by relieving monetary policy even more, which in turn will decrease financial obligation maintenance costs and enhance disposable income and demand," stated the report.