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

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Financial development across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is set to accelerate in 2026, with the region projected to surpass its 2025 performance in spite of muted oil incomes and continuous worldwide unpredictabilities. According to a brand-new Oxford Economics research briefing, GCC GDP development is anticipated to rise to 4.4 per cent in 2026, up from 4 percent in 2025, reflecting a durable nonenergy sector, strong customer dynamics, and slowly enhancing oil output.

The latest forecasts suggest that Gulf economies are now wellpositioned to restore momentum, buoyed by strengthening domestic demand and a broadly consistent global background. The report highlights GCC customers as a significant driver of the region's economic performance heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing real non reusable earnings are anticipated to fuel a surge in customer costs throughout the Gulf.

Credit growth is also anticipated to stay raised as access to monetary services widens. With GCC main banks anticipated to follow awaited US Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the area's dollar pegs, obtaining expenses are most likely to decrease, providing families and services even more incentive to spend and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the area's resilience, the GCC's hydrocarbon outlook presents a combined photo.

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This could weigh on firsthalf development, especially for economies more depending on oil extraction. Oxford Economics forecasts a rebound later on in 2026, with Opec+ members expected to resume raising production as inventories tighten up and worldwide demand enhances. Qatar, on the other hand, sticks out as a regional outperformer, with substantial expansions in gas production and exports expected to lift its overall economic performance.

Saudi Arabia's 2026 spending plan anticipates a 6 per cent cut in capital investment as the kingdom intends to narrow its financial deficit by 2 portion points. Nevertheless, the report keeps in mind that these cuts might not materialise completely if countercyclical spending steps are triggered to support growth. By contrast, more varied economies such as the UAE and Qatar are expected to continue advancing their advancement agendas.

Despite shortterm dangers tied to oil costs and global need, the GCC's 2026 financial outlook is specified by strength in basics: resilient consumers, robust nonenergy sectors, enhancing oil characteristics, and tactical financial planning. With these aspects lining up, the region is getting ready for one of its most balanced periods of expansion over the last few years anchored by a clear upward trajectory in GDP growth.

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

We expect GCC development 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 region is set to speed up 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 continued progress towards diversity. According to Oxford Economics, GCC customers will be standout performers in 2026 and are anticipated to exceed their worldwide peers.

In December, the IMF even more stated that headline inflation is anticipated to remain below 2 percent in Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar, near 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 raised in the GCC region throughout 2026, as access to financial services is anticipated to grow and financing is projected to be supported by additional cuts in rate of interest."Owing to their currency pegs to the US dollar, GCC reserve banks are anticipated to follow the United States Federal Reserve by reducing financial policy further, which in turn will decrease debt maintenance costs and enhance non reusable income and demand," stated the report.