Industrial Excellence: a Strategic Pillar for Regional Success

Company news and monetary 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+

Economic growth across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is set to accelerate in 2026, with the region predicted to outshine its 2025 efficiency regardless of soft oil earnings and ongoing global unpredictabilities. According to a brand-new Oxford Economics research study rundown, GCC GDP development is expected to rise to 4.4 per cent in 2026, up from 4 per cent in 2025, showing a resistant nonenergy sector, strong customer dynamics, and slowly improving oil output.

The latest forecasts suggest that Gulf economies are now wellpositioned to gain back momentum, buoyed by enhancing domestic need and a broadly steady global background. The report highlights GCC customers as a significant motorist of the region's economic performance heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing genuine disposable earnings are expected to fuel a surge in customer spending across the Gulf.

Credit development is also forecast to remain raised as access to financial services broadens. With GCC central banks anticipated to follow anticipated US Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the region's dollar pegs, obtaining expenses are most likely to decrease, offering families and businesses even more motivation to spend and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the region's resilience, the GCC's hydrocarbon outlook presents a combined picture.

Navigating the 2026 Middle East Business Landscape

This could weigh on firsthalf growth, particularly for economies more based on oil extraction. Oxford Economics predicts a rebound later in 2026, with Opec+ members expected to resume raising production as stocks tighten up and global demand improves. Qatar, on the other hand, stands out as a regional outperformer, with significant expansions in gas production and exports expected to lift its overall financial performance.

Saudi Arabia's 2026 budget anticipates a 6 percent cut in capital expense as the kingdom aims to narrow its fiscal deficit by 2 percentage points. However, the report keeps in mind that these cuts may not materialise totally if countercyclical costs measures are triggered to support development. By contrast, more varied economies such as the UAE and Qatar are anticipated to continue advancing their development programs.

Despite shortterm dangers tied to oil rates and international demand, the GCC's 2026 financial outlook is specified by strength in fundamentals: resistant consumers, robust nonenergy sectors, improving oil dynamics, and tactical fiscal planning. With these factors aligning, the region is getting ready for among its most well balanced periods of expansion over the last few years anchored by a clear upward trajectory in GDP growth.

Optimising Corporate Efficiency through Advanced Business Planning

RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council regional economies are expected to remain resistant in 2026, driven by strong domestic need and a broadly consistent international economy, according to an analysis. In its newest report, Oxford Economics highlighted that the real gross domestic item of the GCC area is anticipated to expand by 4.4 percent in 2026, up from the forecasted 4 percent this year.

We expect GCC growth 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 expanding 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 region's ongoing development toward diversity. According to Oxford Economics, GCC customers will be standout entertainers in 2026 and are expected to surpass their international peers.

In December, the IMF further said that headline 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 a little above 2 percent in Kuwait in 20252026. According to Oxford Economics, credit development is anticipated to remain elevated in the GCC area throughout 2026, as access to monetary services is expected to grow and lending is projected to be supported by additional cuts in interest rates."Owing to their currency pegs to the United States dollar, GCC main banks are anticipated to follow the US Federal Reserve by easing monetary policy even more, which in turn will lower debt maintenance expenses and improve non reusable earnings and need," said the report.