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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+

Financial development throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is set to accelerate in 2026, with the region projected to outperform its 2025 performance regardless of muted oil incomes and continuous international uncertainties. According to a brand-new Oxford Economics research study rundown, GCC GDP growth is expected to rise to 4.4 percent in 2026, up from 4 per cent in 2025, reflecting a durable nonenergy sector, strong customer characteristics, and gradually enhancing oil output.

The most current forecasts recommend that Gulf economies are now wellpositioned to restore momentum, buoyed by enhancing domestic demand and a broadly constant global background. The report highlights GCC consumers as a significant driver of the area's financial efficiency heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing genuine non reusable incomes are anticipated to sustain a rise in customer costs throughout the Gulf.

Credit growth is also forecast to remain raised as access to financial services broadens. With GCC reserve banks expected to follow expected US Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the region's dollar pegs, borrowing expenses are most likely to decrease, providing homes and organizations even more impetus to invest and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the region's resilience, the GCC's hydrocarbon outlook provides a combined image.

Predicting the 2026 Middle East Corporate Environment

This could weigh on firsthalf development, 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 inventories tighten up and international demand enhances. Qatar, meanwhile, stands out as a local outperformer, with significant expansions in gas production and exports expected to raise its general financial efficiency.

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

Despite shortterm dangers connected to oil rates and international demand, the GCC's 2026 economic outlook is specified by strength in basics: resistant consumers, robust nonenergy sectors, enhancing oil characteristics, and strategic fiscal planning. With these elements aligning, the area is preparing for among its most balanced durations of expansion over the last few years anchored by a clear upward trajectory in GDP growth.

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

US trade policy under President Donald Trump has had no notable effect on regional growth, and non-energy sectors have actually sustained their robust momentum," said Oxford Economics. It added: "Meanwhile, oil production has actually slowly increased, offering a boost to the region's economies. We expect GCC development will rise to 4.4 percent in 2026, from 4 percent this year."In November, the GCC Statistical Center stated that economic development in the area 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 area's ongoing development towards diversity. According to Oxford Economics, GCC consumers will be standout performers in 2026 and are expected to exceed their worldwide peers.

In December, the IMF even more said that heading inflation is anticipated to stay 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 growth is anticipated to stay raised in the GCC area during 2026, as access to financial services is anticipated to grow and lending is forecasted to be supported by additional cuts in rate of interest."Owing to their currency pegs to the United States dollar, GCC central banks are expected to follow the United States Federal Reserve by relieving monetary policy even more, which in turn will lower debt maintenance expenses and enhance non reusable earnings and demand," stated the report.