How to Secure a Leading Advantage in 2026

Company news and financial news, analysis, opinion and statistics covering the six 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 speed up in 2026, with the area forecasted to outshine its 2025 performance despite muted oil profits and continuous global unpredictabilities. According to a 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 improving oil output.

The newest projections recommend that Gulf economies are now wellpositioned to restore momentum, buoyed by reinforcing domestic demand and a broadly stable global background. The report highlights GCC customers as a major driver of the region's economic efficiency heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing genuine disposable incomes are expected to sustain a surge in consumer spending across the Gulf.

Credit growth is likewise forecast to remain elevated as access to monetary services broadens. With GCC main banks expected to follow expected United States Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the region's dollar pegs, borrowing costs are likely to decrease, providing homes and services even more motivation to invest and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the area's strength, the GCC's hydrocarbon outlook presents a blended photo.

Emerging Strategic Trends Shaping the 2026 GCC Economy

This might weigh on firsthalf growth, particularly for economies more based 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 international demand improves. Qatar, meanwhile, sticks out as a regional outperformer, with considerable growths in gas production and exports expected to lift its general financial efficiency.

Saudi Arabia's 2026 budget anticipates a 6 percent cut in capital expenditure as the kingdom intends to narrow its fiscal deficit by two portion points. The report notes that these cuts might not materialise totally if countercyclical spending steps are activated to support growth. By contrast, more diversified economies such as the UAE and Qatar are anticipated to continue advancing their development agendas.

Regardless of shortterm dangers connected to oil costs and worldwide need, the GCC's 2026 economic outlook is defined by strength in basics: durable customers, robust nonenergy sectors, enhancing oil dynamics, and strategic financial preparation. With these factors lining up, the area is getting ready for among its most well balanced periods of growth in current years anchored by a clear upward trajectory in GDP development.

Optimising Corporate Efficiency through Strategic Business Planning

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

We anticipate GCC development will increase to 4.4 percent in 2026, from 4 percent this year."In November, the GCC Statistical Center said 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 represented 73.2 percent of total GDP, up from 70.6 percent at the end of 2024, highlighting the area's continued development towards diversity. According to Oxford Economics, GCC consumers will be standout performers in 2026 and are expected to outshine their global peers. Oxford Economics said that low inflation has helped protect growth in genuine disposable income, which has also been supported by strong need and extremely low joblessness rates."We do not envision any let-up, as federal governments continue to press for greater foreign direct financial investment in their push to diversify their economies away from oil and gas," the report added.

In December, the IMF further stated that heading inflation is anticipated to remain below 2 percent in Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar, near 2 percent in the Kingdom and the UAE, and slightly above 2 percent in Kuwait in 20252026. According to Oxford Economics, credit development is anticipated to stay elevated in the GCC region during 2026, as access to financial services is anticipated to grow and financing is predicted to be supported by additional cuts in rates of interest."Owing to their currency pegs to the United States dollar, GCC reserve banks are expected to follow the US Federal Reserve by easing financial policy further, which in turn will lower financial obligation maintenance costs and improve non reusable income and need," stated the report.