Strategic Planning for Middle East Leadership

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

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

The IMF's World Economic Outlook (October 2025) jobs international growth reducing to 3.1 percent in 2026, with innovative economies around 1.5 percent and emerging market and developing economies just above 4 percent. On that comparison, a 4.44.5 percent GCC growth would put the region materially ahead of the world average and slightly above (or broadly in line with) the emerging-market aggregate, enhancing the GCC's status as a reasonably high-growth pocketprovided that local risk conditions remain consisted of and reform momentum holds.

Data from the GCC Statistical Center show that non-oil sectors already represent more than 73 percent of total GDP, a share that has continued to rise as governments broaden financial investment in services, infrastructure, and innovation. 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 financial investment in innovation and AI-related infrastructure.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Public-sector investment and reform stay central to sustaining this trend. Policy steps aimed at drawing in foreign direct investment, alleviating 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 price volatility. While hydrocarbons no longer dominate the growth outlook, oil earnings are anticipated to play an encouraging function in 2026.