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Company news and financial news, analysis, viewpoint and data 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 accelerate in 2026, with the area predicted to outperform its 2025 performance despite muted oil revenues and continuous worldwide unpredictabilities. According to a new Oxford Economics research briefing, GCC GDP development is anticipated to increase to 4.4 per cent in 2026, up from 4 percent in 2025, reflecting a resistant nonenergy sector, strong consumer dynamics, and slowly improving oil output.

The newest forecasts suggest that Gulf economies are now wellpositioned to restore momentum, buoyed by strengthening domestic demand and a broadly stable worldwide backdrop. The report highlights GCC consumers as a major chauffeur of the area's financial efficiency heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing real non reusable earnings are expected to sustain a surge in consumer costs across the Gulf.

Credit growth is likewise forecast to remain elevated as access to monetary services widens. With GCC main banks expected to follow awaited United States Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the region's dollar pegs, borrowing costs are likely to decline, offering homes and companies even more motivation to spend and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the area's resilience, the GCC's hydrocarbon outlook provides a combined image.

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This could weigh on firsthalf development, particularly for economies more based on oil extraction. Oxford Economics forecasts a rebound later on in 2026, with Opec+ members anticipated to resume raising production as inventories tighten and global demand improves. Qatar, on the other hand, stands apart as a regional outperformer, with significant growths in gas production and exports expected to lift its overall economic efficiency.

Saudi Arabia's 2026 budget expects a 6 per cent cut in capital investment as the kingdom aims to narrow its fiscal deficit by two percentage points. The report keeps in mind that these cuts may not materialise totally if countercyclical spending measures are activated to support growth. By contrast, more diversified economies such as the UAE and Qatar are anticipated to continue advancing their development programs.

In spite of shortterm risks connected to oil prices and worldwide demand, the GCC's 2026 financial outlook is defined by strength in principles: resistant consumers, robust nonenergy sectors, improving oil characteristics, and tactical financial planning. With these elements lining up, the region is preparing for one of its most well balanced durations of expansion recently anchored by a clear upward trajectory in GDP growth.

Navigating the 2026 GCC Corporate Environment

RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council local economies are expected to stay durable in 2026, driven by strong domestic need and a broadly consistent worldwide economy, according to an analysis. In its newest report, Oxford Economics highlighted that the genuine gross domestic product of the GCC area is expected to broaden by 4.4 percent in 2026, up from the projected 4 percent this year.

We anticipate GCC growth will increase to 4.4 percent in 2026, from 4 percent this year."In November, the GCC Statistical Center said that financial growth in the area 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 overall GDP, up from 70.6 percent at the end of 2024, highlighting the area's ongoing development towards diversity. According to Oxford Economics, GCC consumers will be standout performers in 2026 and are anticipated to outperform their worldwide peers.

In December, the IMF even more stated that heading inflation is expected to remain listed below 2 percent in Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar, near to 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 region during 2026, as access to monetary services is expected to grow and loaning is projected to be supported by additional cuts in rate of interest."Owing to their currency pegs to the United States dollar, GCC main banks are anticipated to follow the US Federal Reserve by alleviating financial policy even more, which in turn will lower debt maintenance costs and improve non reusable income and need," stated the report.