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Business news and financial news, analysis, viewpoint and data covering the 6 Gulf Corporation Council members Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Economic growth throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is set to accelerate in 2026, with the region forecasted to outperform its 2025 performance regardless of soft oil profits and continuous global unpredictabilities. According to a new Oxford Economics research instruction, GCC GDP growth is anticipated to rise to 4.4 per cent in 2026, up from 4 percent in 2025, showing a durable nonenergy sector, strong customer dynamics, and gradually enhancing oil output.

But the current projections recommend that Gulf economies are now wellpositioned to gain back momentum, buoyed by reinforcing domestic demand and a broadly consistent global backdrop. The report highlights GCC consumers as a major chauffeur of the area's economic performance heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing real non reusable earnings are expected to sustain a rise in consumer costs across the Gulf.

Credit development is also forecast to stay raised as access to monetary services broadens. With GCC reserve banks expected to follow expected United States Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the area's dollar pegs, borrowing costs are most likely to decline, providing households and businesses even more inspiration to spend and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the area's durability, the GCC's hydrocarbon outlook presents a combined image.

Emerging Future Trends Shaping the 2026 Regional Economy

This could weigh on firsthalf development, particularly for economies more depending on oil extraction. Nevertheless, Oxford Economics forecasts a rebound later in 2026, with Opec+ members expected to resume raising production as stocks tighten up and worldwide need enhances. Qatar, meanwhile, sticks out as a regional outperformer, with significant growths in gas production and exports anticipated to lift its overall financial performance.

Saudi Arabia's 2026 budget prepares for a 6 per cent cut in capital investment as the kingdom aims to narrow its financial deficit by 2 percentage points. The report notes that these cuts may not materialise totally if countercyclical costs procedures are activated to support growth. By contrast, more varied economies such as the UAE and Qatar are anticipated to continue advancing their development programs.

Despite shortterm dangers connected to oil prices and worldwide demand, the GCC's 2026 financial outlook is defined by strength in principles: resilient customers, robust nonenergy sectors, enhancing oil dynamics, and strategic financial planning. With these elements lining up, the area is preparing for among its most balanced periods of expansion in the last few years anchored by a clear upward trajectory in GDP growth.

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

US trade policy under President Donald Trump has had no noteworthy influence on regional development, and non-energy sectors have actually sustained their robust momentum," stated Oxford Economics. It added: "On the other hand, oil production has 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 said that financial 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 total GDP, up from 70.6 percent at the end of 2024, highlighting the area's ongoing development towards diversity. According to Oxford Economics, GCC customers will be standout performers in 2026 and are anticipated to outshine their global peers.

In December, the IMF further said that headline inflation is expected to stay below 2 percent in Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar, near to 2 percent in the Kingdom and the UAE, and a little above 2 percent in Kuwait in 20252026. According to Oxford Economics, credit growth is expected to stay raised in the GCC region throughout 2026, as access to financial services is expected to grow and lending is predicted to be supported by further cuts in rates of interest."Owing to their currency pegs to the US dollar, GCC main banks are expected to follow the United States Federal Reserve by reducing financial policy even more, which in turn will decrease financial obligation maintenance expenses and enhance disposable earnings and need," stated the report.