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

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Financial growth throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is set to speed up in 2026, with the area projected to outperform its 2025 performance in spite of soft oil revenues and ongoing global uncertainties. According to a new Oxford Economics research study instruction, GCC GDP development is expected to increase to 4.4 per cent in 2026, up from 4 per cent in 2025, showing a resilient nonenergy sector, strong consumer dynamics, and gradually enhancing oil output.

The newest forecasts suggest that Gulf economies are now wellpositioned to regain momentum, buoyed by enhancing domestic demand and a broadly steady international backdrop. The report highlights GCC customers as a significant driver of the region's economic efficiency heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing real non reusable incomes are expected to fuel a rise in customer spending throughout the Gulf.

Credit growth is also forecast to stay raised as access to financial services widens. With GCC main banks anticipated to follow awaited US Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the area's dollar pegs, obtaining costs are likely to decrease, providing households and businesses further impetus to spend and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the area's strength, the GCC's hydrocarbon outlook presents a mixed picture.

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This could weigh on firsthalf growth, especially for economies more based on oil extraction. Oxford Economics projects a rebound later in 2026, with Opec+ members expected to resume raising production as inventories tighten and worldwide demand improves. Qatar, meanwhile, stands out as a local outperformer, with significant growths in gas production and exports expected to lift its general economic performance.

Saudi Arabia's 2026 spending plan prepares for a 6 per cent cut in capital investment as the kingdom intends to narrow its fiscal deficit by 2 portion points. The report keeps in mind that these cuts may not materialise completely if countercyclical costs procedures are triggered to support development. By contrast, more diversified economies such as the UAE and Qatar are anticipated to continue advancing their development agendas.

Regardless of shortterm dangers tied to oil costs and global demand, the GCC's 2026 financial outlook is specified by strength in basics: resilient customers, robust nonenergy sectors, enhancing oil characteristics, and tactical fiscal preparation. With these elements aligning, the area is getting ready for among its most balanced durations of expansion in recent years anchored by a clear upward trajectory in GDP growth.

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RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council regional economies are expected to remain durable in 2026, driven by strong domestic need and a broadly consistent international economy, according to an analysis. In its most current report, Oxford Economics highlighted that the genuine gross domestic product of the GCC region is expected to expand by 4.4 percent in 2026, up from the predicted 4 percent this year.

US trade policy under President Donald Trump has had no noteworthy effect on regional development, and non-energy sectors have actually sustained their robust momentum," stated Oxford Economics. It included: "On the other hand, oil production has slowly increased, offering an increase to the area's economies. We anticipate GCC development will rise to 4.4 percent in 2026, from 4 percent this year."In November, the GCC Statistical Center said that financial growth in the region is set to speed up 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 overall GDP, up from 70.6 percent at the end of 2024, highlighting the area's ongoing progress towards diversification. According to Oxford Economics, GCC consumers will be standout entertainers in 2026 and are expected to exceed their worldwide peers. Oxford Economics said that low inflation has actually helped protect growth in real disposable income, which has also been supported by strong demand and really low unemployment rates."We do not envision any let-up, as governments continue to press for higher foreign direct investment in their push to diversify their economies far from oil and gas," the report added.

In December, the IMF further stated that heading inflation is expected to remain 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 development is expected to stay elevated in the GCC region throughout 2026, as access to financial services is expected to grow and loaning is predicted to be supported by additional cuts in interest rates."Owing to their currency pegs to the US dollar, GCC reserve banks are expected to follow the US Federal Reserve by reducing monetary policy even more, which in turn will decrease debt servicing expenses and enhance non reusable income and need," said the report.